Sure, everyone loves to spend a quiet evening alone once in awhile just listening to their music or favorite audio books. However, there are also times that you want to spend a little bit of time with your significant others or with a group of friends and want to be able to share that music with them. These are the instances in which headphone splitters really come in handy. It doesn’t matter if you want to use them to listen to TV with your honey or listen to music with a group of friends at a party.
These devices come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs that enable them to do a specific job. For instance, dual splitters allow two users to plug into the same audio source, while star splitters allow multiple users to jack in. All that’s required is to take a little bit of time to learn about these devices and then choose the best headphone splitters. To help in that endeavor, we’ve included our top 10 picks, followed by a quick guide on what to look for in these amazing devices.
Best Headphone Splitters
10JMKCOZ 4-Piece Splitter Connector Keyrings
This set comes with two separate adapters and each adapter allows for two headphones to jack into the same audio source. On one end of each piece, there’s a king ring that enables it to be attached easily to a set of keys for easy transport. When the user is ready to use the splitter, then that end comes off and reveals a 3.5mm jack that can plug into any compatible device. Compatible devices can include just about anything from an MP3 or MP4 player to a game system to a personal computer or smartphone. The other end of the device splits into a Y-shape with a headphone port in each end in which users can plug into their headphones. This device is a low-tech and inexpensive option suitable for people who just need a quick splitter to get the job done and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to get it.
9ENVEL Cable Headset Adapter Kit
This adapter is suitable for use with devices which only use a single port for both headphones and microphones. This includes devices such as Xbox One, laptops, PS4, tablets and iPhones. This plug & play adapter features one male 3.5mm jack that splits into two cables, one for a pair of headphones and the other for a microphone. All that’s required is to plug the male end of this adapter into the port and then attach headphones to the headphone input and a microphone to the microphone input. This allows the user to use a headset with a mic with the device, or use a separate set of headphones and microphone, that when attached to this device simulates a headset. This adapter is made from high-quality copper that prevents sound loss during use and the whole unit is designed to be durable and is small enough to be carried just about anywhere.
8AIMIGAO FEI-C72 Lightning Adapter Cable
For users who need to listen to their favorite music and charge their phone at the same time, this adapter is here to save the day. One end plugs into the device using a lightning adapter and the other end splits into two parts. One part allows a lightning cable to be plugged in to charge the iPhone and the other end has a 3.5mm headphone jack in which the user can plug their headphones into. This convenient combination is good for a variety of situations and allows the user to enjoy music while they are also charging their phone. And since this device is made from high-quality copper, it’s designed to provide a stable and high-speed signal transmission which equals clear sound quality.
7Elago Headphone Key-Ring Splitter
This convenient and lightweight adapter only weighs around 8-grams and is approximately the size of a key and comes with a key ring upon which the user can place their real keys alongside it. This allows this nifty little device to be carried just about anywhere. When it’s ready to be used, the end of it comes off and reveals a 3.5mm jack that can plug into a compatible stereo jack. Two users can then plug their individual headphones into the audio jacks on the side of the user, thereby allowing both users to enjoy the same audio source. This makes this handy device ideal for listening to music with a friend or for gaming purposes.
6SEGMOI 6-Way Snowflake Shaped Headset Hub
While this hub has 6-ports in it, one of the ports has to have an audio source plugged into it to split the audio signal to the other five ports. This allows 5 people to share the same source of audio. This is ideal for families who need to split up the sound from a movie to all of their children, or for people to listen to music together at parties or during gaming sessions. This device comes in a variety of different colors and has a snowflake shape to it that’s very attractive. It also has nickel plating around the 3.5mm audio ports to protect them from corrosion and to increase audio connection. No matter what this unit is used for, it’s sure to last a long time.
5Avantree 3.5mm Splitter For Two Headphones
This splitter has a 3.5mm male plug on one end and has two 3.5 mm female audio ports on the other side. This allows two different sets of headphones to be connected to the same audio device on compatible devices. What it can’t do, however, is allow a headphone and a microphone to be plugged into the two ports, it simply won’t work in that configuration. No, only two headphones can be placed into the audio ports. When it’s set up in this manner, two users can enjoy the audio from their MP3 players, smartphones or laptop. And since this unit is small and compact, it’s easy to transport just about anywhere.
4Labvon 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Adapter
This adaptor consists of a male 3.5mm plug on one end connected to a piece which contains two 3.5mm female ports on the other end by a cable that’s a little over 7-inches long. This design allows the user to connect the male end into a DVD player, personal computer or other compatible device and then plug in two separate headphones into the other end, as long as the user realizes that the jacks are only used for headphones and not for microphones. A key feature of this device is that it uses 100% bare copper conductors that virtually eliminates the signal loss often inherent with lesser quality splitters. This makes this an ideal product for anyone who needs to split their audio to two headphones.
3Kabel Direkt Pro Series Y-Stereo Splitter
These splitters have a fashionable design that not only looks good but is functional as well. It has a 3.5mm male jack that can plug into an audio jack and splits into two ends that each has their own female port for hooking up earbuds or headphones. This cable is designed so that it can even plug into the audio jacks of smartphones that have cases on them, as long as there’s an opening to get to the port. Designed with a combination of oxygen-free copper lines and double shielding, this adapter provides the best audio quality without being subjected to outside interference. There is also no need for a user to move the connector around to get the best signal because each connection is tight and optimized with gold-plated contacts. This means high-quality audio output the first time and every time.
2Ugreen 3.5mm Y-Splitter Cable Adapter
While this adapter doesn’t support microphone usage, it is a good option for two headphones to share a single audio source. On one end of it is a male 3.5mm plug that can be inserted into any compatible stereo port, which can include smartphones, tablets, personal computers and other such devices. It other ends splits into a Y-shape where each end has a female audio jack in which earbuds or headphones can be plugged in. And since this unit is manufactured with a metal housing and has 24-karat gold plated terminals, users can rest assured that they are getting a high-quality connection each time they plug into it. This makes it ideal for friends who want to game together or for couples to listen to music with each other.
1Belkin Rockstar 5-Jack Audio Splitter
Available in a variety of different colors and featuring a hard-wired auxiliary cable, this adapter is not only nice to look at but is also durable as well. At the end of the hard-wired cable sits a 3.5mm cable that can be plugged into a suitable audio source. Around the perimeter of the device are 5-female jacks in which users can hook up their earbuds or headphones so they can all enjoy the same audio output as well. Another great feature that can be found on this device is that it allows each device to control their own mixing and fade-ins, which can allow friends to mix multiple songs. All of this is found in a device that’s lightweight and can easily be taken just about anywhere.
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Selecting the Best Headphone Splitters
Since these adapters are so popular, there are a large number of them that can be found online. Of course, not all of these devices have the features or the quality that one would want out of a splitter or adapter. Which is why it’s important to do your homework and take stock of the features you will need the splitter to have. Below are some of the features which usually prove useful to people who buy these products. While not every feature is useful to every user, it’s a good starting to find a device that will prove useful in your day-to-day life sharing audio.
Dual or Multi-Splitter
The first thing that needs to be decided is just how many headphones you are going to need to hook into the device. If you only need to share the audio with two headphones or earbuds, then all you really need is a dual-splitter. However, if you need to split the audio among 5 or 6 headphones, then you will need a multi-splitter with the appropriate number of ports.
Headphones or Headsets
Another thing that has to be considered is whether you need an adapter to hook up two headphones or you need an adapter that has ports to hook up a single headset with a single jack for the headphone and one for the microphone. Some adapters can be used in this way, but some of them only split sound among headphones and don’t offer microphone use. Be sure to find out first before purchasing it.
Use For Mixing
Honestly, most of these adapters are meant for one purpose and one purpose only and that’s splitting audio from one audio source to multiple headphones. However, there are some models on the market that allow mixing and fade-ins. There are also devices that allow for passive mixing back through the devices to a single output. Just be sure to do your homework to ensure that the adapter you’re interested in is capable of doing this activity. If it isn’t explicitly stated in the description, then it’s probably a good bet that it doesn’t. Of course, if you’re in doubt you can always ask the manufacturer or the seller of the product in question.
Gold-Plated & Nickle-Plated Connectors
Most high-quality adapters and splitters use gold-plated connectors to ensure a good connection. Nickle-plated models are also pretty good for creating a good connection and to protect it against corrosion.
Shielded Devices
Double shielding is another desirable feature that can be found in most high-end adapters. Double shielding reduce interference and prevents signal loss.
Lead Size
The final thing to look at in one of these devices is the size of the lead. Some people prefer a shorter lead so it doesn’t entangle with their headphone cords and other people need a longer cord. Your personal preferences will decide which category you fall into and what suits your needs the best.