Member Avatar for ollie_ho

I've got some 5.1 speakers and they are currently plugged into my onboard 5.1 soundcard. I've recently bought the Razer Barracuda headphones which are also 5.1 sound. Was wondering if there are any sound cards that could allow me to have both plugged in at the same time (i.e. the sound card would have to have two center/sub, two front, and two rear plugs) If not would it be possible to have two sound cards, one for my 5.1 speakers, one for my 5.1 headphones?

It's abit annoying having to unplug my speakers everytime i want to plug my headphones in...

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

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Brief summary and practical options tied to the posts by and : the goal is to have the same PC feed both an active 5.1 speaker set and a 5.1 headset without constant unplugging. There are three sensible approaches, ranked by reliability and ease.

  • Hardware duplicator / switcher: use a buffered 6‑channel (three stereo pairs) audio switch or distribution amplifier that copies the PC’s six analog outputs to two separate 6‑connector outputs. This preserves signal levels and channel mapping and is the cleanest solution for true multichannel duplication.
  • Separate device for the headset: give the headset its own USB or external 5.1 DAC/headset adapter. The speakers stay on the motherboard/soundcard and the headset is a separate audio device. Windows will see both devices; software or a game must be told which device to use (or a virtual router can mirror).
  • Software routing: use a virtual audio router/mixer to duplicate the system stream to two devices. This can work well for stereo and some multi‑channel setups but may introduce latency and needs extra configuration. A popular option for routing and splitting on Windows is Voicemeeter (Voicemeeter).

Cautions and troubleshooting notes:

  • Two PCI/PCIe cards can coexist, but expecting one OS stream to drive two multichannel cards simultaneously often runs into driver, sync and latency issues. That’s why it isn’t the recommended path.
  • Passive Y‑splitters (the quick buys mentioned in this thread) can work short‑term, but they can reduce level, upset impedance and cause poor bass or crosstalk. If using splitters, confirm the splitter direction (output -> two inputs) and verify each device’s channel mapping in the OS.
  • Before buying: check how the headset connects (single USB, single analog plug, or 3.5mm breakout), confirm the soundcard’s jack mapping, and test for hum/ground‑loop issues. If reliability and channel fidelity matter, choose an active splitter or a dedicated external DAC for the headset.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

two sound cards would conflict,so no to that .
get 3 y-adapter like one picture here .

Member Avatar for ollie_ho

thanks mate, just bought myself 3 :D

Member Avatar for caperjack

thanks mate, just bought myself 3 :D

good ,but i hope you didn,t buy the one in the link as i just noticed its the wrong one ,you need one 2 female in with one male out to sound card

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