Listen to Skype over USB headphones

Q I recently bought some Logitech USB speakers that work well with every program except Skype. I know the audio in Skype is working because I can hear it when I plug a standard pair of headphones into the audio out socket on my computer’s soundcard.

How can I get the speakers to recognise Skype? I’m using Windows XP with Service Pack 2.

Eric Atkinson

A Although they look identical, a USB headset or pair of USB speakers work quite differently from a pair of headphones or speakers with a standard 3.5mm audio connector. Standard speakers rely on a sound card installed in your PC, but USB audio devices have a sound card built in.

Windows will recognise your USB speakers as a separate sound card and in Skype you will need to switch the audio output from the sound card in your PC to your USB speakers.

The Skype settings are somewhat complicated by the fact that it can use different sound devices for the call ringer and for making calls. Try leaving the settings as they are and using a headset with a built-in microphone for online conversations. This keeps calls private and reduces the chance of feedback – the high-pitched whistling noise that gets louder until you turn the speakers off.

To review and change these settings in Skype, click on the Tools menu, then select Options. Click on the General tab in the top left, then click on Audio settings. Next to Speakers will be a dropdown menu listing the sound devices in your PC. Click the arrow next to it and choose your Logitech speakers from the list.

For example, we switched from the computer’s default Realtek sound card to a USB headphone set.

You may also find it helpful to change the default audio device in Windows. Click Start, click on Control Panel. Click on Sounds and Audio Devices in the list, but if you cannot see this option, click ‘Switch to Classic View’ in the top-left.

The Sounds and Audio Devices manager will appear. Click on the Audio tab, then under Sound playback, again, select your USB speakers from the dropdown menu.

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