Onkyo TX-NR616: how to connect wireless headset!

[dwtjan]

I am in the process of trying to set up my new a/v digital home theater receiver: Onkyo TX-NR616.

I was using my: Yamaha RX-V493 a/v receiver.

I recently received my first LED LCD flat screen and wanted to utilize the HDMI connection and also
be able to expand for future digital components. I've been looking for an Onkyo digital a/v receiver for
about 2 years. They have a stupidly ridiculous amount of models to choose from. I researched heavily
yet of course I still ended up w/a model that is lacking the ability to connect an extremely important
component: Acoustic Research wireless stereo headset AW771 along w/the wireless speakers that
are also powered by the headset transmitter.

This may seem minor to most but I have become extremely hard of hearing, do to massive headphone
usage back in the 60's listening to Hendrix full volume. I use my headphones not only for music but these
days, for TV as well, in order to hear what the heck they're saying. I absolutely love my headphones and
rely on them heavily.

There apparently is no way to connect them the usual way w/this receiver which was connecting through
"Tape audio Out" which made it a "fixed" level output, enabling me to be able to use my headphones
w/absolutely every component hooked up w/separate control ability making it independent from needing
to have the main system in control.

I contacted Onkyo support, who was absolutely wonderful. The tech worked w/me for as long as I was able
to hang in there w/him. He informed me there were no audio outputs w/this model in order for me to be able
to use my headphones as before. He went on at length explaining how to be able to use them using the
"Zone 2" line out jacks. Pretty complicated to me, but do-able. The downside being I still would not be able
to use the volume control on my headphones. Having to go to the receiver each time I wanted to adjust the
volume is a BIG deal to me.

I also cannot connect my VCR using this receiver, which is no huge deal except I would have been able to
connect my headphones using the VCR to accomplish what I wanted.

I have heard you can connect two receivers together. That it probably would be the best way if you wanted
to be able to get the most out of your music system. I do not understand nor care to as what that exactly
means....what I'm wondering is could I connect my headphones (and VCR) using my old Yamaha and somehow
connect it to my new Onkyo in order to get my headphones working w/everything as before, w/me being able
to control them and the volume separately?

ANY advice as to how to solve my dilemma would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

On the Onkyo TX-NR616, the Zone 2 and Zone 3 "Line Out" jacks are fixed volume and are not controlled by the master volume control. So, they should do what you want for the headphones, and I think even the VCR.

One note - only analog input sources are output through the Zone 2 and Zone 3 outputs. What sources are you wanting to use?

 

[dwtjan]

Onkyo TX-NR616: connecting headphones

Welcome to the forum!

On the Onkyo TX-NR616, the Zone 2 and Zone 3 "Line Out" jacks are fixed volume and are not controlled by the master volume control. So, they should do what you want for the headphones, and I think even the VCR.

One note - only analog input sources are output through the Zone 2 and Zone 3 outputs. What sources are you wanting to use?

Wish I knew what the heck I was doing! Not sure this is how to reply. That's good to know that the "Zone 2" line out jacks are fixed. There are no VCR capabilities with the TX-NR616.

I want to use all sources. As my TV is connected via HDMI, I was told by the Onkyo rep to also use analog Left and Right connections as well in order to use my headphones for the TV, as like you said, Zone 2 only outputs analog. The rep did also tell me that I would not be able to control my headphone volume at the headphones...just at the receiver. I sure hope you're right! As this would actually solve my problem!

Thanks so much!

 

[markw]

Information on those hadphones is faurly sparse. Is ther any way they could be connected via the headphone jack or speaker connectors?

As for the headphone jack, I'm ptetty sure they are controlled by the unit's voume control but you could always set it at a high level and use the volume control on the 'phones to adjust it to your preferred level.

 

[Adam]

I hope that I'm right, too. That's what it says in the manual, though.

Regarding the VCR, the 616 has audio and video inputs for one, and you might be able to use the Zone 3 fixed outputs to connect audio to it. Because the 616 will convert video from composite video inputs to the HDMI output, you might also be able to connect the composite video "Monitor Out" to the video input on the VCR if you use other composite video input sources that you'd like to record.

 

[Adam]

Information on those hadphones is faurly sparse. Is ther any way they could be connected via the headphone jack or speaker connectors?

As for the headphone jack, I'm ptetty sure they are controlled by the unit's voume control but you could always set it at a high level and use the volume control on the 'phones to adjust it to your preferred level.

Hi, Mark. Those headphones have a 3.5mm headphone connector, but they come with an adapter to connect them to left/right RCA audio jacks.

 

[dwtjan]

Yes, I could connect using the headphone jack, but as you said, that would make it necessary to have the receiver's volume turned up and that would not be good as I live in a small apartment and I rely on being able to blast my headphones w/o having to have any external volume to disturb neighbors or my daughter while shes sleeping. I do not believe you can connect these using speaker connections.

Thanks!

 

[dwtjan]

Also there are no left/right audio out jacks on this receiver!

 

[Adam]

Also there are no left/right audio out jacks on this receiver!

There are...that's the Zone 2/3 jacks that we're talking about.

 

[dwtjan]

Where do you see a/v inputs for a VCR on the 616?! Please, do tell! I did not see any and tried to use other inputs but did not work.

 

[dwtjan]

OK. I pretty much get the "Zone 2" connections I'l need to make....but "Zone 3" I have no clue.

 

[Adam]

Where do you see a/v inputs for a VCR on the 616?! Please, do tell! I did not see any and tried to use other inputs but did not work.

I'll admit, I haven't used a VCR in a while, but my recollection is that you'll need a set of left/right audio inputs and a composite video input (unless you have a fancy VCR with component video outputs ).

You should be able to use either the "GAME," "STB/DBR," "CBL/SAT," or "BD/DVD" connections in the "VIDEO/AUDIO IN" section shown below that have left/right audio and composite video inputs. Because each of those sources has an HDMI input assigned to them by default, you might (but I'm not sure) need to go into the set up menu to make sure that the analog inputs get used for whichever source you want to use for your VCR.

 

[dwtjan]

OK. I'll need to see if that is what's needed to make it work, as I used the "BD/DVD" for the VCR (then used "Game" for my DVD, which worked fine).

Actually what I need to do is stop focusing on my headphone connections until I get the basic speaker and component connections to work! I connected my 4 speakers. Then my TV using the
"ARC" HDMI. Then my UVerse box in to HDMI #2 for CBL/SAT. I get no sound coming from my speakers OR if I try using the TV speakers either.

By this time I was exhausted and decided to tackle it another time. I ended up disconnecting the #2 HDMI cable from the back of the receiver and hooking it directly to the TV in order to just be able to watch and listen to TV. Although as I have a UVerse box it does not seem to me to actually be considered "CBL/SAT" going by what they claimed to be (which was not cable or satellite but fiber optics) and it is a DVR, I was planning to try connecting to #3 HDMI "STB/DVR" next.

Thought it might be best if I disconnected any other components until I can make everything work just w/TV. I also know I need to slow down and follow the manual as I go instead of just "hoping" for the best.

I just lost my connection along w/most of this reply. Along w/the "thank you so very much for all your help" comments. Hope this time trying to post reply does not crash everything again!