Weird audio on headphones via Marantz SR7008

[KEW]

I plugged in headphones to watch a TV show and the audio is not right. It almost sounds as if I am hearing the surround signal over the headphones. The soundtrack was reasonably loud, but dialog was muted and very distant!

Signal Path is Netflix via WiFi to FireTV via HDMI to SR7008. Sound is fine using speakers.

I would expect that Audissey and multi-channel processing is bypassed when the headphones are plugged in and the speakers go mute. However, because it is free to try, I did the following trial and error tests:
1) set AVR to PureDirect, StereoDirect, and Stereo. None gave a signal strong enough.
2) declaring none for center, surrounds, and subs in the hope that might force all content to the mains (did I say I was reaching for straws?).
3) Switched from 5.1 to Stereo on the FireTV.

None of this improved the content of the signal and I ended up using closed captioning.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

That is odd. I havent had issue like this on mine, how ever I only have my bluray player as source.

 

[TheWarrior]

I plugged in headphones to watch a TV show and the audio is not right. It almost sounds as if I am hearing the surround signal over the headphones. The soundtrack was reasonably loud, but dialog was muted and very distant!

Signal Path is Netflix via WiFi to FireTV via HDMI to SR7008. Sound is fine using speakers.

I would expect that Audissey and multi-channel processing is bypassed when the headphones are plugged in and the speakers go mute. However, because it is free to try, I did the following trial and error tests:
1) set AVR to PureDirect, StereoDirect, and Stereo. None gave a signal strong enough.
2) declaring none for center, surrounds, and subs in the hope that might force all content to the mains (did I say I was reaching for straws?).
3) Switched from 5.1 to Stereo on the FireTV.

None of this improved the content of the signal and I ended up using closed captioning.

This is the, 'are you sure it's plugged in?' question, but you are using the 1/4" headphone jack, right?

 

[KenM10759]

That is strange. On my receiver as soon as I plug the wire into the headphone jack, the output to speakers is cut and the receiver goes into stereo mode. Sounds GREAT.

Are there parameters that have to be set ahead of time for what listening mode your receiver uses, or action that is taken when something is plugged into the headphone jack?

 

[highfigh]

I plugged in headphones to watch a TV show and the audio is not right. It almost sounds as if I am hearing the surround signal over the headphones. The soundtrack was reasonably loud, but dialog was muted and very distant!

Signal Path is Netflix via WiFi to FireTV via HDMI to SR7008. Sound is fine using speakers.

I would expect that Audissey and multi-channel processing is bypassed when the headphones are plugged in and the speakers go mute. However, because it is free to try, I did the following trial and error tests:
1) set AVR to PureDirect, StereoDirect, and Stereo. None gave a signal strong enough.
2) declaring none for center, surrounds, and subs in the hope that might force all content to the mains (did I say I was reaching for straws?).
3) Switched from 5.1 to Stereo on the FireTV.

None of this improved the content of the signal and I ended up using closed captioning.

What kind of phones? Is it kind of an echo? Rotate the balance control- if both channels go out, make sure the common connection in the headphones is intact. Try a stereo source, too- if that sounds as bad, I would suspect the headphones.

 

[KEW]

Thanks for the replies!
I got it!
It was a bad 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter.

 

[KenM10759]

This is why I bought headphone cables from Monoprice with exactly the connection needed on both ends. Cheap insurance.

 

[jp_over]

This is an old thread but still informative. I'm having a similar issue with my SR 7008 (low volume on headphones). When I plug in headphones, the volume needs to be upped by 10 to be audible (0-98 is the volume scale).

I'm going to check the cable, the adapter and also test with my other set of headphones.

 

[KEW]

This is an old thread but still informative. I'm having a similar issue with my SR 7008 (low volume on headphones). When I plug in headphones, the volume needs to be upped by 10 to be audible (0-98 is the volume scale).0

I'm going to check the cable, the adapter and also test with my other set of headphones.

I am not sure that is really a problem. To my knowledge There is no reason to believe the level would necessarily be close to the same between headphones and speakers. I suspect that if you have very efficient speakers, the headphones would have a lower SPL then if you had extremely inefficient speakers for a given numeric value on your volume control. And of course if I have super efficient headphones and you have inefficient headphones mine are going to sound much louder for the same numeric volume.
Ultimately, I believe there are a few variables that are not addressed and it is unrealistic to expect volume levels to be similar for speakers and for headphones.
There may be a way to adjust the level for the headphone output so you can make it match the speakers, just as there is a way to adjust input levels so they match.

 

[jp_over]

Kurt, I didn't think about those variables. Your point makes sense and I've found my solution.

There's an option to change the source input level which I had long ago adjusted to +1 dB. It does not seem to apply to the headphones thus the volume difference. I adjusted it down to 0 dB and this seems to keep the volume pretty even between headphones and speakers.

Overall, not a big deal, but my daughter has just started using headphones so we've been playing roller coaster with the volume level.

Thanks!