Simple audio amplifier to drive headphones?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Simple audio amplifier to drive headphones?

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Awrrr
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#2924046 8-Jun-2022 18:47

The other option is FM wireless. I saw a few while looking at Bluetooth headphones. I have one myself but I thought Bluetooth might be better. Mine just plugs into the headphones jack on the TV which has line output and is always on. The ones I saw on different sites are around $120.

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Rikkitic

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#2924052 8-Jun-2022 19:10

Here is one from JB Hifi. Nothing to assemble or set up. Just plug and play.

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geekIT

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#2924055 8-Jun-2022 19:12

Apparently they'd already tried Bluetooth and it was very laggy.

Rikkitik: FM wireless? Sounds promising. Can you post a link please?

Oh, the budget. Around $250 max.

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#2924062 8-Jun-2022 19:29

I did post a link. See above.

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Goosey

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#2924126 8-Jun-2022 22:26

"Innovations" seem to be the elderly friendly shop... heres one example....

https://www.innovations.co.nz/p/electronics/audio-sound/wireless-tv-speaker?affiliate=AD5INSM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI65f50dGd-AIVqJpmAh0q-AxEEAQYASABEgJRufD_BwE

richms

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#2924136 9-Jun-2022 01:06

geekIT:

Apparently they'd already tried Bluetooth and it was very laggy.

Rikkitik: FM wireless? Sounds promising. Can you post a link please?

Oh, the budget. Around $250 max.

Bluetooth is laggy with junk gear. There are specific low latency codecs that they need to support to be usable for real time stuff, but simpler than that is to stick with wired.

How about this? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000128362733.html - passes the optical input thru, has a volume knob and specced for a reasonable amount of power into low impedance headphones, and is $20ish. Bin the supplied AC adapter and pick a legit one up locally or find one from an old router or something and away you go.

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SATTV

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#2924153 9-Jun-2022 08:18

I think people here are over complicating things.

When dealing with elderly, simple is good.

An amp like this will work.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/listing/3627677186

Does not have RCA in but you can get a RCA to 3.5mm cable for a few dollars,

You probably will need to provide a wall wart to run this and I am sure most people will have one lying around.

I have been where you are.

Good luck.

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Oblivian

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#2924184 9-Jun-2022 10:59

SATTV:
I think people here are over complicating things.

The request appears to be doing that

It's not quite clear but reads heavily as We have 3 people to please from one device. Not just one person.

One is fine with tv audio.
One is fine with hearing aid assistance of that tv audio
The third wants to wear headphones with independent volume.

These days even that device can be trivial for just one of those without muting output of the others. (Seems moreso if a soundbar and digital out is already involved)
headphone out can double as digital pcm out and disable hdmi etc.

If all 3 need to be pleased, tv will need to simultaneously output digital and built in headphone/rca and remain in sync?

jarledb

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#2924199 9-Jun-2022 12:05

Looks to me like you can use the pre-out audio on the Sony DA1200ES to connect a headphone amplifier for the aunt. So just get a cheap-ish headphone amplifier with analog in and you should be fine.

I found a simple headphone amplifier. I don't know the product or the shop so can't make a recommendation. It is just an example of a product that would do what you want.

darkstar.co.nz: Stereo Headphone Amplifier ($43)

I am sure others here might be able to make recommendations based on experience with a similar amplifier.

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Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#2924224 9-Jun-2022 12:53

jarledb:

Looks to me like you can use the pre-out audio on the Sony DA1200ES to connect a headphone amplifier for the aunt. So just get a cheap-ish headphone amplifier with analog in and you should be fine.

I found a simple headphone amplifier. I don't know the product or the shop so can't make a recommendation. It is just an example of a product that would do what you want.

darkstar.co.nz: Stereo Headphone Amplifier ($43)

I am sure others here might be able to make recommendations based on experience with a similar amplifier.

That little amp looks like the perfect solution to me. I also saw a few like that. The only drawback, if it is an issue, is the wired connection. Since we don't know the sitting position, I can't comment on that.

The other solution, which I have noted above, is the FM wireless headphone. This is what I use. I have a Philips model similar to the one linked to, except it is about 20 years older. It still works fine.

When I started making suggestions, I got sidetracked by the idea of Bluetooth but the little FM earphone is actually better in this case. Either that or the wired amp above. Either should be fine.

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nitro

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#2924238 9-Jun-2022 13:10

geekIT:

Ergo, while the TV also has an unused headphone jack, I would expect that the jack's output would either be dependent on the TV's volume level, or even cut out altogether if headphones are connected. I'll test this tomorrow.

One thing that might work, is to split the optical out signal and route it to a small amp, which more or less brings me back to my original query.

What do you think?

some tvs have a separate volume level setting for headphones, not sure about this tcl.

since they already have a 7506 plugged into a receiver, have you considered trying a headphone splitter?

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Kookoo

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#2924703 10-Jun-2022 13:11

This is very similar to what I got from Jaycar. The output is RCA but you can easily plug an adapter into it that gives a 3.5mm female.

The quality isn't fantastic but it does the job.

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geekIT

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#2925288 11-Jun-2022 16:54

Connecting phones direct to the TV sounded the simplest solution, so I took the long drive to my mate's place in Dunedin to check it out. Durn. Plugging in the headphones immediately disconnected the TV sound, so that was out.

It seems the best idea will be a small amp that several of you suggested. It'll need a TOSLINK input plus a TOSLINK splitter to share the TV's optical signal with the Sony receiver. Thence some wired phones to connect with the said small amp, possibly with their own volume control and maybe even with noise cancelling.

Thanks all for the helpful suggestions.

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Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#2925298 11-Jun-2022 17:31

geekIT:

Connecting phones direct to the TV sounded the simplest solution, so I took the long drive to my mate's place in Dunedin to check it out. Durn. Plugging in the headphones immediately disconnected the TV sound, so that was out.

It seems the best idea will be a small amp that several of you suggested. It'll need a TOSLINK input plus a TOSLINK splitter to share the TV's optical signal with the Sony receiver. Thence some wired phones to connect with the said small amp, possibly with their own volume control and maybe even with noise cancelling.

Thanks all for the helpful suggestions.

Check the audio setup in the menu. There may be a setting to have headphones and speakers on together.

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Oblivian

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#2925335 11-Jun-2022 18:16

Very unlikely, as it can raise audio delays with the processing settings. Especially when using any form potential dual port use of analoge+digital decoding like a 3.5.jack.

Is why earlier I warned getting multiple outputs can be difficult these days without tapping an analogue output. As often it disables the others and focuses on the format chosen.

Likewise hooking BT to samsungs, turns off the normal speakers.

Looking at the manual, they're an andoidOS with very basic output control. Ringing true with the likes of a phone that generally only allows external,internal,or bt. But not multiple.

https://www.tcl.com/ca/en/blog/article/tcl-audio-connections

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