[SOMEHOW SOLVED]Startech USB 7.1 (ICUSBAUDIO7D) card : how can I easily switch between speakers and headphones without having to open the Xear audio app ?

[SireB]

[SOLUTION]

Use bluetooth headphones and define it as audio output by default.

Windows 11 will switch to headset and mute all cab speakers when turning on the headset, and will revert to cab speakers when turning off the headset

 

Remaining issue : windows 11 takes 20 seconds to switch audio from the speakers to the headset ( strangely enough, when turning off headset, audio comes back to speakers instantly... typical Microsoft "go figure"...

Not really a "major" issue there, but still annoying if you need to quickly turn the sound off if  your wife is about to kill you and your f%*`pinball 😁)

[END SOLUTION]

 

[ISSUE]

I am using the startech ICUSBAUDIO7D inside my cabinet with pinup popper.

 

Soundcard works great in 7.1 with the option ‘speakers” selected in the provided Xear audio software, but I need to be able to switch to Headphones for late evening playing (and back to speakers later on), directly from pinup popper without having to exit popper, launch Xear, rightclick the speaker icon, switch to headphones, exit xear, restart pinball frontend.

 

Did any of you use this card and manage to switch between 7.1 speakers and headphones easily ?

Is there a way to switch between headphones and speakers without having to open the xear audio app, for example from a command line prompt, or by sending messages to Xear from popper or another application ?

 

Second question : when I switch to headphones, I still have sound (now in stereo and not 7.1 anymore) through the main backglass speakers. How can I fully mute speaker sounds when I switch to headphones ? do you guys have the same problem ?

 

Thanks for your help !

 

[END ISSUE]

Edited August 26, 2025 by SireB