CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[MYoung]

I set-up an entry-level surround sound system for an elderly couple. After setting it up I came to the realization that they want to be able to have the guy, who's hard of hearing, use a pair of wireless headphones while she listens to the sound coming out of the speakers. That way he can turn up the sound loud enough to hear it on his headphones without making it blaring loud on the speakers for her. The only problem is that the stupid ass receiver cuts off sound to the speakers when headphones are inserted! I'm wondering if anyone has ideas around this. Here are the possibilities I've thought of...

1) Find a way to split the sound from the left and right channels to send to both the left and right speakers and the headphones. Though I don't know if that's possible as those outputs are driving speakers, not headphones. Thus it could damage something. Plus, for surround sound, the center channel would be omitted so dialog probably wouldn't be heard on the headphones -- very problematic. On second thought, forget this idea!

1) Hook up their devices (DirecTV, VCR, and DVD player) through the TV via stereo and send the TV's audio output to a stereo RCA jack audio splitter, one which would go to the headphones and the other which would go to the receiver. The fact that their TV has an audio output might be my saving grace.

2) Find a used surround sound receiver that can output to both the speakers and the headphone jack at the same time. Though the problem with that is the subwoofer that came with this el cheapo Sony system isn't self-amplified and I think most older receivers assume you are using a self-amplified subwoofer. I know my older Sony STR-DE635 (which outputs sound to the speakers regardless of whether headphones are plugged in) is that way.

[ecrabb]

Most wireless headphones use a preamp output as their input, and then put the volume control on the headphones themselves. You should be able to just use the preamp output on the minisystem (it has one, right?), or as you're thinking on the TV.

New headphones might be solution of the current cans don't have a line level pre-in.

SC

[Curt Palme]

1) Wireless is a good idea. Use the tape output of the receiver for line level output, the headphones have the volume control right on it. That way the receiver's volume doesn't affect the headphone level.

2) Headphones usually are 25-50 ohms or so nowadays, so putting a jack in parallel to the speakers won't hurt them. You'll need to put a couple of 100 ohm 2 watt resistors (or higher maybe) in series with the hot leads of the headphone jack so the wearer isn't blasted out of their chair when hubby turns up the volume.

[Curt Palme]

1) Wireless is a good idea. Use the tape output of the receiver for line level output, the headphones have the volume control right on it. That way the receiver's volume doesn't affect the headphone level.

2) Headphones usually are 25-50 ohms or so nowadays, so putting a jack in parallel to the speakers won't hurt them. You'll need to put a couple of 100 ohm 2 watt resistors (or higher maybe) in series with the hot leads of the headphone jack so the wearer isn't blasted out of their chair when hubby turns up the volume.

[MYoung]

The receiver is barebones. It has inputs, speaker outputs, and a headphone jack, that's it. $100 on clearance with el cheapo speakers and subwoofer and almost worth every penny! I think I'm going to pipe everything though the TV, use RCA phono jack splitters on the TV's audio output to effectively give me 2 sets of sound output, one which will go to the wireless headphones and the other to the receiver.

I have to wonder if the TV's volume control will affect the sound level coming out of the TV's audio outputs. The manual leads you to believe that it does, but why have such outputs controlled by the TV's volume control when you'd likely not be using the TV's speakers when using that audio output on the TV? I suppose so long as the volume is set on the TV just right and left alone, all volume control can be handled by the receiver for the speakers and by the volume control on the wireless headphones.

What a PITA!

Thanks for the input, guys!

[betel]

If you're handy with a soldering iron, take the cover off the receiver and defeat the switch in the headphone receptacle. Should be a very simple mod.