wired headphones w/ volume control connection to STB?

[chardagha1]

Hello FIOS community,

I have an elderly father who has a dedicated TV and STB in our family room.  His hearing has deteriorated and I would like to install a pair of wired headphones with a volume control for his use.  I currently have installed an old pair of Koss wired headphones through the Sony Bravia TV set using the RCA outputs, but the volume to the headphones is fixed at a certain level and I cannot raise or lower it.  Does anyone have a solution to my problem?  recommended brand of headphones, control settings, ...  I have attempted to use various wireless devices to no great avail;  TV Ears worked fine, but are cheaply made and easily broken. Other IR or RF products I have tried from Sony to Sennheiser, to Radio Shack have all been dismally poor in reception.  I would appreciate ANY assistance.  Thank you in advance.  

Chardagha

[Keyboards]

Line level outputs (like the RCA jacks on a TV or STB) are not designed to directly drive headphones.  They are intended as fixed level outputs to amplified devices (like a receiver or amplified speakers).

The simplest suggestion (if you want to use wired headphones) is to purchase an inexpensive amplifier with a headphone jack.  Connect the RCA audio outputs (either from the TV or STB) to the amplifier.  Plug in the headphones and voila!  For ease of volume control it would be helpful if the amplifier had a remote control.

An alternate (and more difficult solution) would be to tap off the TV speakers to the headphones.  Would require soldering and actually opening up the TV case to get to the speaker terminals (assuming the set doesn't have any external speaker connections).  Now the TV volume would also control the headphones.

[lasagna]

You want what's called a "headphone tap".   Search for that term on Amazon ... here's a sample link:

http://www.amazon.com/ART-HEADTAP-HeadTap-Headphone-Amp/dp/B0002E585Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electroni...

Take's line level inputs (like from the TV line out) and converts it to a headphone level output with a volume control.  It's actually a passive device, so no power is needed.  Musicians use these in scenarios where a monitor isn't effective or can't be used at a high enough level without causing feedback (experienced drummer speaking here).

[Keyboards]

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@lasagna wrote:

You want what's called a "headphone tap".   Search for that term on Amazon ... here's a sample link:

http://www.amazon.com/ART-HEADTAP-HeadTap-Headphone-Amp/dp/B0002E585Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electroni...

Take's line level inputs (like from the TV line out) and converts it to a headphone level output with a volume control.  It's actually a passive device, so no power is needed.  Musicians use these in scenarios where a monitor isn't effective or can't be used at a high enough level without causing feedback (experienced drummer speaking here).

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Not what the OP is looking for!!!!!

If you read the description it is passive because it hooks to the AMPLIFIER OUTPUT (also known as the speakers).  It does not accept line inputs as they are typically too low to power headphones.  It accepts speaker inputs and (from the Amazon link you provided) has a "Volume control regulates headphone output Internal resistors protect the phones" - meaning it reduces the power since headphones need much less than speakers and could be damaged by amplifier level.

Take it from an electronics engineer who is also an experienced keyboard player (hence my avatar).

[lasagna]

The model I have takes a line level input and gives a headphone out ... let me check the model numbers, mine is several years old.    I see however what you mean, it looks like mine, but then there's a post-amp reference in the description.

[lasagna]

Redundent

[lasagna]

OK ... I went and found the widget that I was using and it has HeadAmp written on it, not HeadTap.   So, I stand corrected -- thanks for the catch Keyboards.  That makes perfect sense now that I think about it.  Evidently, the ART company doesn't make the HeadAmp model any more (listed as discontinued on their website)  -- appears they only have a multichannel device now and it's a half-rack unit.

However, all is not lost, while I haven't located a unit which meets your requirements, you're looking for a Headphone Amp.

I kept stumbling over all manner of Wireless Headphones that took line level inputs into the base station ... but since you mentioned you tried that route and we'ren't happy with the results, I won't go do that path.

[GaryDoug]

Keyboards, that's almost exactly what I did for my father. Got a used Sony stereo receiver for $25 at a flea market. Made sure it had a headphone jack (easy part) and remote control (the hard part). Installed it on the shelf with the cable box and ran a 20' headphone extension cord ($15) along the baseboard to his recliner. Worked great with headphones he already used.

PS, I understand some TV's allow you to control the amplitude of the audio line out signal with the TV volume control. Mine did not. But maybe this guy's would. He should check the manual. Might not need an amp with remote.

Or connect the amp to the STB audio output jacks instead of the TV. If they are in use, he could use 2 Y-adapters. Then set the STB to have variable volume control. The drawback there is it only works for the STB, not if he uses a DVD player, etc.