Notes:

  1. If you have call center agents using USB headsets, please email info@btpi.com to learn about a unique (one part) side-by-side listening solution to be used with the USB headsets.
  2. If you are currently using DA70/DA80 adapters, please email info@btpi.com to learn about the newly improved DA adapters.

USB headsets are becoming more common in the workplace as companies adopt Unified Communications for greater efficiency in communication. This has prompted the question about training, how can you double jack for training so one person can listen in and hear both sides of the conversation? In short, the answer is there is not a Y-training adapter cable compatible with USB corded headsets, like there is for standard corded headsets that have a quick disconnect (QD).

Why Double-Jacking with USB Headsets Is not Possible

Computers can only talk to one processor at a time. There is a processor located in the USB headset cable where the answer/end and mute buttons are. If two USB headsets are plugged into two USB ports in a PC neither will work. Only one USB audio device at a time will work, whether the device is a headset or a speaker.

Side-by-Side Listening with USB Headsets

The headset training solution that allows a second person to sit next to someone and listen in on a softphone call is this: connect a Plantronics USB DA series audio device, such as DA80 for DA90, to the USB port of the PC. Connect a Y-training adapter cable (PL-27019-03) with the tail connected to the DA80, plus two H top headsets (such as PL-HW520) plugged into the Y cable. (H-top headsets have a Plantronics quick disconnect and they do not have a processor.) This configuration splits the sound to 2 agents. When connected up you’ve got a good solid training tool, because there is only one processor for the PC to deal with – the one in the DA80.

Alternate Way to Hear Both Sides of a Softphone Call

Logging into your company server as a supervisor is the alternative. Nowadays you can do this from a smart phone, tablet or PC and you also get the freedom to move around more.

See our UPDATED for 2023: Side-By-Side Training for USB Headsets here!