Patent ID: 7103189

Claim:
An audio system for use with a personal computer, the audio system comprising: a first voltage supply; a first switch; a second voltage supply coupled to the first voltage supply; a second switch; an audio amplifier including an inverting amplifier and a non-inverting amplifier, an input signal being coupled in parallel to each amplifier; an output of the noninverting amplifier being coupled to a first speaker output connection; an output of the inverting amplifier being coupled through the first switch to a second speaker output connection; a jack sense indicator coupled for driving the first switch and detecting connection of a listening device to a jack; in response to the jack sense indicator determining that the listening device is connected to the jack, the jack sense indicator causing the first switch to be driven open and a signal path between the inverting amplifier and the first speaker to be interrupted; and in response to the listening device being connected to the jack, the jack sense indicator causing the second switch to couple the non-inverting amplifier to the second voltage supply rather than to the first voltage supply.