Alternive ways of connecting headphones
Discussion
I’m ‘hard of hearing’, more or less deaf in one ear and struggling with the other. I’m told that earphone connection to a TV is the way to go, given that I have to have it turned up to discomfort levels for anyone else in the room.
It seems the best bluetooth headphones are not cheap and before spending a fair bit on them, I wanted to see if it would be of benefit.
Rather than waste money on a cheap headset, only to discard them ifI didn't find it useful, I was wondering if I could use my 3.5mm wired JVC headphones.
If I buy a transmitter from the TV, such as a TaoTronics one, https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013ULOP10/r... if I bought a second and used it as a receiver, would I be able to connect my headphones and hear the TV?
I’d then be able to use the second Tao on another device if I opt for a decent set of headphones.
It seems the best bluetooth headphones are not cheap and before spending a fair bit on them, I wanted to see if it would be of benefit.
Rather than waste money on a cheap headset, only to discard them ifI didn't find it useful, I was wondering if I could use my 3.5mm wired JVC headphones.
If I buy a transmitter from the TV, such as a TaoTronics one, https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013ULOP10/r... if I bought a second and used it as a receiver, would I be able to connect my headphones and hear the TV?
I’d then be able to use the second Tao on another device if I opt for a decent set of headphones.
Two of those should be fine, as they seem to say they're both transmit & receive...assuming you can power the receiver.
It's similar to what my father does - but he only uses them of an evening when he wants to be a bit quiet - but he didn't have any headphone sin the first place, so it was easy to buy the cheap Sennheiser RS160 all-in-one kit (since changed to a cheap Sony RF811 set as the earpads were falling apart after 5 years).
The only issue we had with our older TV was that plugging in the headphones would mute any other sound output, so no-one else in the room could hear the TV. Also, have you checked whether the TV has bluetooth audio built-in, so that you'd only need a receiver (or bluetooth headphones).
Not a problem if you're by yourself, but something to check if you're sharing viewing.
It's similar to what my father does - but he only uses them of an evening when he wants to be a bit quiet - but he didn't have any headphone sin the first place, so it was easy to buy the cheap Sennheiser RS160 all-in-one kit (since changed to a cheap Sony RF811 set as the earpads were falling apart after 5 years).
The only issue we had with our older TV was that plugging in the headphones would mute any other sound output, so no-one else in the room could hear the TV. Also, have you checked whether the TV has bluetooth audio built-in, so that you'd only need a receiver (or bluetooth headphones).
Not a problem if you're by yourself, but something to check if you're sharing viewing.
If you;re hard of hearing, it might be worth considering headphones designed specifically for that?
I used to sell AKG, and there was a specific wireless headphone designed to make tv clearer for speech, was an open design so you could still talk to poeple in the room, etc etc. Might be better than faffing around with recievers and wires etc.
AKG don't seem to mkae those ones I knew of any more, but others will. A quick google points to this
https://besthearinghealth.com/hearing-impaired-hea...
...and the idea of bone conducting phones might be good? I realise it's a months wait, but a trip to Amplifon or similar shop might get a better result for you than transmitter / reciever and hope for the best? FWIW I thought I could use wireless years ago (pre bluetooth) to send audio across a room, it came out muffled and horrid and I have normal ears - these were the Argos type ones and the quality of the audio was just pants. Obviously no idea what your proposed recievers are like, but by the time you've got a good one, it might be easier to just get good headphones anyway?
Whatever you do, hope you find something that works =)
I used to sell AKG, and there was a specific wireless headphone designed to make tv clearer for speech, was an open design so you could still talk to poeple in the room, etc etc. Might be better than faffing around with recievers and wires etc.
AKG don't seem to mkae those ones I knew of any more, but others will. A quick google points to this
https://besthearinghealth.com/hearing-impaired-hea...
...and the idea of bone conducting phones might be good? I realise it's a months wait, but a trip to Amplifon or similar shop might get a better result for you than transmitter / reciever and hope for the best? FWIW I thought I could use wireless years ago (pre bluetooth) to send audio across a room, it came out muffled and horrid and I have normal ears - these were the Argos type ones and the quality of the audio was just pants. Obviously no idea what your proposed recievers are like, but by the time you've got a good one, it might be easier to just get good headphones anyway?
Whatever you do, hope you find something that works =)
How do you intend to adjust the volume to your headphones?
Do your wired phones have a volume control or your bluetooth receiver?
I have set up bluetooth transmitters connected to both 3.5mm audio out from TVs and also to the digital output from a TV (Toslink).
This transmits to a cheap pair of bluetooth headphone (with a volume control)
On the whole this set-up works well but there is a 1/4 second delay in the audio which is disconcerting (lips are not in sync). Also, if other people are listening as normal, the delay between what you are listening to and the sound from speakers can sound weird.
ETA: You can also add a cheap graphic equaliser between the TV and your bluetooth transmitter to boost higher frequencies and make speech clearer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-FBQ800-Minifbq-...
Do your wired phones have a volume control or your bluetooth receiver?
I have set up bluetooth transmitters connected to both 3.5mm audio out from TVs and also to the digital output from a TV (Toslink).
This transmits to a cheap pair of bluetooth headphone (with a volume control)
On the whole this set-up works well but there is a 1/4 second delay in the audio which is disconcerting (lips are not in sync). Also, if other people are listening as normal, the delay between what you are listening to and the sound from speakers can sound weird.
ETA: You can also add a cheap graphic equaliser between the TV and your bluetooth transmitter to boost higher frequencies and make speech clearer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-FBQ800-Minifbq-...
Edited by nyt on Wednesday 24th March 13:45
If you want to just test if it works before buying an expensive set of headphones can't you just use a 3.5mm jack extension cable?
An alternative way to play about with it would be watch something on a laptop with the headphones plugged in to the laptop and HDMI from the laptop to the telly (or cast if you have a chromecast/firestick or similar), In theory (I've not tried it) you might be able to output audio on both the headphones and the HDMI so others in the room get the TV audio too.
An alternative way to play about with it would be watch something on a laptop with the headphones plugged in to the laptop and HDMI from the laptop to the telly (or cast if you have a chromecast/firestick or similar), In theory (I've not tried it) you might be able to output audio on both the headphones and the HDMI so others in the room get the TV audio too.
Thanks for your help, guys. Given me quite a bit to think about. I like the ones designed specifically for those losing their hearing. There's an Avantree, the HT280 which, at £90, seems reasonable.
It probably doesn't seem much of a problem to most, but it does get to you after a while. Mask wearing has hurt my hearing no end. I didn't realise how much I depended on reading lips. The irony is that now, if I want to hear anyone who's wearing a mask, I tend to stand nearer them.
It probably doesn't seem much of a problem to most, but it does get to you after a while. Mask wearing has hurt my hearing no end. I didn't realise how much I depended on reading lips. The irony is that now, if I want to hear anyone who's wearing a mask, I tend to stand nearer them.
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