Filed under: Accessories, Audio, Desktops, Mac mini
(Re)locating your Mac mini's or iMac's headphone jack for easy access
Are you wishing for an easier way to plug in and unplug headphones from your Mac mini or iMac? There are a few ways to make it easier. You should be able to reroute the jack, allowing you to speed up your plug-in process.The first solution, which only works on Mac minis, is to use two right-angle audio adapters. This will relocate access to the headphone jack to the front or side of your mini, allowing for much easier access. You can buy these for less than $4 each (you'll need two) at Radio Shack (or whatever it's called these days). You'll need to plug one into the back of your mini, while you'll want to plug the other one in to the other right-angle adapter. Once you've done this, you should be able to have an easy way to access your headphone jack.
The next solution, which works with both minis and iMacs, is to use a headphone extension cable to provide easier access to plug in your headphones. This offers a more flexible solution to this issue, allowing you to route access where you want it. These cables can be purchased for about $10, and can be found in many places. You can choose a shorter cable or longer one, depending on how you want to manage your cords and where you want access to the headphone jack.
Please note if you use one of these solutions, it will override the internal speaker in your Mac, so you might want to unplug the extension if you're not frequently using headphones. These solutions will also work for microphones, so if you frequently use microphones with your iMac or Mac mini, you can also access the port more quickly.
Yet a third approach is to use a USB audio adapter, which will give you a separate set of headphone and/or mic jacks plugging into your keyboard or USB hub, or at the end of a USB extension cable. These adapters are available from lots of manufacturers and range in price from $8 on up; Plantronics also ships one with many of its audio headsets.
Check out the gallery below to see an example of an extension cable in use:
Gallery: Headphone extensions
How do you handle this inconvenience? Leave a comment and let us know!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
snugs said 1:23PM on 8-22-2009
…
Reply
Martin said 1:40PM on 8-22-2009
Is this really a problem?
Reply
robogobo said 8:52PM on 8-22-2009
no, but a lot of people with little to no life sit around dreaming up solutions for major "problems" like these so they can make youtube videos. did you see the one about keeping your earbuds untangled? There's the "over/under" method, or the business card method, or someone just invented a ziploc cord, which still gets tangled but just one continuous cable tangle. I mean, shit, I hope they find some real problems to devote their time to.
Doug Adams said 1:59PM on 8-22-2009
Fug-ly.
Reply
Jofreund said 2:02PM on 8-22-2009
I own a Logitech Z4 Sound System which has a cable remote with an additional headphone jack and line-in. Works great for me!
Reply
Greg said 2:05PM on 8-22-2009
Oh yeah, we've got plenty of those at The Shack. ;)
In fact, if you'd like, you can get a project enclosure, which is just a small black box, use an extension cable to wire it to it, and put a jack on the box (you'll have to cut a hole for it). You'll be able to then attach that to your desk, and you'll have a new headphone jack located wherever you want it.
Reply
Rubbinz said 2:07PM on 8-22-2009
Don't know why this would be needed since the iMac and mini are both desktop systems you should be connected to external speakers anyway.
Mine are connected to some Logitech 5.1's with their own headphone port right on the desk if I have the need to use headphones.
Reply
puhsitch said 4:41PM on 8-22-2009
I've found the iMac's internal speakers to be pretty good, actually. Maybe not for DJing a slammin' dance party...but solid for most everyday stuff.
Dave said 2:50PM on 8-22-2009
A headphone extension cable. Really, is this worth posting? Next thing you know, there will be a whole article on the use of an extension cord, in case your Mac is too far from an outlet.
Reply
Martin said 4:17PM on 8-22-2009
I wonder if The Shack® carries extension cords!
puhsitch said 4:51PM on 8-22-2009
Yeah...if anything, this probably should have been a "Mac 101" post. Basic problem-solving, essentially.
skalpa said 1:44PM on 8-23-2009
Yeah, coz it's funny :-)
Coz be the first of a complete serie: how to relocate your electrical outlets, how to relocate your home network devices, how to relocate your USB devices...
Lots of fun in perspective :)
Huck said 4:20PM on 8-22-2009
Easily the most witless post I have ever read on TUAW. Sigh… what's happened to this site of late?
Reply
Michael said 9:43AM on 8-23-2009
Most Bose Companion speakers have a headphone jack and the high-end ones have mic inputs as well.
Reply
huebs said 2:10PM on 8-23-2009
I can't believe you wrote this whole article without going into the great little utility from Rogue Amoeba: SoundSource.
http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
It won't work with the headphone extension set-up, but if you have a USB headphone set-up, it'll allow you to easily switch between headphones and speakers.
Reply
cjleopold said 10:46PM on 8-23-2009
Nice, but, this setup makes the 2 adapters into a lever putting pressure on the port...
osugodfan said 8:37AM on 8-24-2009
One thing most folks don't realize is that the newest Mac Mini doesn't have a mic jack that supplies power (like most do) so my gaming headset doesn't work on it.
That sucks.
Reply