Which digital/wireless headphones ?

[rogdeb]

Help please guys

​Cannot hear as well as we used to (half of you can sympathize) so we're looking for wireless headphones to work with a Samsung Smart TV.

We've read many reviews, and as always, half of them are in direct contradiction

. One guy has no problem hooking to a Smart TV, while another guy says the same phones (according to the boxed literature) will NOT work with the same Smart TV !!

Based on the reviews we know we need to go digital, but not break the bank at the same time.

We hope some of you guys out there have experience with this - cause we need some help here.

Thanks to all in anticipation

Us two

 

[Gmann]

Us two,

I use thewirecutter.com for all my electronic reviews. Check out their reviews and you will see why.

G.

 

[Warpdrv]

Which model tv ?

As far as I can see pretty much every model out there has an analog audio out, some are Red/White RCA or the newer skinny models have reduced that to a stereo mini jack output..... Which means you should still be able to use a standard wireless headphone rig...

You may have to turn that audio out feature ON in the setup....

There are many good quality wireless headphones out there.... My father with hearing aids is on his 3rd set, over 10 years.

He had sennheisers but has picked up a pair of sony's that he says are awesome and his favorite thus far.

I'm pretty sure these are the ones....

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRRF985RK-Wireless-Headphone-Black/dp/B009A6CZYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1408135100&sr=1-1&keywords=Mdrrf985rk

 

[rogdeb]

Warpdrv

Samsung series 6 LED smart TV

Audio out feature is turned on and we can use wired mini-jack headphones, but the sound level is a set volume. Sound can be reduced with the headphone adjustment, not increased. Still looking into that.

Just looking for something wireless that will actually work - not "maybe" work.

Best Buy "expert" said the Sony wireless ( yes ^^ they're ones we looked at) will probably work, but only for one headphone, not two - we need two.

 

[rogdeb]

Us two,
I use thewirecutter.com for all my electronic reviews. Check out their reviews and you will see why.

G.

Thanks Gmann

 

[Warpdrv]

I see, might be also that when your splitting the signal the output is also reduced by 1/2....

Weird that the volume doesn't increase from the tv when you add more volume the remote. Clearly your not wanting to make the speaker louder, just the head phones.

Never had to run dual wireless head phones, but there might be a need for a head phone booster to bring the output back up where it should be after shooting the signal.

 

[rogdeb]

TV only gives me two options for speaker sound, TV or rear (mini jack) , not both at the same time. If I switch to mini jack I can control the volume. Deb wants both though

Gonna start playing with the Bose set-up today - should have thought of that 1st - duh! Maybe stay with the wired speakers for simplicity.

 

[rogdeb]

. Clearly your not wanting to make the speaker louder, just the head phones.

but there might be a need for a head phone booster to bring the output back up where it should be after shooting the signal.

Yes ... and yes.

You're making me think here - that's good

Now a wisecrack from OMike ..?..lol

 

[dcarver]

Uh oh, Rog is thinking. Anyone else smell the peat moss burning? Ooooh my head hurts!

 

[Bounce]

With a Y you can only control the volume up to the level set by the master (eg: tv) volume. The in-line control would simply be a variable mute (turning it down from that upper limit). There may also be side effects from the additional resistance of 2 pairs of loads (like putting 4 speakers on a system rated for 2).

One option is a headphone amp. It takes the input and then lets you boost or lower that volume.

Here's an example:

https://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/headphone-amps

And the headphones to go with it:

https://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/reference-series/item/6-rs1e

 

[rogdeb]

Thanks Bounce. Just what I need .. but ! Those things ain't cheap huh !!

 

[Warpdrv]

cheaper alternatives are out there....

Search "the google" for 2 channel headphone amps..... good luck

 

[Bounce]

Thanks Bounce. Just what I need .. but ! Those things ain't cheap huh !!

You want cheap or good?

The Grado "Reference" series I linked to is more than the Bowers & Wilkins P7 I have ( https://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Headphones/Headphones/Headphones/P7.html ) but the Grado are better too. I'd love to have a PS1000e (Pro series) but, just like I'd like to have McIntosh amps, pre-amps, and tuners, I doubt that will ever happen.

I spec'd out "cheap" for in the shop and documented it near the bottom here:

https://www.fjr-tips.org/misc/pics/shop/shop.html

If you can match impedance to the headphones, the Lepai LP-2020A+ power amp is about $20. At that price though it doesn't have the specs of Grado gear. You'd have to figure the wiring/adapter bits out between it's speaker out and your headphone jack.

https://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Lepai-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/ref=sr_1_1/179-6321537-0922256?ie=UTF8&qid=1408232498&sr=8-1&keywords=lepai+lp-2020a+amplifier

 

[rogdeb]

Wow !! Quite a set-up there Bounce.

Found a reasonable priced amp on Amazon. One week delivery. If it works well we'll be getting better headphones also

 

[Warpdrv]

RogDeb, good luck getting what your looking for....

Not that Bounce doesn't offer up good product suggestions IMO, with their already deteriorated hearing I don't think they would benefit from spending huge money on big name products here....

I too am an audiophile and spent many years building some great rigs, but at a point it comes to diminishing returns on the benefits gained when you get into big buck systems especially with hearing loss..... would love to discuss all things audio in a separate thread - not sure I've seen much in the way of home audio here on the forum. I have dumped some large sums of $$ into that hobby and enjoy the benefits of good quality products....

 

[rogdeb]

Thanks Guys for the steer in the right direction.

Been using the reasonable (cheap , ha, ha) headphone amp I purchased from Amazon. FiiO, made in China (what isn't !) Oh yeah

works perfectly

and out of such a small item !

We're hearing sounds we've never heard before

. Better headphones today. Just found some by Audio Technica that will fit the bill.

 

[Warpdrv]

Excellent, glad to "hear" you got what you were looking for...

 

[rogdeb]

Excellent, glad to "hear" you got what you were looking for...

Thank you

Seems the Audio Technica (entry level) may be too good for us

I'm going square eyed looking at headphones. LOL

 

[dcarver]

Dang, you could paint an fjr red quicker than this project..