[DJGeorgeT]

The question is, can I damage my headphones if I accidentally plug my stereo headphone into the mono microphone input of my laptop?

 

[commando]

As I understand it, the mic input doesn't output anything, so it should be fine.

 

[reeseboisse]

I have actually seen people using headphones as a microphone. I wouldn't try it myself though.

 

[DJGeorgeT]

so no damage to headphones?

 

[Sweet Spot]

I did it the other day. It's called "Ghetto Mic-ing". I've actually done this a lot, with many different types of cans. Just the ohter day, I used my V6's. I plugged them into the line in of my IHP and recorded myself playing guitar. Sounded pretty good actually. Put the Sony's on a stool right next to the Twin Reverb and used 128 kbps mp3...very nice stuff.

 

[funnytimes]

I have used my Sennheiser HD580 as a microphone, I changed wiring with my speakers and headphones, and I noticed that the speakers were playing the sounds picked up by the headphones. The sound quality was decent, better than my makeshift clip-on mic. Does this work with all headphones? Can anyone explalin why?

 

[TeRrAPh0eNiX]

It works with my Labtec 840 elite! Sounds pretty good too, hmm... i wonder why this works.

 

[zoot2boot]

what do you mean why does it work??? ... a microphone is just the same as a speaker, you pass a coil past a magnet and it generates charge (mic) as opposed to using charge to move the coil past the magnet (speaker). im sure you could use a microphone as a small and crappy speaker if you plugged it into the headphone out.

 

[princeclassic]

it works for the same reason a normal mic works. the diaphragm of the driver of the headphones is moved by the molecules of air that make up a soundwave. this driver is attached to a coil of wire (voice coil) which rests between a magnet. as the coil moves through the magnetic field a current is produced.

your headphones normally work the same way....just reversed.

edit: zoot beat me to it

 

[commando]

So to make a great microphone, cut your HD650s in half, and you have a stereo mic!

 

[DouglasQuaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeseboisse /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have actually seen people using headphones as a microphone. I wouldn't try it myself though.

Works in a pinch.

 

[ericj]

Depends whether the mic jack supplies voltage to drive the fet amplifier in an electret ('condenser') mic. And whether that voltage is as current limited as it should be.

I've only heard of one person having a problem with it.

 

[boomy3555]

Generaly a laptop dosn't have enough power to hurt you cans period. The Mic is an "inny" and the H/P out is an "outy"
YOUR SAFE !!!!!

 

[Acix]

Hehehe, the K-1000 can be a great mic...

 

[rjp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomy3555 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Generaly a laptop dosn't have enough power to hurt you cans period. The Mic is an "inny" and the H/P out is an "outy" YOUR SAFE !!!!!

However, PC mic jacks usually provide a DC bias voltage (likely to be about 3-12 VDC) for electret condenser mics. I'm not sure if it would cause any harm, but it's something to think about.