Audio switching query

[Supakicks]

Hi all,

I've signed up to this website specifically to ask for your help, as I'm kind of at a complete lose regarding the situation I'm in. Allow me to explain:

A few years ago I brought a set of Speedlink Medusa 5.1 headphones http://www.amazon.co.uk/SPEEDLINK-SL.../dp/B000F319U2 As part of the set they come with (what I'm assuming is) a amp/AV receiver http://images.speed-link.de/prodpics...sv_rgb_003.jpg This basically allows me to plug in my Xbox and PC and then, via the buttons at the front, toggle between routing the audio from these via either my 5.1 speakers, or the 5.1 headphones, thus:

Xbox audio --> 5.1 speakers
or
Xbox audio --> 5.1 headphones
or
PC audio --> 5.1 speakers
or
PC audio --> 5.1 headphones

Obviously this is incredibly useful as it means you don't have to mess around unplugging cables etc all the time.

Thing is lately the box has started to go wrong, and I need a replacement. However I have discovered a couple of issues:

1) I'm not a 100% sure what the box is. I've seen it described variously as a 'Amp', 'Pass-through amp', 'AV receiver', 'Channel router' etc etc. This is maker searching for a replacement tricky to say the least.

2) Price. I paid around £60 for the complete headphone set. Assuming I'm looking at the right thing, the cheapest AV receiver I can find comes in at around £100 and is twice the size!

So my question to you guys is this: Does anyone know of a suitable replacement bit of kit, sub £100 (and preferably as small as possible) that would do the same as the box I currently have? I really don't want to be forced to spend 10 minutes unplugging and replugging cables every time I want to play the Xbox using headphones, or the PC using speakers!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[John Anderson]

It looks like it's essentially an analogue 5.1 switch box, with microphone return and a volume control built in. Unfortunately I doubt that you are likely to find any devices like this sold separately without the headphones they're intended for use with. Especially with the increasing trend to drop analogue connections on 3.5mm mini jacks in favour of digital connections to all-in-one speaker systems and USB for many gaming headsets nowadays. Unfortunately I can't think of a simple solution to this, given that these are 5.1 headphones and most swtich boxes/amplifiers I'm familiar with will only cater to stereo cans. Unless anyone else can think of a nifty trick you may be best looking for a new pair of headphones which switch in the same manner.

[cho9s]

Had a look around, but all I can find so far is the same unit you already have,,,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPEEDLINK-...#ht_500wt_1413

[Supakicks]

Thanks for the replies, people. They pretty much confirm what I had already suspected. Might look into getting the existing box refurbished.