Lack of rca audio outputs on HTS

T

theslaz

Enthusiast
Just recently purchased a Samsung HT-C6530 Blu-ray HTS. It's working and I'm happy with it. However; I need to use my wireless headphones ( hearing problem on my part )and I can not connect them to the said HTS as it does not have any rca audio out connections.
I have done much research on this and it appears I may be SOL!

Any comments how I may solve this problem?

Thanks in advance
 
M

MDS

Audioholic Spartan
The specs on Samsung's site says it has an HDMI out so you'd need a conversion box of some sort that can take HDMI as input and output analog audio.

http://www.gefen.com is one company that makes many such devices, although most of them will do far more than just output analog audio and are a bit pricey.

An alternative might be a stand-alone DAC that can take HDMI input and output analog audio. I don't have any recommendations for specific products but those are the kinds of devices you'll need.
 
BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
The specs on Samsung's site says it has an HDMI out so you'd need a conversion box of some sort that can take HDMI as input and output analog audio.

http://www.gefen.com is one company that makes many such devices, although most of them will do far more than just output analog audio and are a bit pricey.

An alternative might be a stand-alone DAC that can take HDMI input and output analog audio. I don't have any recommendations for specific products but those are the kinds of devices you'll need.
a) Not necessarily your HTIB will output sound thru hdmi out.
b) Most gefen products are one of ether: Expensive or Crazy expensive. Before buying one make 100% you need it.
c) As you already guessed - There are no cheap solutions to this problem as the lack of convenience, connectivity and customization is a big problem with vast majority of HTIB systems....
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
Do you know if the HDMI cable out puts sound and this particular Samsung HTS as I can not get sound out of the TV ( new Samsung Plasma ). I tried the internal speakers and the externial audio jack. I have looked at these HDMI conversion boxes and was ready to purchase one; however; I was told that the HDMI cable may not pass sound from the HTS.
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
a) Not necessarily your HTIB will output sound thru hdmi out.
b) Most gefen products are one of ether: Expensive or Crazy expensive. Before buying one make 100% you need it.
c) As you already guessed - There are no cheap solutions to this problem as the lack of convenience, connectivity and customization is a big problem with vast majority of HTIB systems....
The product that I was looking at is a HDMI-Analog-RCA-Composite-Video-L-R-Audio-Converter. It is on Ebay for about $70.00.

One other solution that I was looking at is intercepting the audio out at my HTS audio out connections and hooking up the headphones there. I was told; and I didn't realize, that power out put is much to high for the headphones and I could possibly harm my headphones. Do you think this is viable if I can control the power ( watts?????) to the Headphones? I hope this makes sense as I'm not up on all the terminology!
 
BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
One other solution that I was looking at is intercepting the audio out at my HTS audio out connections and hooking up the headphones there. I was told; and I didn't realize, that power out put is much to high for the headphones and I could possibly harm my headphones. Do you think this is viable if I can control the power ( watts?????) to the Headphones? I hope this makes sense as I'm not up on all the terminology!
I don't this hts - you do, but samsung website shows your hts has no headphones port
http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/tv-video/home-theatre/home-theatre-systems/HT-C6530/XAC/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&tab=specification

But if you do - that'll be your best route - You should be able to adjust the volume on the hts to avoid clipping and damage
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
This site is a great resource for helping people out ahead of making a purchase, but at this point it seems like the wrong product was purchased and now you are looking for a solution.

My solution would be to return the wrong product and buy what you actually need, perhaps after asking some questions to find out if it really is what you are after.

If that Blu-ray player ever fails, you aren't just out your BD player, but your entire sound system... what a waste that would be.
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
When I bought this HTS; I specifically asked the sales person about the lack of rca connections. His response was that with the HDMI cables and the optical sound cables I could listen to any sound that was emitted from my Tv or HTS through my headphones. I'm not about to take the product back. I will figure out a way to get this thing to work. I was just hoping that there would be an easy solution. Appears not!
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
When I bought this HTS; I specifically asked the sales person about the lack of rca connections. His response was that with the HDMI cables and the optical sound cables I could listen to any sound that was emitted from my Tv or HTS through my headphones. I'm not about to take the product back. I will figure out a way to get this thing to work. I was just hoping that there would be an easy solution. Appears not!
Which headphones do you have? Post the make/model and if possible, the specs. It may be possible to build an adapter that taps into the main speaker output, using resistors and possibly a level control.
 
digicidal

digicidal

Full Audioholic
I don't kow if this is of any help. You can use this splitter and plug it into your AVR headphone jack and you can connect your transmitters RCA cables. Maybe just enough to get you started.
I just noticed on a previous post you have no headphone output jack.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10429&cs_id=1042906&p_id=7193&seq=1&format=2

That would be a great solution if it weren't for his "AVR" (which is more of a BD player with a digital amp built in to it) not having a headphone jack in the first place.

I'm curious - why are you so opposed to returning it? Is it because you can't do so (past the return time-limit) or because you are super-satisfied with the sound it puts out?
 
M

markw

Audioholic Overlord
When I bought this HTS; I specifically asked the sales person about the lack of rca connections. His response was that with the HDMI cables and the optical sound cables I could listen to any sound that was emitted from my Tv or HTS through my headphones. I'm not about to take the product back. I will figure out a way to get this thing to work. I was just hoping that there would be an easy solution. Appears not!
It seems to me that he was wrong with his answer. Of course, you're free to take or reject any advice offered here but keep in mind that we don't have a financial stake in your purchase. He did.
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
When I bought this HTS; I specifically asked the sales person about the lack of rca connections. His response was that with the HDMI cables and the optical sound cables I could listen to any sound that was emitted from my Tv or HTS through my headphones. I'm not about to take the product back. I will figure out a way to get this thing to work. I was just hoping that there would be an easy solution. Appears not!
To bad, I believe that this surround setup was about $500 or so, and you can get FAR better equipment for the same money and have the industry standard headphone jack and ability to actually set it up exactly how you wanted it setup without having to get some add on boxes which the system is not designed for.

Really, your only audio output from that product is the amplified speaker connection. Since it is 5.1 and not stereo, then it won't properly send audio to your headphones.

Now, if you have WIRELESS headphones, which are amplified, you CAN connect the RCA (red/white) connections to the wireless transmitter for your headphones for cable, and cable only. For Blu-ray you are SOL on this one.

The Best Buy employee steered you wrong (no suprise) and you didn't do your research, and there is no proper band-aid short of buying the proper product.

It's unfortunate that you are in this situation, but now that you are getting good (and accurate) advice, it is up to you what you will do with it.
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
I don't kow if this is of any help. You can use this splitter and plug it into your AVR headphone jack and you can connect your transmitters RCA cables. Maybe just enough to get you started.
I just noticed on a previous post you have no headphone output jack.



Have one of those and tried it. Can't get any sound out of the Tv whilst it is hooked to the HTS. Appears that no sound is passed by the HDMI cables from the HTS to the Tv.
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
To bad, I believe that this surround setup was about $500 or so, and you can get FAR better equipment for the same money and have the industry standard headphone jack and ability to actually set it up exactly how you wanted it setup without having to get some add on boxes which the system is not designed for.

Really, your only audio output from that product is the amplified speaker connection. Since it is 5.1 and not stereo, then it won't properly send audio to your headphones.

Now, if you have WIRELESS headphones, which are amplified, you CAN connect the RCA (red/white) connections to the wireless transmitter for your headphones for cable, and cable only. For Blu-ray you are SOL on this one.

The Best Buy employee steered you wrong (no suprise) and you didn't do your research, and there is no proper band-aid short of buying the proper product.

It's unfortunate that you are in this situation, but now that you are getting good (and accurate) advice, it is up to you what you will do with it.
I wish I could blame it on bestbuy; but I bought the entire system from Sears. ( Calgary; Alberta, Canada)

I haven't mentioned my setup. Here it is. A Samsung Plasma Tv PN50C540 connected to the HTS a Samsung HT-C6530. My Tv signal comes from a Telus Digital box. I also have a Apple Tv box and Satelite radio hooked up.
The Tv is connected via a HDMI cable to the HTS and a Optical audio cable. The Telus Digital box is hooked up via a HDMI cable to the HTS as is the Apple Tv box. My wireless headphones are a Sennheiser Tr 146 ( about 3 years old ). These are hooked at present via rca cables to the Telus box. Therefore they only pick up the audio from the Telus box which is what is used the majority of the time in my household. What I would like; is the headphones to pick any audio that is passed through the HTS. ( reason for the headphones is my lack of hearing and my wife's exceptional hearing; if you know what I mean?).
I have determined; and I think it is agreed on by the good people on this forum that are trying to help me, is that I am SOL in trying to connect my headphones in the traditional way, due to the fact there are no rca audio out puts on the HTS.
I have done some experimenting with hooking the headphones to the audio out connections on the HTS. This does work; however, the sound was a lot to be desired as I was only getting the sound out of the two rear speakers. I was also told by someone else that I could damage my headphones by hooking them up in this manner. Too much power!
I have been made aware of a product that is designed for car stereos. It is the Scosche SLC4 four channel out put converter. ( Sold out of Florida; $16.00 ) It is telling me that with this device I can hook up all my external audio connections to it; and the audio is channeled to two rca audio connections which I could hook my headphones to. It reduces the incoming speaker-level signals so that outgoing signals are compatible with the preamp inputs on my amplifier/headphones. There are line output controls that allow you to adjust the output level going into your amplifier(s). The adapter can handle up to 80 watts of speaker level input.
After all this rambling; what I'm asking of the experts here; will this work for me???
I would give a link to the page for this device; but the forum won't allow me to post any url's!
 
M

markw

Audioholic Overlord
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
Problem with my HTS as it does not pass sound back to the Tv. When I play something through my HTS; I can not get any sound from the audio out jack on the Tv. I'm assuming that this would be the same for the optical out on the Tv. The way my set up stands now; I'm not sure that I even need the Tv and HTS to be connected via the audio Optical out. I disconnected it the other day and nothing audio wise changed on my HTS!
Make sense?
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
IIRC, digital outs from displays traditionally only pass digital audio generated from their internal tuners. They are "the buck stops here" devices and don't "pass through" digital audio from external devices.

Is is just me or is there an inordinate amount of spam here lately?
It appears you are exactly right about the HTS passing sound back to the Tv. I guess it thinks that it is sending the audio to it's external speakers and that is good enough! It amazes me that they don't realize that a lot of people do use headphones. What about the "Gamers" that use their large HD tv's for gaming and want to use headphones so as to not disturb the neighborhood????

You are right about the spam! This is the first time I've ever seen any spam on any forum; and I used the forums a lot for anything and everything!
 
T

theslaz

Enthusiast
Just some further information for the benefit of anybody that may be interested.
I did some experimenting with settings on the Tv and the HTS. I found that under audio in the HTS setup menu that there is a setting "HDMI Audio"; here there is a choice for "on or Off". It was at off so I switched it to on. I than went into Netfex and played a movie. Success; sound was coming through my headphones; but sound was shut of through the HTS external speakers. Sound was coming from the Tv's internal speakers. This will work for me.

What I did notice is; that when I switch from Netflex back to Television; this "On Of" setting reverts back to of.
What this means to me at this stage is: When I want to watch a Netfex movie, I have to plug my headphones into the external audio jack on the Tv and switch the HDMI Audio setting to on. When I want to listen to a Television program; I have to plug my headphones into the Telus Digital box and when I want to watch a movie on my Apple Tv box; I have plug into that box. All workable for me at this time.
I have ordered the Scosche SLC4 four channel out put converter that I mentioned in a earlier post. I will give it a try when it arrives next week and will post the results! Sold out of Florida on Ebay for $16.00 )
 
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