Bluetooth headphones for listening to TV

[C Lee Farquar]

As I'm getting older I'm finding it more difficult to hear the TV clearly without deafening the rest of the family.

So I asked for a pair of Bose QC 11 headphones for my birthday. Now I realise my Sony 1050 AV amp only receives bluetooth, it doesn't transmit.

Google searching suggests I may be able to fit a transmitter but the best way to connect is via the headphone socket, and this amp then turns the speakers off. I need the headphones to work with the speakers. Also, lag is mentioned, that does my head in.

Anyone know of a suitable transmitter and a way to wire it so that the speakers will work at the same time?

The headphones were an extravagance, I really don't want to buy a new amp as well. I don't listen to music on my phone so I really have no other use for them.

[Jabbah]

My mum had a BT transmitter and headphones to play an electric piano quietly but had an issue with lag. They added about half a second which makes playing the piano and listening to TV rather frustrating. There is a low latency BT standard that some transmitters and headphones use, however my B&W PXs don't have any lag when playing videos on my phone or laptop and neither of those have low latency BT support.

For the dual sound requirement, as you are connecting through an AV amp there is usually the option to pass the sound to the TV as well as out of the amp's speakers. You could then plug a BT transmitter into the TV headphone jack. This may add more lag though.

ETA: Have you considered a hearing aid?

[C Lee Farquar]

I've tried using the headphone jack on the Tv for a wired connection (Panasonic plasma) but for some reason it only works on the SD channels.

Thinking I'll try and use the 3.5 plugs.

A wired solution would be fine

[benz0]

Connect the transmitter to an RCA out on your amp using an rca to 3.5mm jack lead.

[C Lee Farquar]

Thanks for your reply.

There are audio out RCA sockets on the amp. Can you recommend a transmitter that would have negligible latency or do you think I'd be better with a wired connection?

[wseed]

I bought my other half one of these to connect her classic ipod to the car/hifi... works pretty well although I can't say I've tested it for lag but not much to loose if it bothers you. There will be lag on any BT I've tried numerous and they all suffer a little. I'll try and test how much delay tomorrow.

[wseed]

Oh also that link is a Chinese website it took a couple of weeks to deliver and I'm assuming I've as good as no warranty.

[FlossyThePig]

C Lee Farquar said:

...I'm finding it more difficult to hear the TV clearly without deafening the rest of the family...

Are you approaching the problem from the wrong direction? I've been through the TV volume problem, which was solved when I accepted my problem.

Through my GP I had a hearing test at the audiology department at my local hospital. Shock, horror, I needed hearing aids. When I first got them SWMBO asked if we could have the TV volume increased as she couldn't hear it.

Last year the NHS replaced my old aids with ones half the size that have wireless functionality. With the addition of a dongle I can attach to various BT devices. I mainly connect via BT to my phone and iMac. The manufacturer (Oticon) also makes a TV adapter which can connect using the optical output from the TV (there is a second optical connector to pass the signal on to other devices, AV amp, Soundbar, etc.)

[red997]

look for Bluetooth equipment that supports Aptx - low latency
both transmitters and headphones.
Amazon sell a reasonable transmitter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06WD8Z21S/ref...

[C Lee Farquar]

red997 said:

look for Bluetooth equipment that supports Aptx - low latency
both transmitters and headphones.
Amazon sell a reasonable transmitter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06WD8Z21S/ref...

Thanks, that looks like exactly what I want, I'll get one ordered.

I don't want a hearing aid, I have a wife and young daughters.

[C Lee Farquar]

Arrived today, plugged in and working.

Does what I wanted, thanks. There is a small lag, but acceptable.