Audio RCA output

[Merlin5]

I suggested to my mum about listening to her TV with earphones. Would it work by plugging a cable into the red and white RCA sockets on the TV, and at the other end of the cable, a minijack socket for earphones? I had a look at the back of TV but didn't see a dedicated earphone jack. It's a large Samsung set, about 2 years old.

 

[Merlin5]

yup it should work get a rca to 3.5mm jack then a long leaded headphones as you dont want your mum sitting 2ft away from tv

Yeah, I'll buy an RCA to female 3.5mm, and a 3m or 5m male to female minijack extension lead.

But someone told me that she might not be able to control the TV volume coming directly out of the RCA sockets?

 

[Merlin5]

That's correct. The TVs amplifier only controls it's internal speakers and any headphone socket the TV may have.

The reason that RCA outputs are not controlled by the TVs internal amplifier is because the output volume level is a set standard known as 'line level'. Basically, it allows a cleaner signal output, than if it were to go through the TVs amplifier.

Are you sure the RCAs are audio outputs though?

TVs that have only RCA inputs are much more common than TVs that have outputs as well. Commonly you get components input, which is three RCA for the video (red, green, blue) and then two RCA for the audio (red, white). It's these red and white RCA connections that some people get confused about, thinking they are able to output audio when in fact they are inputs.

If the TV has RCA audio output, it's likely to have 2 sets of red and white connections.

Hmm, good point Marsman. I'll have to take a photo of it when I'm next there and show you. It has the red and white connection and says Audio above them, but they may be only inputs, and I can't recall if there was a second pair of red and whites.

But even so, with no volume control from RCA outputs, is there a cheap alternative solution to allow her to listen with headphones and have control of the volume?

 

[Merlin5]

There aren't likely to be any cheap solutions with remote control, but you can get in line volume control adaptors for headphones. Something like this. Just connect one to an extension cable, then to the TVs RCA audio out.

If the TV doesn't have RCA audio out, then if it doesn't have a headphone output either, optical is the only other way really. If it has that, then you can add a cheap DAC, then connect extension and in line volume cable to that.

That's a great idea about the inline volume control! Looking at the back of my Samsung, it has both audio out and audio in, two sets of red and white, and optical out, and my TV is from about 2009, so hers which is newer surely will have audio out. I'm popping round there later to have a look.

 

[Merlin5]

Are you sure there isn't a headphone jack under a flap on the front or side?

Maybe if you gave us the model number of the TV, someone might have one and worked out how to connect headphones.

Yeah, I don't know the model but I'll be going round there later and will check everywhere on the set for a hidden jack and also check the RCA sockets and will report back with a model number.

 

[Merlin5]

Might also be worth getting wireless headphones. Might be easier to just leave the charging stand by the tv and she can pick the headphones up when needed that way and not have cables all over the place/be restricted by cable length.

Yeah, I'd briefly thought about wireless headphones. Would the headphones pick up signal from an infrared receiver that plugs into the TV? And how would volume be controlled?

 

[Merlin5]

Wireless headphones are certainly an option. You're still going to need RCA audio output or headphone socket. Wireless headphones use RF. I had some many years ago that had an infrared transmitter. I don't think they exist anymore. RF is superior, and besides you still need an audio output on the TV to connect to.

Volume control will be on the headphones. You normally get 2 controls. One for volume and the other for tuning. Need to remember which is which though, as it will be easy to lose the signal while trying to adjust the volume!

Right, it turns out there is a headphone socket after all!
I either didn't spot it first time or must have thought it was an optical out. Also, looks like it was only RCA audio input.




So it works fine with earphones and using the TV remote for volume. But now another problem. I said to my mum that she would need to remove the jack plug from the socket if she wants to hear the TV speakers and she's not happy doing that as she's 88 and visually impaired, so things like that which are easy for us are difficult for her. Plus she's worried about tripping over wires.

So, I think the wireless headphone idea might be a better, albeit more expensive option. Can you recommend some wireless headphones, not too expensive, just something basic, and will she be able to switch between the TV speakers and headphones with a switch on the headphones or perhaps the receiver? Thanks.

 

[Merlin5]

Thanks Marsman, well, food for thought!

Does she use the inbuilt freeview tuner, or an external one (e.g. Sky or Virgin Media).

Yep, she just uses the inbuilt freeview tuner. And then sets up her programme recordings from that with her DVD recorder.

 

[Merlin5]

I'd normally recommend Sennheiser, as they make the best wireless headphones. Their cheapest model cost more than a lot of the cheaper ones available though. RS120 II is about £75. If that is too much, there's Thomson WHP3001 for £30, which gets a lot of good comments from users.

Calling Marsman! Ok, my mum has come back to me regarding headphones and she'll be ok with plugging and unplugging the jack. In fact I said I'd get a marker pen and colour in the socket and jack in yellow to make it easier for her to see.

So she wants me to order some wireless. I was about to order the Thomson one you mentioned. She asked me if there's anything in between the price of the Thomson and the Sennheiser RS120 II. Is there something else you'd recommend, or would you say the Thomson is good enough? And of course, comfort of the headband and earcups is something to consider.