PC Audio Switch Box

[Steve N. Mavronis]

I've been using the Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch for a long time to switch between headset and speakers. It's been since discontinued. My selection switch contacts are bad. I've tried cleaning them which works for a while and then gets tricky to switch and looses stereo and I get mono sound in one side or the other,

I was looking for a replacement and this MK-5 Computer Audio Switch Box by Electronics USA seems to have all the features I want. I'm just not sure if the company is trustworthy and secure for a credit card order?

 

 

Last night I removed the Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch and trying my Phanteks Evolv ITX case front headphone/mic ports. My motherboard is the ASUS Z170i Pro Gaming and the sound manager software detects when I plug my Corsair analog gaming headset in but sometimes I only get sound in my left ear or the mic doesn't show up as a recording device. I have to keep unplugging and plugging in the connectors to finally get it working. It was much simpler with the Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch. I could buy another one on Amazon or replace the switch contacts in my old one or buy that MK-5 switch box. What do you recommend?

 

[elira]

Seems legit.

[Steve N. Mavronis]

I took the Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch apart and sprayed generous amounts of electronics contact cleaner into the slide switch contacts moving it back and forth to wipe the contacts good. Right now it's working again. I think in the future I may even make my own DIY box. I've built guitar effects pedals from scratch (without kits) so it should be pretty easy if I get myself motivated to do it.

[rhyseyness]

9 hours ago, Steve N. Mavronis said:

I took the Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch apart and sprayed generous amounts of electronics contact cleaner into the slide switch contacts moving it back and forth to wipe the contacts good. Right now it's working again. I think in the future I may even make my own DIY box. I've built guitar effects pedals from scratch (without kits) so it should be pretty easy if I get myself motivated to do it.

Building your own sounds like your best bet, especially since you've clearly got the skill to do it.

That way you can make sure you use high quality components (switch and jacks) which shouldn't wear out as fast.

There's plenty of switch boxes out there, but the cheap ones (tbh that electronics USA one looks cheap) are very hit and miss with quality.

Something like this might be good though (I'm sure you can get something similar on US amazon). I just searched 3.5mm switch to find that one.