New Headphones - where should I plug them in?

Because I don't the answer, I have an idea for you: just before you plug the headphones into each available port, turn the sound all the way down and very slowly turn up the volume while you're listening via the headphones. You can probably tell by what you hear from both ports which one is the best match.

flashdrive said:

Thanks, Roland. I'll do that. Like I said, it was a silly question, lol.

Not at all silly, impedence levels do play a part from time to time; because often a particular plug and a particular jack works the best all-around -- your question is certainly not silly :)

Other than maybe, possibly, having to turn up the volume a teeny tiny bit - should have no effect.

Just one bit of clarification the Stereo Output port on Computer systems (Front & Back M/B ports) and Sound Card Ports are usually Green not Blue.

Blue is an input port and will generally give low volume, low quality sound if anything at all.

If you have disabled the on-board sound when you added the sound card, the front ports will be disabled, unless you connect the front port connector from the front panel to the correct Sound card connector, (on the card itself, not the back plate).

Once you have the connections for the sound card correctly connected you should be able to connect the existing speakers to the rear output on the card (Green). When you connect the headphones to the front panel Headphone jack the speakers will be automatically muted.

Also if intending to use a headset which includes a Microphone then you will need either a set with two plugs, green (Headphones) and Pink, (Microphone). If your headphones have an in-built Mic and have a single plug (is designed for use with Phones and tablets then you will need a special adaptor for computer use

If you look at the diagram below it shows the three main types of jack plug for audio use - The left hand is the one used on a mono Microphone the middle is the one normally used on a stereo output such as speakers, and the right hand is the one used on the headphones you have with a stereo output and a Mic.

As you can see the centre and right hand plugs have subtle differences Fitting either plug into the other's matched socket is likely to result in cross connection between the Ring and Sleve connections that can result in distortion and / or loss of sound channels

After writing my initial post I remembered that the audio ports on my PC were bad and that's why I got the sound card. However, I have the headphones plugged into my Logitech Z506 surround speakers. Sound is pretty good. I played around with the XS51 card settings to boost the sound even more. I may be getting a extension cord for the headphones, but that's unclear at the moment.

Mainly because I've been shopping other headphones and have come across the wireless versions that are out there (like these Avantree Audition Pro bluetooth ones). In this small basement room I occupy with the TV and computer and speakers it would be nice not to have any more wires.