What Is an Audio Splitter- A Quick and Comprehensive Guide

Ever had those moments when you wished you could have two earphones/headphones plugged into the phone?

Well, it looks like a lot of people had that wish and they came up with a handy tool called audio splitter for this. 

By now you would have guessed the function and what it is, but if you haven’t, read on. 

What Does an Audio Splitter Do?

An audio splitter can also be called a dual headphone adapter or an audio jack splitter. It basically makes it possible for two headphones to connect to one device via the jack. 

And thanks to how handy this invention has proved to be, it now has many designs. The most common one, however, is the “Y” shaped one. 

The “Y” shape allows two headphones to connect to the device. But more recent designs allow up to 6 headphones to connect. Talk about a Netflix watch party situation!

Why Do You Need an Audio Splitter?

Like I mentioned, the designs these days aren’t just limited to the typical “Y” shaped one allowing headphones to connect. 

If you’d like you can get one that allows you to connect a headphone and a mic to the same device via the jack. 

Many people also use audio splitters to help with audio mixing or even fade-ins. 

Whether you need an audio splitter or not is strictly based on your needs. 

What Are the Types of Audio Splitters?

This little invention really hit it with the convenience factor. People came up with loads of varieties and types. You name it!

Here are just the most common ones:

• The multi-splitter or the ones that come in the snowflake shape allowing 6 headphones to attach.

• The “Y” shaped or dual headphone jack allowing two headphones to attach. These are usually the 3.5 mm jacks that attach to any port.

• The 5 jack splitter again allows multiple headphones to attach to a single without hurting the audio quality. 

• 3.5 mm stereo jack adapter is usually a smaller pin-shaped plug that attaches to/accepts any standard headphone

Do Audio Splitters Disrupt the Audio Quality?

To understand this, you need to know a little about how an audio splitter works. 

A 3.5 mm jack adapter, for instance, creates a second path for the current flow. When the current runs, it reaches the splitter and gets divided into two paths. 

Now, in theory, the split should be ideal, that is, it should be equal. This also means that the audio quality being delivered should be identical. 

However, in reality, there are other factors affecting the audio quality like the quality, the lengths of the cords attached, or the material of the splitter. 

Also, the quality of the two headphones come into play when determining the sound quality. If one of the headphones is of better quality than the other it will naturally deliver better audio. 

Final Verdict

Audio splitters come in all shapes and sizes quite literally. You have just got to take your pick! Hope the above-mentioned insights helped you understand enough about audio spitters to decide whether you need one or not.