3.5mm in/out on MacMini 2012

[MR_Boogy]

I'm having issues with USB headsets which act as external sound-devices, so I am considering going old-school with 3.5mm ones. My Late 2012 Unibody MacMini has 2 separate 3.5mm ports on the back, are these dedicated in/out or will either of them take a combined jack? Most headsets have a single plug with an extra ring on, would this work?

Thanks for any answers or pointers to online resources answering this definitively!

 

[svanstrom]

I'm having issues with USB headsets which act as external sound-devices, so I am considering going old-school with 3.5mm ones. My Late 2012 Unibody MacMini has 2 separate 3.5mm ports on the back, are these dedicated in/out or will either of them take a combined jack? Most headsets have a single plug with an extra ring on, would this work?

Thanks for any answers or pointers to online resources answering this definitively!

One is line in, and one is out/headphones: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP659

That latter one should work with your headset, as it should 100% just work with the wired ones you used to get with iPhones.

Edit: Perhaps you have a pair of those old iPhone ones to test the port with?

 

[MR_Boogy]

I know the line-out works but a headset has mic+headphones. So it sounds to use that on the Mac Mini, I need a headset with separate plugs e.g.:

Rather than:

 

[BrianBaughn]

The audio jacks are "combined" digital and analog and yes…the input is just an input and the output is just an output.

Depending on the headset, a signal-splitter adapter should work.

KOOPAO Headphone Splitter Mic and Audio for PC, Headset Mic Audio Splitter 3.5mm, 1 Female to 2 Dual Male Y Adapter Cable for Computer, Speaker, Gaming Laptop

KOOPAO Headphone 3.5mm Splitter Mic Cable for Computer, Headset 3.5mm Female to 2 Dual Male Microphone Audio Stereo Jack Earphones Port to Gaming Speaker PC Adapter

www.amazon.com

 

[svanstrom]

the input is just an input and the output is just an output.

You absolutely sure about that? Because the headphones port should take the sound from the microphone just like it would from those old white wired iPhone ones…

Since this was so long ago (for me) I wouldn't bet someone else's money on me being right; but I just did a quick websearch, and that seems to confirm it.

 

[MR_Boogy]

@svanstrom yeah this is the main query I had, the pictures I posted above were the only way I could think to explain it - headphone jacks are more complicated than you think once you get into microphones and device control

 

[BrianBaughn]

You absolutely sure about that? Because the headphones port should take the sound from the microphone just like it would from those old white wired iPhone ones…

Since this was so long ago (for me) I wouldn't bet someone else's money on me being right; but I just did a quick websearch, and that seems to confirm it.

I'm relying on the port descriptions from everymac.com.

The headphone jacks that take sound-IN are described on there as "Supports Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone." The Mini in question doesn't have that.

 

[svanstrom]

I'm relying on the port descriptions from everymac.com.

The headphone jacks that take sound-IN are described on there as "Supports Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone." The Mini in question doesn't have that.

Look at the icon from here: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/about-audio-ports-cpmh0052/mac

And the icon at the port (just scroll down to the pic): https://support.apple.com/kb/SP659