Playing both 3.5 mm headset and 3.5 mm speakers - Windows 8.1

[zulubanshee]

I have standard desktop speakers with the 3.5mm jack, which I use for music, movies, etc
I recently bought a headset which I use for skype, also 3.5 mm (with split mic and sound inputs. )

When I plug the headset jacks into the front inputs, the speakers go out and all the sound goes through the headset. I understand that this is how it works, but is there a workaround that will allow to use both at the same time? Will a USB adapter for the headset (2-prong) allow me to circumvent this?


thanks

[Geek-9pm]

No. It is not that hard. You can use a splitter for 3.5 mm stereo cord  to allow two devices to be feed from one jack.
http://tenettech.com/product/366/audio-splitter-35mm-6in
The above link has a photo. But the price is way too high.
Amazon price is better.
http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Audio-Splitter-Speaker-Headphones/dp/B005GNQNHU
Notice that these are specifically marketed for what your want.
So it must work. 

[patio]

A splitter will not solve the issue...get a duplex sound card to do what you want...
Probably 30 Bucks for a decent one...

[Geek-9pm]

A splitter will not solve the issue...get a duplex sound card to do what you want...
Probably 30 Bucks for a decent one...

Why not?
He just wants to hear on both the speakers and the headphones.
The splitter is for that purpose.

[BC_Programmer]

Why not?
He just wants to hear on both the speakers and the headphones.
The splitter is for that purpose.

Yep, I think that is the ideal solution. It sounds like the headset uses a separate 3.5mm for the microphone and speaker portion, so it ought to be a matter of using the splitter and connecting the two outputs.

A USB Headset can "workaround" this problem because it appears as a separate audio device; I have a USB headset and I'm able to have it connected all the time and it only get's used for skype calls, whereas my system sounds and applications still play sounds through my system speakers.

[patio]

I sit corrected...a splitter would work.

However there are full-duplex cards that offer that same function.