I’ve added a lot of accessories to my desk over the years, but rarely do I find one that ultimately solves a problem I didn’t want to fix in the first place.
From a portable monitor with touchscreen to a Monitor light bar to make work easier in the evening and even a Foot pedal to execute keyboard shortcuts with a tap under my desk, I love trying out new gadgets and finding a way to integrate them into my Desk setup. However, this time I was just looking for a simple solution to protect my headphones from damage and I ended up coming across something even more useful.
When checking the best standing desksOne small feature that always stands out is when a company includes headphone hooks. Although I usually prefer a pair of the best computer speakers When I sit at my desk, I sometimes reach for a pair Over-ear headphones, and it’s nice to have it right next to my desk.
This was perfect when my son was a baby, but when he became a toddler, he was immediately fascinated by my headphones. When he started using them regularly one of my old gaming headsets as a belt was carried around the house, I knew it was time to switch from a headphone hook to a headphone stand. To this end, I bought an inexpensive headphone stand to support my Atlas Air Headset-Safe, however, during my search I came across a slightly more expensive model that immediately caught my attention.
As it turns out, this headphone stand actually served a dual purpose. Not only does it protect my headphones, but it also gives me easier access to the hard-to-reach USB ports on the back of my computer. For this reason, the Satechi Aluminum USB Headphone Stand has earned a permanent place on my desk.
A new home for my headphones
If you do a quick search for headphone stands online, you’ll find that most of them are pretty basic and just offer a way to keep your headphones safe. However, if you’re willing to spend a little more, there are some with wireless charging and even RGB lighting. Like my Nothing Phone 2 is still going strong, the integrated wireless charging is not something I was willing to pay extra for. If you are interested, Satechi’s latest headphone stand ($80, Amazon) does that and even supports MagSafe.
In my search for the perfect headphone stand, I came across the Satechi Aluminum USB Headphone Stand, which was released in 2016. In addition to its all-aluminum design, this headphone stand also features three USB-A ports and even a 3.5mm audio jack, so you can easily connect your wired headphones to your PC.
There are also two plastic hooks on the back to store wired headphones. Since I mainly use wireless headphones these days, I plan to use them to store the wired USB-C headphones which I recently purchased on a trip when my old Bluetooth headphones just wouldn’t connect to my phone. Although this headphone stand first came out eight years ago, it has a USB-C port on the back instead of a micro USB port for connecting to your computer.
If you own one of the best MacBooks or any other Apple device, this headphone stand will match the rest of your gear perfectly. At launch, it was available in four brushed aluminum finishes, but today you can find it on Satechi’s website in either space gray or silver. Coincidentally, I bought mine on eBay when it was out of stock at Amazon, although at the time of writing this article you can needed for a little cheaper on Amazon.
Sound and memory combined
After unboxing Satechi’s Aluminum USB Headphone Stand, it took less than a minute to put everything together. All I had to do was insert the stand into its base, push down, and it was ready to use, as there were no screws needed. To connect it to my computer, I simply plugged one end of a USB-C cable into the stand and the other into the mini PC I use for this particular desk setup.
This desk setup is a bit different than some of the others in my house, as I have one of the best mini PCs mounted on the Back of the monitor Pictured above. I love that my computer is completely out of sight, but if I need to access one of its ports, I have to go behind my monitor, which can be awkward. However, with this headphone stand, I can now access three USB-A ports and even a 3.5mm audio jack without all that hassle.
I doubt most people have a mini PC mounted to the back of their monitor like I do, but if you have a desktop computer mounted on the floor or underside of your desk, a headphone stand with a built-in USB hub could be useful.
With everything connected, it was time to test the Satechi Aluminum USB Headphone Stand’s ports. Since I take photos with a DSLR camera rather than my phone, my trusty SanDisk microSD card reader always comes in handy. I plugged it in first and everything worked fine. I often use the best USB sticks to quickly move files and photos between all my computers. So I tried connecting two at once and they all showed up on my PC.
Since all three USB-A ports on the front of this headphone stand are USB 3.0, you can transfer files at up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). If you’re working with really large files, this might not be fast enough, but for most people this should be fine.
I also tested the 3.5mm audio jack on the far right of the headphone stand, as the jack on my mini PC is even harder to reach than the USB ports. The audio from several YouTube videos and some of my favorite songs came through cleanly, and with this jack so easily accessible, I may not neglect my wired headphones as much and use them a little more often than I have in the past.
Not just for looks
Don’t get me wrong, aesthetically pleasing desk accessories are great, but it’s even better when you find something that not only looks really snazzy, but also helps solve another problem you may not have even known you had. This headphone stand ticks both boxes for me, and I’m sure this is the kind of desk accessory people will be asking for when they walk into my home office.
While most people now use wireless devices, I still prefer wired ones. Not only are they much cheaper, but they mostly work as intended without you having to put in a lot of effort. Having a place to store my headphones and a USB hub in the same accessory fits my workflow better than just being able to charge my phone.
However, since it’s an 8-year-old product, I fear its days may be numbered. If you want a stylish headphone stand with actual usable ports, I recommend getting one while you still can. I’m glad I did.
