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I heard that if I use a headset on a system without a sound card or a disabled sound card it will still work. Meaning that I can hear sound and speak to users through a VoIP service such as Skype.

Is this true? Or did I mis-interpret wrongly?

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2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

From this forum thread:

USB headsets basically have a USB sound "card" integrated. For the Logi USB headsets that's a small unit integrated with the cord. You could pull your soundcard out of your PC and the USB headset will still give you sound.

Which makes sense.

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up vote 3 down vote

Yes, USB headsets are separate audio devices and work independently from built-in sound cards.

VoIP applications such as Skype let you choose your preferred audio device if more than one audio device is installed:

alt text

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That is true! Just make sure if you remove the headset that the computer selects the correct card. I haven't figure out why but after I remove my MS lifechat headset. Windows 7 always defaults to the SPDIF out. – Kelbizzle Jan 27 '10 at 23:08

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