Solved Headphones with built-in mic only works sometimes

[Fridder]

Headphones with built-in mic, mic isn't working

Here's the situation. I bought a pair of Sony PS3 Pulse Wireless Elite headphones for my PC (because they sound great and work for the PC). The sound works beautifully, but I haven't had to use a microphone for my computer until now. Instead of buying a microphone and getting my desk all cluttered and adding another pair of wires to my computer, I decided I should figure out how to use the microphone on my headphones. There is only 1 AUX wire, not 2, so I can only plug it into the sound input, not the sound and mic input at the same time. The built-in mic doesn't work all the time... It only works when I can't hear out of the headphones, and vise-versa. There are youtube videos of people using the built-in mic and it works, so it's not because the headphones are incompatible. I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and all the drivers are installed as well. The headphones came packaged with a wireless dongle, an AUX cable, and of course, the headphones themselves. Here's a log I've constructed:

Headset: off
AUX: unplugged
Dongle: plugged in
Result: No sound, no mic.

Headset: off
AUX: plugged into headset + PC
Dongle: unplugged
Result: Sound, no mic.

Headset: off
AUX: plugged into headset + PC mic input
Dongle: unplugged
Result: No sound, no mic.

Headset: on
AUX: unplugged
Dongle: plugged in
Result: No sound, mic works.

Headset: on
AUX: plugged into dongle + PC
Dongle: plugged in
Result: Sound, no mic.

Headset: on
AUX: plugged into headphones + PC mic input
Dongle: unplugged
Result: No sound, no mic.


Also, when I plug in the USB dongle and connect the AUX cable from the dongle to the PC, then turn on the headset, the mic works for approximately 1.315 seconds during the headset turning on before it stops working.

 

[carwiz]

What's the model number and where are you located? I couldn't find much on it in the US. Could be why you're not getting much of a response.

Just off the top of my head; there is no microphone with that headset. The AUX IN is probably for a MP3 player or such and blocks PC sound when used. It's not for a microphone.

 

[Fridder]

What's the model number and where are you located? I couldn't find much on it in the US. Could be why you're not getting much of a response.

Just off the top of my head; there is no microphone with that headset. The AUX IN is probably for a MP3 player or such and blocks PC sound when used. It's not for a microphone.

I'm located in the US, and it's a Sony PS3 Pulse Wireless stereo headset. Here's a link from Sony's website: PULSE wireless stereo headset - Elite Edition | PS3? Accessories - PlayStation®. There is a microphone built in, it says it on the box, on the website, and I can see it on the headset.

Q: Where is the microphone on the headset?
A: This headset features a hidden microphone design. The noise cancelling dual microphone array provides high quality voice chat similar to the previous Wireless Stereo Headset.

 

[carwiz]

Here's another quote from FAQ

Q: Will the headset work with a PC or MAC?
A: Yes, the headset and BassImpact™ technology will work with a PC or MAC.
Note: Features such as virtual surround sound and mixer-volume-control will not work on your PC/MAC. Visit the general support website for instructions on connecting with a PC or MAC.
us.playstation.com/support/wirelessstereoheadset

That's probably the best place to go.

 

[Fridder]

I plugged in the USB dongle into a USB port I've never used before, and now the sound works and the microphone works.... :huh: