Gameboy Advance SP - headphone/charger splitter?

[Eternal Champion]

Is there an adapter for the SP that lets you listen on headphones AND charge at the same time? If I'm playing quietly at night I'd like to do this (to save the battery).

[Cornelius]

Yes, there is. I have at least one. I think that it probably came with a 3rd party charger originally, though I got it in some bundle or another over the years.

[BetaWolf47]

Yes, there is one made by Madcatz. Here's a picture of it:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5383/p7310458.jpg

One thing about this: the audio quality this thing produces is worse than that of a GBA or a GB micro. I don't know if this is caused by the GBA SP or the adapter. I've never used a first-party headphone adapter before.

[Jorpho]

The last time I looked for one of these a couple of weeks ago, the only one I could find was around twenty bucks. I found http://www.quickerbuy.com/products/gameboy-advance-gba-sp-2in1-earphone-headphone-adapter-599685308 just now, but that item is expired.

It's also at http://www.goldenshop.com.hk/AI-trad/gba/sp_2in1con.htm , but that looks kind of sketchy.

[Eternal Champion]

Thanks all - I found this one:
http://www.computercablestore.com/Arsenal_Game_Boy_Advance__PID40974.aspx

Looks like cheap crap but I might just get it anyway, unless somebody can recommend a good one.

[Cornelius]

If I can locate it, I can probably send you mine (just the adapter thingy) for shipping or so. Or if you have a spare wall charger, I happen to need one right now so we could do a trade.

[klausien]

Not to thread crap, but I just needed to drop in and say: I'm still mad at Nintendo for not including a headphone jack on the GBA SP. Total bull$hit.

[Jorpho]

If I can locate it, I can probably send you mine (just the adapter thingy) for shipping or so. Or if you have a spare wall charger, I happen to need one right now so we could do a trade.Those, at least, are still dirt cheap from the likes of dealextreme.com .

[BetaWolf47]

Not to thread crap, but I just needed to drop in and say: I'm still mad at Nintendo for not including a headphone jack on the GBA SP. Total bull$hit.

I agree with that. It's one of the reasons I prefer the original GBA or GB micro. Only solution is to use one of these crappy, sometimes hard to find adapters.

[Jorpho]

Only solution is to use one of these crappy, sometimes hard to find adapters.Nothing crappy about them, really. Except that they won't let you charge while you're using them.

[Jorpho]

Thanks all - I found this one:
http://www.computercablestore.com/Arsenal_Game_Boy_Advance__PID40974.aspx

Looks like cheap crap but I might just get it anyway, unless somebody can recommend a good one.If you're going to order one, do you think you could please order a second one? They only ship Priority to Canada, and I'm sure we could work out something cheaper. PM me if you're interested.

[Eternal Champion]

If I can locate it, I can probably send you mine (just the adapter thingy) for shipping or so. Or if you have a spare wall charger, I happen to need one right now so we could do a trade.
Thanks for the offer, I 'll let you know - I don't have a spare charger. I'm thinking of getting a travel kit that has this dual adapter, though I can't find where I saw it... anyway I'll get back to you.


Not to thread crap, but I just needed to drop in and say: I'm still mad at Nintendo for not including a headphone jack on the GBA SP. Total bull$hit.
Yes!! Totally stupid. Perhaps the SP came out a year too early or something - how many little devices nowadays have headphone + etc. jacks (mobiles, personal audio players, etc.).
The first version of it anyway seems a bit rushed - I'm not fond of the side-lighting but I'm not willing to shell out for a good condition backlit SP.

[BetaWolf47]

Yes!! Totally stupid. Perhaps the SP came out a year too early or something - how many little devices nowadays have headphone + etc. jacks (mobiles, personal audio players, etc.).
Timing has nothing to do with it. The original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Neo-Geo Pocket Color, and Game Gear all have a headphone jack. It was a design choice.

[Eternal Champion]

Timing has nothing to do with it. The original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Neo-Geo Pocket Color, and Game Gear all have a headphone jack. It was a design choice.
I seem to remember the statement at the time was that they were "forced" by the size to forgo a headphone jack, and my response was about timing (meaning, designing and releasing before technology has developed enough to allow certain features at a certain price point) was a reaction to this. If this wasn't the case, well, wtf?

[Jorpho]

The GB Micro came out later, and it didn't have a dedicated jack either. (In that case, it was shared with the link cable.)

Any more thoughts on getting this doohickey? Maybe someone knows what charger brands other than Arsenal might have included it?

[theclaw]

At least GB Micro restored the headphone part. Of course for us with gigantic hands, it's hard to have much praise of that model. Then again even Saturn is rather void of ideal controller choices in our case. Let alone a GB Micro.

[BetaWolf47]

That's what I don't like about the GBA line. There really is no ideal hardware for it. The original has no backlight or rechargeable battery. The SP isn't built as well (power switches lose conductivity over time) and has no headphone jack. The micro is too small. The DS and DS Lite don't support the link cable and don't have ideal button placement. At least the micro is good for non-action games like SRPGs and JRPGs.

[Jorpho]

The SP isn't built as well (power switches lose conductivity over time)Whoa whoa what? No one mentioned that in my other thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153421).

If that's the reason my SP kept dying unexpectedly, and not some kind of wacky battery issue, then I can do without using headphones while charging after all.

I can't seem to find much information about this problem, though; I mean, if it was that common, I'd expect Youtube vids and suchlike popping up.

[llky]

yes there is one, i find this RJ45 Ethernet Splitter Connector Adapter (http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?type=id&q=d262770&ru=28800295), you might want to check it out

[BetaWolf47]

It's not something people really notice. Either that, or I'm unlucky. But while the system has been on for a while, if you wiggle the power switch around a bit, you'll see the LED turn from green to red to green again. It just seems that the switch mechanism is cheaper than the original's or micro's.

[Jorpho]

I was thinking about this again recently. Has something better-constructed and more readily-available materialized in the last two years?

I did find http://dx.com/p/2-in-1-rf-stereo-wireless-headphone-with-radio-for-gameboy-advance-sp-4491 , which looks like you can plug in a charger and headphones simultaneously, but it's impossible to tell – the headphone jack might only be for the built-in radio. Also, it's sold out.

[BlastProcessing402]

Nothing crappy about them, really. Except that they won't let you charge while you're using them.

The one I have reverses the stereo. Right channel comes out left headphone, etc. That's a little crappy.

(yeah replying to a 2011 post, I know)

[Jorpho]

So I found this Gamester Headphone Audio Out Adapter (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gamester-Headphone-Audio-Out-Adapter-for-Nintendo-GameBoy-Advance-SP-GBA-System-/111258524389?pt=US_Video_Game_Cables_Adapters&hash=item19e7865ae5). I contacted the seller and was informed that the side not shown does indeed have a female charging port along with a headphone jack, meaning this should in theory allow simultaneous charging and use of headphones.

A bit more digging suggests that this doodad is a component of the Gamester Nintendo GameBoy Advance SP Starter Kit (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gamester-Nintendo-GameBoy-Advance-SP-Starter-Kit-/230598081394?pt=UK_Video_Games_Accessory_Bundles&hash=item35b0b77b72).

I think I might try ordering one of these, but have any of you encountered something like this before? Do you have pictures? Does it actually work as suggested?

EDIT: Pictures are available in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgsffjNIrQg . No indication of its functionality, though.

The adapter also appears to be inside the "Phat Pack":
http://www.amazon.com/GAMESTER-Game-Boy-Advance-Phat-Pack/dp/B0000A3SIR/ref=pd_sxp_f_i

And there's a manual at http://service.mattel.com/instruction_sheets/73810.pdf which touts a "dual input of both the headphones and the power adapter".

[wiggyx]

That's what I don't like about the GBA line. There really is no ideal hardware for it. The original has no backlight or rechargeable battery. The SP isn't built as well (power switches lose conductivity over time) and has no headphone jack. The micro is too small. The DS and DS Lite don't support the link cable and don't have ideal button placement. At least the micro is good for non-action games like SRPGs and JRPGs.

There's a solution to this problem ;)


It's not something people really notice. Either that, or I'm unlucky. But while the system has been on for a while, if you wiggle the power switch around a bit, you'll see the LED turn from green to red to green again. It just seems that the switch mechanism is cheaper than the original's or micro's.

The power switches on the original GBA and the SP are prone to being touchy. There's a pretty simple solution to the problem though. If anyone needs to restore one, let me know and I'll explain how to repair the switch.

[Jorpho]

The power switches on the original GBA and the SP are prone to being touchy. There's a pretty simple solution to the problem though. If anyone needs to restore one, let me know and I'll explain how to repair the switch.Prithee, what's the solution? No need to tease. ;) (Or would you prefer to start a new thread?)

[xelement5x]

Prithee, what's the solution? No need to tease. ;) (Or would you prefer to start a new thread?)

Yeah, I would't mind hearing the fix either since I've got an SP that has the exact problem.

[wiggyx]

No, it was just more than I wanted to write out at the time.

The problem seems to be that the switch either becomes logged with dirt/dust/debris, or suffers from a little corrosion, care if its rather open design. This is what I/we do and it seems to solve the problem about 95% of the time. You'll really want a syringe with a needle attached. If you don't have a diabetic aunt or a serious drug problem, then you'll have to find another method by which to deliver the fluid. 91% or greater isopropyl injected right into the switch itself. Saturate it really well, then quickly flick the switch back and forth a few dozen times (a tweezers is really helpful here). Then blast the switch with canned air until you're certain that it's nice and dry, then give it a go. Like I said, this solves the problem almost every time. A large percentage of the GBAs that I purchase have this issue and this is the solution which has proven both very successful and quite simple. Absolute last ditch effort is doing the same thing with Tarn-X, followed by the isopropyl to clean up the Tarn-X (which is very important, as Tarn-X will actually cause corrosion if left sitting for too long). With this combo, I can safely say that 99% of power switch issues with the GBA & GBA SP can be resolved :)

[Rickstilwell1]

What about this one: Is there a splitter for both charging your PSP Go and using the video output cable that uses the same port as the charger?

Or when the battery is dead in x years will it be impossible to use the video cable ever again?

[Leo_A]

Wiggyx, my backlit SP has this problem. Thanks for the information.

If anyone wants to pursue this, I found this handy picture tutorial a while back. Was considering buying a SP for parts to cannibalize the switch from but I'll instead try to resurrect the original power switch.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Game+Boy+Advance+SP+Power+Switch+Replacem ent/12889

One peculiar thing it started doing the last time I used it though was that it had started turning itself off during gameplay (Prior to this, the switch would just immediately lose contact when powering it on, but once I had it on it would stay on). I assumed that this was just a symptom of the power switch progressively getting worse. But then it gave me a low battery light and charging it took just a few minutes before it again showed a full charge.

Could the battery issue also be related to the power switch itself? Or should I perhaps plan on also replacing the battery even though I doubt it has ever seen more than 20 charges since I bought this system new the last year that they could easily be found at retail around Christmas time (So it's one of the youngest Game Boy Advance handhelds out there).

[Jorpho]

Well, good to know the switch thing is so straightforward. Thank you for that.

But I guess the only way I'm going to get to the bottom of this Gamester thing is to order it up and see what happens...

[BetaWolf47]

No, it was just more than I wanted to write out at the time.

The problem seems to be that the switch either becomes logged with dirt/dust/debris, or suffers from a little corrosion, care if its rather open design. This is what I/we do and it seems to solve the problem about 95% of the time. You'll really want a syringe with a needle attached. If you don't have a diabetic aunt or a serious drug problem, then you'll have to find another method by which to deliver the fluid. 91% or greater isopropyl injected right into the switch itself. Saturate it really well, then quickly flick the switch back and forth a few dozen times (a tweezers is really helpful here). Then blast the switch with canned air until you're certain that it's nice and dry, then give it a go. Like I said, this solves the problem almost every time. A large percentage of the GBAs that I purchase have this issue and this is the solution which has proven both very successful and quite simple. Absolute last ditch effort is doing the same thing with Tarn-X, followed by the isopropyl to clean up the Tarn-X (which is very important, as Tarn-X will actually cause corrosion if left sitting for too long). With this combo, I can safely say that 99% of power switch issues with the GBA & GBA SP can be resolved :)

Much appreciated. I'll have to try that. Would have been good to know about three years ago. :P

[wiggyx]

No prob, folks. I've gutted more than my fair share at this point, and have little reservation about trying most anything to bring one back to life, so I've tried all manner of wacky idea before figuring this out. Glad I could help :)

[Jorpho]

Yes, there is one made by Madcatz. Here's a picture of it:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5383/p7310458.jpgCan anyone at least figure out which Mad Catz kit might have included this thing? It's not the Starter Kit SP (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008XKZ8/), nor does it appear that it was sold separately.

EDIT: Ahh, it's the Macro Kit! (http://ca.ign.com/articles/2003/03/28/mad-catz-macro-kit-sp-review) Unfortunately no one is selling one. :(

[xelement5x]

Thanks wiggy! I will have to give it a try.

[Jorpho]

Well, my Gamester Starter Pack SP arrived today, and preliminary tests are favorable! I can play stuff on my EZ-Flash IV while charging and using headphones at the same time, and the power light stays a steady green. There is no discernible difference in sound quality, even in my nice oversized "cans". If it was really that easy to make a functional adapter like this, then I have to wonder: why the heck are they so hard to find!?

In case you're wondering, if I plug my standard SP headphone adapter into the Gamester adapter's power jack, then it basically acts as a Y-splitter and I can get sound from two pairs of headphones at once.

I'm a little concerned that there might actually be some kind of loose connection within my SP, as I eventually managed to get the SP to shut down while I was plugging adapters in and out of the power jack. Maybe the problems I've been having can be attributed to wiggling the headphone adapter the wrong way? Also, at one point this happened (click for big):
7372
That's a B&W Game Boy game (played from a genuine Nintendo Game Boy cartridge), except instead of appearing in a square in the middle of the screen, with black bars on either side, the image has been stretched horizontally to fill the entire GBA SP screen! I can only surmise that some circuit or another got interrupted briefly.

[wiggyx]

The R and L buttons toggle normal aspect ratio and stretched (don't know if you knew that or not).

[Jorpho]

Oh. Oops. No, I did not know that. :embarrassed:

[Tanooki]

You can also pick whatever colors you want too between a D-pad direction alone or coupled with the B or A button. The GB micro also has shortcuts too like holding I think L+volume to up/down the brightness. Nintendo likes to hide or not so hide in plain sight interesting features.

[Eternal Champion]

Can anyone at least figure out which Mad Catz kit might have included this thing? It's not the Starter Kit SP (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008XKZ8/), nor does it appear that it was sold separately.

EDIT: Ahh, it's the Macro Kit! (http://ca.ign.com/articles/2003/03/28/mad-catz-macro-kit-sp-review) Unfortunately no one is selling one. :(
Yep, I ended getting that one on Ebay for pretty cheap, not quite a year ago. Does the job.
Though, wiggy's modded model GBA would be the best :)