Best home theater for couple with special needs...

[capecove]

Hello folks, first post here, I looked around some and really didn't see something directly applicable. Please forgive my question if it has been asked and answered and I just couldn't find it.

My grandparents are in an interesting A/V situation. Let me explain it and then ask for your advice.

One of them is extremely hard of hearing and uses large padded wireless headphones to listen to the TV/DVD player. The other is extremely sound sensitive and does not have any intention of using headphones to listen.

So, what I am looking for is a home theater (A/V) receiver as far under $500 as possible that will take multiple inputs (via HDMI, RCA, etc.(I expect to hook up their DirectTV, the headphones and a DVD player, perhaps also their record player)) and then pump out both to speakers AND an RCA output (or similar output capability) simultaneously. This will allow one to use the headphones while the other can listen with the speakers.

When I first went about the process of finding this kind of setup I imagined that it would be easy to find even just a modern tv with HDMI in and a set of left/right RCA (phono/composite type) output jacks that would pump audio out of the tv speakers and then allow us to hook up the headphones in conjunction with the regular speaker output (and using a switch box to select between DirecTV/DVD input to the TV). Sadly, everything I find and everyone I talk to expects me to plug into the headphone jack, and I can't find anything that will keep the speakers hot while the headphone jack is populated. C'est la vie...

Ease of use would be nice, but not necessary. Audio quality needs to be sufficient but not stellar. High tech output sound field choices and settings are not going to be useful. And, the cheaper the better, as they are on a fixed income (aren't we all!).

If you have a better idea than a TV, home theater receiver, dvd player, DirectTV box setup while both pumping audio out of the speakers and to an output I can plug wireless headphones into, please let me know that as well.

These folks in stores nowadays (per my recent experience) are completely clueless about what the input/output jacks really do on these units or even if they are INPUT OR OUTPUT! And, many units are no longer labeled. I am not kidding you when I tell you that many of them can't even find a users manual to determine what the plugs are for. I spoke to Crutchfield over the phone and they went so far as to tell me that what I was wanting to do was perhaps impossible! Can this really be the case?

Thanks for your input, I honestly appreciate it greatly.

So much for my easy search!

 

[slipperybidness]

It sounds to me that you need a receiver that also has Pre-Amp RCA outs. The receiver handles the amplification for the speakers (or just routes the sound via HDMI to the TV speakers), and the RCA Pre-outs give a line-level signal out.

Something like this. At least get a look at the back panel and see if that looks like it would work and make sense.
DENON AVR-3312CI 7.2 Network A/V Surround Receiver w/AirPlay | Accessories4less

Someone else may be able to show you a cheaper one, but not all receivers will have the pre-outs.

And, yes, the people working in the big-box electronics stores are morons!

 

[jcl]

Do the wireless headphones have their own volume control? If so you would have more options.
Many avrs include rca audio out for recording purposes and/or rca audio out for zone 2 listening. The downside is that these outputs are often fixed so you cannot adjust volume separately.

Another caveat is that some avrs cut corners and don't allow output from certain digital sources to these analog outputs. You'll want to make sure that the avr you choose supports your scenario.

A quick look found the Yamaha htr -3066 for example that lists for $299. I'm sure there are plenty of others.

 

[afterlife2]

Welcome! This one is on sale: Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007O5ATM8
and HDTV:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia"+-+50"+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/6039067.p?AID=10597222&PID=404255&SID=328517_desktop&URL=http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia%22+-+50%22+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+HDTV/6039067.p&ref=39&loc=01&CJPID=404255#tab=reviews

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm going to throw out my recommendation...

Sony Audio Visual Receiver | 2-Channel Hi-Fi Receiver | STR-DH130 Review | Sony Store

This is a stereo receiver without HDMI connectivity. Keep the HDMI at the TV and make sure to use a Blu-ray player and other sources which maintain a set of RCA outputs. If you find a component that does NOT have RCA outputs, then you can pick up a HDMI audio de-embedder from www.monoprice.com

This product, by the looks, gives you stereo audio amplification to a set of speakers in the room. Stereo only, which should be fine. It also has analog audio pre-outs which should be able to feed a set of amplified stereo wireless headphones just fine.

I use Sennheiser wireless headphones and for $80 or so they have performed very well for my 'the-kids-are-trying-to-sleep' needs.

The biggest headache is in the cabling of the setup needing to run 2 HDMI cables to the display and switching inputs will be a bit cumbersome. Perhaps worthy of a decent universal remote control.

I would expect with some entry level speakers, cabling, the receiver, and everything, you could do it for $300-$400 pretty easily.

 

[capecove]

Thank you all for the help so far.

Thank you for your help folks, I like the look of the Sony setup best right now, any advice on a good Blu Ray player that has RCA outputs on it as well?

I have been looking around and also found this:

Amazon.com: Sherwood R-607 5.1 Audio Video Receiver with Front Panel USB: Electronics

Which, although somewhat more expensive than a couple of the options you have suggested, does allow me to input HDMI, like from a modern Blu Ray player. My only hesitation on this one concerns the output functionality of the BD receiver to phono (RCA) jacks. There is a set of RCA outputs but those two jacks sit next to a set of RCA inputs labeled BD as well. If I could be sure that the HDMI BD connection will output to the RCA BD Output jacks, this would be exactly what I am looking for, I believe. I could then also plug in the satellite to the receiver and output to the other set of phono jacks and some kind of setup for the headphones. More complicated, I know. And yes, I want this to be as easy as possible for them (I live 2 hours away and am the only one willing/able to help them with this).

I called Sherwood and stumped the girl on the phone. She is going to pass along my question to the techs and they are to all me back.

What do you folks think about this setup? I have not heard much about Sherwood, but I suppose what we are looking for in this case is functionality first, ease of use second and sound quality to be just nominal or a passing grade, nothing more.

Thank you for your continued guidance, should you have any suggestions. Have a splendid day!

I'm going to throw out my recommendation...

Sony Audio Visual Receiver | 2-Channel Hi-Fi Receiver | STR-DH130 Review | Sony Store

This is a stereo receiver without HDMI connectivity. Keep the HDMI at the TV and make sure to use a Blu-ray player and other sources which maintain a set of RCA outputs. If you find a component that does NOT have RCA outputs, then you can pick up a HDMI audio de-embedder from www.monoprice.com

This product, by the looks, gives you stereo audio amplification to a set of speakers in the room. Stereo only, which should be fine. It also has analog audio pre-outs which should be able to feed a set of amplified stereo wireless headphones just fine.

I use Sennheiser wireless headphones and for $80 or so they have performed very well for my 'the-kids-are-trying-to-sleep' needs.

The biggest headache is in the cabling of the setup needing to run 2 HDMI cables to the display and switching inputs will be a bit cumbersome. Perhaps worthy of a decent universal remote control.

I would expect with some entry level speakers, cabling, the receiver, and everything, you could do it for $300-$400 pretty easily.

 

[jcl]

If you go to sherwood usa :::::: Welcome to Sherwood ::::::
Then products, 5 ch, then R-607 you will be able to then download the manual by clicking on the small buttons on the upper right hand side.

I'm not sure I understand the connections that you propose.
From reading the manual it appears to me that if you connect the bluray to the avr via hdmi you will not get output on the analog record outs and if you attempt an analog audio connection from bluray to avr, with the hdmi connection intact, it will be ignored. So I think for this to work you will have to connect hdmi directly to the tv, and only run analog audio from the bluray to the avr.



HTH

 

[BMXTRIX]

Hey, yeah, I like that Sherwood as well. Follows the same idea, but adds the HDMI directly to the receiver and opens the door to 5.1 audio.

I would highly doubt that the receiver downmixes HDMI to analog audio, so you would want to be sure to use components which have both analog audio as well as HDMI, or get the Monoprice audio extractor to get stereo out of a surround source.

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

If you need a BD player now which delivers analog stereo outputs, then this model is a quick buy:
Amazon.com: Panasonic DMP-BDT320 Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player: Electronics

It's marked down to $123 from $199, so a fair price and one of the last models at a reasonable price with analog stereo outputs. Their newest players have completely eliminated all analog outputs, including stereo audio. This is true, for what I've seen, from Sony, Samsung, and LG as well with their players, but I'm certainly open to hearing about other players under $150 which have analog stereo outputs and are fairly new/recent.

 

[capecove]

Clarification...

Hello! Thanks for the tip off, looking at the manual, I would say you are right on.

Let me try to make it more simple. I need to take multiple input sources (DVD, Satellite, etc.) (some HDMI in theory, some phono/RCA type) and pump them through both a pair of speakers (for a room of people to listen) and to a set of wireless headphones simultaneously (for one person to listen).

And, it needs to be as simple as possible, so that two 80+ year olds can get it done on a daily basis.

Sorry for any confusion. And, serious thank you's to those who have helped or will do so. I really do appreciate it.

If you go to sherwood usa :::::: Welcome to Sherwood ::::::
Then products, 5 ch, then R-607 you will be able to then download the manual by clicking on the small buttons on the upper right hand side.

I'm not sure I understand the connections that you propose.
From reading the manual it appears to me that if you connect the bluray to the avr via hdmi you will not get output on the analog record outs and if you attempt an analog audio connection from bluray to avr, with the hdmi connection intact, it will be ignored. So I think for this to work you will have to connect hdmi directly to the tv, and only run analog audio from the bluray to the avr.



HTH

 

[capecove]

Let me propose something else here... I know that some of the televisions out there support an external sound bar. Can I take the output for that sound bar, and split it both to the sound bar and to a regular headphone jack (either natively or via some series of adapters)? With the right adapters, I could turn a headphone hookup into the right RCA phono plugs for the headphones. For that matter, I suppose I could just use the built in headphone jack to a stereo splitter, then run one headphone lead to the headphones and another one to speakers via that inexpensive Sony receiver (I would prefer to avoid the receiver if I can due to complexity and cost, as they are elderly and on a fixed income). Please let me know if I am going about this a strange way or if it is non-sensical. Thanks again folks...

Thanks again folks...

 

[afterlife2]

On sale with great reviews: Alesis Elevate 3 Studio Monitors | Musician's Friend

 

[hocoamish]

Thanks for bringing this up, capecove. similar scenario for me.

 

[herbu]

I suppose you've already solved this. Just in case... I wanted same thing... speakers and wireless headphones. Connected normal speakers normally to AVR. Connected wireless headphones to AVR Zone 2. The headphones have their own volume control, and require a pre-amplified signal like Zone 2. Works great.

For just TV speakers, just turn on the AVR normally. When you want to add the headphones, select Zone 2 on your AVR remote and turn it on. Done. Control speaker volume w/ AVR remote, control headphone volume w/ controls on the headphone.

 

[Muzykant]

I am not sure, but I would think you can buy an inexpensive mixer (like Behringer Eurorack UB802, about $60) and plug it into your headphones jack. You can then plug your headphones into the mixer's own jack, and it would have a dedicated volume control.

 

[herbu]

plug it into your headphones jack

Doesn't that usually defeat output to the mains? The OP wants mains and headphones.

 

[Muzykant]

Plugging anything into the headphones jack cuts the sound from the speakers?