# How do i get the headphone jack to work on my PC's cd drive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 10, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500 "2003-07-10T16:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500/21 "2003-07-11T03:11:15Z")
Yep, that did it for me too. However the front panel jack is still only controlled by the volume knob and not by the software on mine. This is probably something fairly new that drive manufacturers are doing in the last couple years, since I’ve never seen this. I rarely bother with the front-panel jack anyway, since the digital audio through my sound card sounds much better. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500/22 "2003-07-11T03:16:49Z")
On your machine, if you are using XP, try this: Start\>Control Panel\>Sounds and Audio Devices Go to the Hardware tab, select your drive, and hit properties. Then hit the Properties Tab, and see if the volume slider there affects your headphone jack audio. It more than likely will. ---
**Author:** ![homercles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed8c4c/32.png) [@homercles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homercles)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500/23 "2003-07-11T03:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*This is probably something fairly new that drive manufacturers are doing in the last couple years, since I’ve never seen this. I rarely bother with the front-panel jack anyway, since the digital audio through my sound card sounds much better. \*\* Ummm, nope. As i said in my previous post, which was confirmed by astro and Joey, i have been listening to CDs like this since 1997-2002 when i was in grad school. But given that you have been building systems for 10 years i guess you already knew this. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500/24 "2003-07-11T03:24:06Z")
Well, whaddaya know? Huh. Oh well, learn something new every day, eh? The one in the system tray only affects the sound card output, though. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500/25 "2003-07-11T03:39:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by homercles \* > \*\*Ummm, nope. As i said in my previous post, which was confirmed by astro and Joey, i have been listening to CDs like this since 1997-2002 when i was in grad school. But given that you have been building systems for 10 years i guess you already knew this. :rolleyes: \*\* In point of fact QED and I were correct on the specific claim that CDROMs _can_ output directly in analog mode to the headphone jack without OS input (see cite below). Where we were incorrect was in assuming that the reverse was logically true, and that the headphone jack was not controllable via the OS. Like QED I have not used a headphone jack output for anything since the early 90’s. To be frank with you I’m still not completely sure how this is mediated in that there must be some control link to the little DA + amp that overrides the analog mode via the OS but leaves it alone in passive powered up mode. [CD ROM Direct to Headphone](http://howto.lycos.com/lycos/step/1,,8+46+26051+23817+16226,00.html) > [@](#): > > Step 1: Description > > Most CD ROMs (the CD drive in your computer) have a stereo headphone jack and minimal physical Play/Skip controls presented on the face of your computer box. > > Step 2: Function > > With these CD ROM face controls, you can listen to audio CDs using headphones with a standard 1/8 inch stereo plug. > > Step 3: Purpose > > By using this approach (direct hardware interface), you can listen to audio CDs without impacting any of your computer’s RAM or CPU resources. This is most useful in older computers that have limited resources. > > Step 4: Volume Control > > There should be a slot dial volume control next to the 1/8 inch stereo jack on the face of your CD ROM. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-headphone-jack-to-work-on-my-pcs-cd-drive/187500.md?page=1)