Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch
by Plantronics
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.21 You Save: $5.78 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch
Customer Review: Very convienent, but slight problem when switching
Summary: 4 Stars
I have only had this for an hour or so, so basing it off it, I can say it is much more convenient than having to go under the desk and on my knees every time I want to switch speakers. I don't notice any sound quality loss, so that's a good thing.
I'm not sure how this will live up after a couple of months, so we'll see.
My dispute about it though is that when I swap from speaker to headset, the microphone is not audible or very quiet for about 20 seconds or so. It's important to me if someone is talking to me through ventrilo and I can't reply for that long.
Customer Review: Product good, BUT Amazon is messing customers around :-(
Summary: 1 Stars
The switches are very good 4 stars...But it seems that Amazon are messing customers about these days...so for Amazon 1/2 a star...it seems to me clearly working on past reputation earned, they are now gambling messing customers about and damaging their customer trust and Amazon's integrity. Within about a 24 hour period 10/21/08 to 10/22/08 I have seen this item change price and seller six (6)times. This isn't me accidently hitting different sellers, I bookmarked the page and even linked from my order for this item to the page. Following is how things changed in the short time I tracked the switch. First it was shown as "Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC" $15.28. I went back and it was listed as "Ships and sold by Beach Audio" price $8.95 + $8.14 shipping. Then later last night I checked back and once again it was listed as "Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC" $15.28, I ordered x3. I linking to the switch from my order at about 11am 10/22/08, it was list then as "sold by ANTOnline" $9.91 + $6.98 shipping. Within the past few hours or so I checked again to find that it now back listed as "Ships from and sold by Beach Audio"$8.95 + $8.14 shipping...and finally, with that page still open I used my order & bookmark to link to the page and it is now listed again as "Ships from and sold by ANTOnline" $9.91 + $6.98 shipping. So that is 6 changes in about 24hrs. I'm not a gambling man, but I may take odds for it to go back to sold by Amazon sometime through the night. Buying from Amazon has become like playing roulette! I even have the last two versions open on my PC now.
Then it seems to me that if one opts for "FREE Super Saver Shipping", Amazon will intentionally hold up some of your orders at their distribution warehouses. Amazon offer quick delivery if I choose One-Day Shipping, it will arrive within two days max, so one can assume that the product is in stock (It usually says if it isn't) but my switches aren't getting processes, I am given "Shipping estimate: October 29, 2008 - October 30, 2008". It seems clear that Amazon are penalizing their customers intentionally hold up service if one uses "FREE Super Saver Shipping". The reason seems equally as obvious, Amazon are trying to coerce it's customers into paying for shipping (which seems to have really increased these days) or to sign up for "Amazon Prime membership" and gouge customers annual membership fee of $79.
This maybe just my opinion, but I observed what I saw and have tracked what seems to me to be happening. For me it takes the pleasure out of using Amazon, it is pot luck and being messed about, disrespect for the customers who pay their salaries. As customers tumble this it will damage Amazons reputations for straight dealing and one can but assume business will suffer....After writing this it would surprise me if my orders are held back even longer. Time to look for some good competition for Amazon I think...or is that the problem, there isn't any?
24th Oct:
UPDATE ON ORDER: Since I posted this 22nd Oct, this order has suddenly been shown as "Items shipped on October 23, 2008" !!! So the original "Shipping estimate: October 29, 2008 - October 30, 2008" has been well and truly beaten. Why the change? Would I be a cynic suggesting it was due to my posting this? I hope it is and that Amazon read and take on board what is good customer feedback, the opportunity to keep our business in the future, not such a small thing as we go into what should proven to be a hell of a recession; it could be a very hard Christmas. My message to Amazon meant constructively is, customers like to business with straight companies that they can trust and not feel like the price is going to jump around turning buying into a gamble, Amazon roulette. We don't mind when there is an honest hold up, even the odd mistake can be excused; but when a company sits on our shipments in what looks like merely spiting because we choose "FREE Super Saver Shipping", or the like, it doesn't do much for trust or reputation, the very thing that I believe has got Amazon where it is today. Go back to the old good business ethics.
Customer Review: Great Switch
Summary: 5 Stars
This switch works exactly as advertised. If you're looking for HiFi sounds, you probably shouldn't be adding any extra devices in your cable path. The sound DOES come through in stereo.Customer Review: Alternate way that is better
Summary: 2 Stars
This seemed like what I was looking for, to go from PC speakers (sound only), to headset and microphone on Skype, without having to un-plug the speakers, and plug-in the headset each time.
I was disappointed to read here that the Plantronics switch is cheap, and not stereo.
Alternate way that is better (because it's stereo, and you don't have to flip a switch): Get a couple of these, at $6.99 each (see 2 pics), then you will have two stereo outputs, and two stereo mic inputs (I only use one stereo mic input though, for the headset) ...
RadioShack Goldseries, 42-2570
4", Stereo, Headphone Cable Y-Adapter
For connecting two sets of headphones to one audio source
Accepts two 1/8" stereo phone plugs
Customer Review: Does exactly what it should, what more can you ask?
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're a gamer like me and want a nice headset for gaming/ventrillo/skype yet keep your speakers for when you're not doing those activities and don't want to pull your PC out and fiddle with wires then by all means go ahead and get this.
Set up is easy and it's as easy to use as it looks. Just flip the switch to speakers when you want to use speakers, and headset when you want to use headset. The sound quality is not effected at all, I couldn't tell a difference between having my equipment connected to this switch or directly to the PC. You might want to adjust your sound settings to Headset or however many speakers you have when you switch, however you'd be doing that anyways even if you didn't have this.
Again, great product, no sound degrading at all, and I recommend to anyone who doesn't have a USB headset and wants to use there speakers when not using voice chat.