Explained: How To Use Two Headphones On PC?

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Abdul Hadi

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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If you are wondering how to use two headphones on a PC, there are multiple ways to do so. For example, you can use a Y-Splitter or USB adapter or connect the two headphones through Bluetooth. 

Key Takeaways

• Use a Y-Splitter or USB adapter for wired headphones, or plug each headphone into a different port on your computer.
• Enable the Stereo Mix feature on your Windows 10/11 PC to divide the audio output between two headphones.
• Use Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) on a Windows PC, and enable MIDI on MacOS to stream music on multiple headphones.

Use A Y-Splitter

Purchase a Y-Splitter with one male plug and two female jacks. Insert the headphones’ pins into one jack each and connect the male plug of the splitter to the audio port on your PC. However, you can use this method if your headphones have 3.5mm plugs. 

Use USB Audio Adapter

It is especially useful if your PC does not have a built-in audio output jack. Plug the Type-A USB plug into a functioning USB port on your PC. Connect the two headphones to each audio input jack on this adapter. 

Through Bluetooth

This applies to wireless headphones that support Bluetooth pairing. However, a few wired headphones may also allow Bluetooth connectivity, depending on their build.  

Windows

We discovered that installing an additional software, Virtual Audio Cable (VAC), lets us use two Bluetooth headphones simultaneously on our PC. 

Bluetooth Pairing

Take note of the methods below:

1. Access Settings > Devices > Bluetooth And Other Devices > Click the toggle button to turn on Bluetooth.
   
2. Click Add Bluetooth Or Other Device > Bluetooth.
   
3. The PC will begin looking for available devices nearby > Turn on the Bluetooth mode on your headphones > Pair the device once it appears.
4. Follow the same procedure to pair the second headphone.

Download Virtual Audio Cable (VAC)

Here are the steps we followed:

1. Go to https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/download.htm > Download the free Lite Version on your computer.
2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file > Open the extracted folder.
3. Right-click on the Setup64 file > Run As Administrator > Yes > I Accept > Install > No.
   
4. The installation is now complete.
5. Next, open the X64 folder from the previous screen.
6. Locate the Audiorepeater file > Move it to the Desktop.
   
7. Go to Control Panel > Hardware And Sound > Sound.
8. Ensure that Line 1” is set as the Default Device in both the Playback and Recording sections > Close the dialog box.

   

9. Right-click the Audiorepeater icon on Desktop > Run As Administrator > Repeat the step to access two separate dialog boxes for the menu.
10. In the first box, set Wave In as Microsoft Sound Manager > Select the first pair of headphones in the Wave Out option.
11. In the second box, set Wave In as Line 1 (Virtual Audio Cable) > Choose the second headphones in the Wave Out option.
12. Hit the Start buttons on both.

    

MacOS

We had to enable the Audio MIDI Setup on our Mac to connect two headphones simultaneously. 

Bluetooth Pairing

Proceed with the instructions mentioned below:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Click on the Bluetooth symbol > Ensure it is turned on.
2. Put one headphone into the pairing mode > Select it once it appears.
3. After connecting, pair the second headphones using the same steps.

Enable MIDI

Carefully use these steps to enable MIDI:

1. Click on the Spotlight icon > Search MIDI > Double-click Audio MIDI Setup.
2. Press the “+” symbol at the lower left edge of the dialog box.
3. Choose Create Multi-Output Device > Check the box beside your connected headphones.

   

Use Headphones With Different Audio Output Plugs

For this to work, connect one headphone to the audio port on the PC, while the other should be compatible with the USB port. After connecting, we also enabled Stereo Mix on our PC to split the audio output between the headphones.

This is the easiest way to do so:

1. Launch the Control Panel > Hardware And Sound > Sound.
   
2. Switch to the Recording tab on the window.
3. Find Stereo Mix and click on it. If you cannot see Stereo Mix in the list of devices, right-click anywhere in the dialog box > Select Show Disabled Devices > Stereo Mix should appear.

   

4. Select Device Usage dropdown > Choose Use This Device (Enable) > Apply > OK.
   

   

5. Return to the previous dialog box and right-click Stereo Mix > Select Set As Default Device.
   
6. Come to the Sound tab > Properties > Listen > Mark the box beside Listen To This Device.
7. Click on Default Playback Device drop-down > Select your headphones > Apply > OK.

Plug Into Multiple USB Ports

You can also plug the headphones into different USB ports on your computer if they have Type-A plugs. Besides, remember to use Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) and MIDI settings on your Windows and MacOS PC, respectively.

Is It Ideal To Connect Two Headphones On A PC?

Ideally, using multiple headphones on a PC is not recommended since most are designed to work with one audio output at a time. When you pair two headphones, the audio signal is divided between the two devices, consequently reducing the volume and the overall sound quality. 

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Abdul Hadi

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com