Headphone connection for NON-DIGITAL television

[John Haag]

I have a 1996 non-digital TV (Sony Trinitron KV27S20) with a set-top digital converter box. I get the free broadcast stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) and do not want to subscribe to satellite or cable (been there, done that). The TV and DVD player work fine for my purposes and I really don't care about getting a big new LED TV (my house is small and my income is low since I am retired). I would like to use headphones but I am uncertain what to get for this old TV/DVD combination. If I accurately understood a very brief conversation recently, I need amplified headphones with RCA adapters (the conversation was only about a minute in length). The person said this might be hard to find but that I should search online, which I did. I saw a lot of RCA connectors but did not see actual headphones advertised. It is no secret that I am fairly clueless when it comes to electronics and would appreciate some easy-to-understand guidance. I don't need high quality headphones (under $100 would be fine).

-Currently there is a cable running from the VHF/UHF jack on the TV to the TV OUT jack on the digital converter box.
-Currently there are three jacks in the VIDEO IN section of the TV (video, L audio and R audio) with the three cables joining into a single cable that runs to the DVD player where the cable splits into three cables. One connects to the L Audio Out jack, one connects to the R Audio Out jack and one connects to the VIDEO OUT jack.
-On the digital converter box there is a cable running from the ANTENNA IN jack to the actual set-top antenna.

-Can you suggest a specific model headphone (and the web address where it could be purchased)?
-Will I need a separate connector(s)?
-Specifically where would the headphones be plugged in?
-Could the headphones also be used with my Windows 7 PC (Dell OptiPlex 890, i5, 4GB RAM) which has several USB ports on the front? IF so, what kind of adapter would be needed to hook them up to a USB port (it is hard to access the back of the computer)?

Thank you for any help you can provide!

John

[loster]

After taking a look at the manual for your tv there is no head phone output. This means that you will need two items the first is a head headphone amplifier, the second is headphones.
You would connect the audio output of your television to the input of the headphone amplifier. You would then connect the headphones to the amplifier.

[redwudz]

I think what you are looking for is a 'Headphone Amplifier'. Then you would buy the headphones separately. It sounds like you need the amplifier to be able to pass though the audio using RCA plugs to the TV. Then you would plug the headphones into the amplifier and it can mute the speaker sound or you can do it with the TV.

With my setup, I use a separate surround amplifier and speaker system for the audio and the amplifier has a headphone jack and a switch for muting the speaker output sound.

But it sounds like you need a standalone headphone amp. You might have to search around a bit for a 'Headphone amplifier with RCA pass though', though.

And others here may have some better ideas.

And welcome to our forums.

[usually_quiet]

Do you already own some headphones that you like which are not amplified? If so there is an alternative which would allow you to use them.

You need a headphone amplifier to connect headphones with an RCA stereo audio source
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-MA400-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B000H2D89G

....and this to connect the headphone amplifier's monitor input to the the audio source (set-top digital converter box or the TV's audio out (if there is one))
http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-4-Inch-3-3-Feet-Return-Insert/dp/B000068O1J

As far as your original request, I'm not having much luck so far. The the only amplified headphones I'm finding are brightly colored models for video gaming.

[Edit] Unfortunately there is no RCA audio pass-through on the Behringer MA400

[johns0]

You can buy a wireless headphone set and plug it into any rca source,no need to buy anything else,it can also be be fitted to plug into your computer speaker out connection.

[jagabo]

This type of wireless headphones has RCA inputs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001FTVEK
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRRF985RK-Wireless-Headphone-Black/dp/B009A6CZYO

You can hook those up to your TV's RCA audio outputs.

Here's a headphone amp with mini stereo pin plugs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JT8OT6

I think the power input is a mini USB port.

[usually_quiet]

Here's a headphone amp with mini stereo pin plugs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JT8OT6

Do you mean the Y-cable in the picture? The item's description says the Y-cable is for connecting two headphones to the amplifier's outgoing connection. The only input I saw is a 3.5 mm headphone plug.

[jagabo]

Here's a headphone amp with mini stereo pin plugs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JT8OT6

Do you mean the Y-cable in the picture? The item's description says the Y-cable is for connecting two headphones to the amplifier's outgoing connection. The only input I saw is a 3.5 mm headphone plug.

Yes, he will also need a stereo 3.5mm pin plug to 2x RCA cable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z5CP

If his headphones have a 1/4" plug he'll need a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter too:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003R70OA4

[John Haag]

Thanks for the many responses!

Just to clarify, I do not own any headphones at this time. And using headphones for the TV/DVD set-up is much more important to me than using them with my computer, which has a very small screen.

John

[usually_quiet]

The wireless headphones johns0 and jagabo suggested would work for your application
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001FTVEK
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRRF985RK-Wireless-Headphone-Black/dp/B009A6CZYO

However, note the Sennheiser RS120's warning for those with a cardiac pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator. I was thinking about wireless headphones for my mother, who has age-related hearing loss, but since she has a pacemaker, I've dropped that idea.

[johnm21]

You have to ensure there is a headphone output in your TV and if it is not present then as loster mentioned, you will have to buy two things, an amplifier and a good piece of headphone. The headphone amp is the thing that connects your television’s audio out with the piece of headphone you bought. It would be good if you buy both these from the same shop, I recently bought a good pair of over-ear Bose headphones from Toronto for my TV and it was well supported.