Author Topic: Old TV Audio Question  (Read 5720 times)

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Offline Ballygrl

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Old TV Audio Question
« on: April 03, 2011, 06:01:32 PM »
I have a few old TV's in the house, when I'm on the computer in the living room I'm basically stuck watching what hubby wants to watch on the TV, I have a computer Armoire in the living room and thought maybe I could bring 1 of the old TV's up, put it in the Armoire, put headphones on and I can watch what I want, here's the problem though, looking at the old TV's none of them have a headphone jack, it has the red and white plug thingy, not sure though if it says audio input or audio output, I think it's meant for hooking up a VCR or DVD player. Do I have any options at all? I was looking around, does this thing look like it'll work?

http://www.amazon.com/Male-3-5mm-Stereo-Female-Y-Cable/dp/B000I23TTE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301871694&sr=8-1

Also I guess I should know if it says Audio/Video input or output?

Thanks
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2011, 06:56:12 PM »
If it says audio out then that adapter will work if it fits your headphones.

Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2011, 06:58:04 PM »
If it says audio out then that adapter will work if it fits your headphones.

Thanks! I'll check the TV's tomorrow to see what it says exactly.
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Offline Thor

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2011, 07:24:19 PM »
red  & white mean an audio input or output.  Yellow is video. an double male RCA adapter to a 3.5 mm female stereo jack adapter should work just fine. You may want a 3.5mm stereo extension cable, too. http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-40408-Female-Extension/dp/B0012MMW7E/ref=pd_sim_e_1  (male on one end, female on the other) I use basically the reverse to adapt my turntable & stereo to my PC.
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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2011, 09:47:20 PM »
red  & white mean an audio input or output.  Yellow is video. an double male RCA adapter to a 3.5 mm female stereo jack adapter should work just fine. You may want a 3.5mm stereo extension cable, too. http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-40408-Female-Extension/dp/B0012MMW7E/ref=pd_sim_e_1  (male on one end, female on the other) I use basically the reverse to adapt my turntable & stereo to my PC.

I was really getting confused by the male and female adapters I saw at Amazon.
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"The nation that couldn’t be conquered by foreign enemies has been conquered by its elected officials" odawg Free Republic in reference to the GOP Elites who are no difference than the Democrats

Offline Chris_

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2011, 09:50:35 PM »
Those stereo 2.5" adapters (or whatever the standard for headphones are) can be very hit-or-miss on quality.  Many of them I've bought and thrown out over the years only had a single working channel.  It was quite irritating to have only the left or right side working, even if the broadcast was in mono.

Has anyone tried those TV Ears they advertise on television?  I remember my brother had a pair and they worked fine.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2011, 09:56:17 PM by chris_ »
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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2011, 10:51:39 PM »
Those stereo 2.5" adapters (or whatever the standard for headphones are) can be very hit-or-miss on quality.  Many of them I've bought and thrown out over the years only had a single working channel.  It was quite irritating to have only the left or right side working, even if the broadcast was in mono.

Has anyone tried those TV Ears they advertise on television?  I remember my brother had a pair and they worked fine.

Oh jeez, hubby would be upset if I spent that much money on that.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2011, 10:53:09 PM »
Sorry, I forgot to check the pricetag. :(

Check out WalMart or Walgreens (they have an As Seen On TV section)... you could probably find some wireless headphones for less than $30.
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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2011, 10:56:18 PM »
Sorry, I forgot to check the pricetag. :(

Check out WalMart or Walgreens (they have an As Seen On TV section)... you could probably find some wireless headphones for less than $30.

I called Radio Shack earlier, they have wireless headphones that have the red and white thingy plug, I just need to justify spending $49 for it, especially after buying the Android LOL.
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"The nation that couldn’t be conquered by foreign enemies has been conquered by its elected officials" odawg Free Republic in reference to the GOP Elites who are no difference than the Democrats

Offline Thor

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2011, 12:23:09 AM »
You have the right adapter, but it's only 6" long. You're going to need an extension cord for the headphones unless the TV is right next to your bed. I've purchased a significant number of various cables through amazon and I have yet to be disappointed. I've actually been pleasantly surprised by the quality, except for the last adapter I bought. It is kind of poorly constructed, but it works fine. I've bought three double male end RCA cable pairs, 2- 50 ft and one 25 ft, and an HDMI cable, and two of the 3.5mm stereo adapters. (I broke one, but that was my fault) I've even put to use a switch I bought a long while ago so I can switch from my sound card output between the stereo & the headphones. I haven't had to return any of them for any types of defects. I've got my turntable going to the computer so I can record  my Vinyl to hard disk. I also have the TV going to the stereo and an HDMI cable going from the computer to the TV. It's a cable maze for the novice, but they all work as I wanted them to work. The last TV I had in the bedroom, I disconnected the speaker and ran it to an RCA jack  and ran it to an old pair of computer speakers. I need to do the same to the current tv as it has no jacks.

Ohh, and I've tried those "wireless headphones" and they are JUNK. The sound quality is poor and they are prone to interference. Besides, I can't sleep with stuff in my ears.
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2011, 07:38:12 PM »
OK, I just checked the TV's, it has the red and white thingy that says Audio In and Video In, so are there any options now?
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"The nation that couldn’t be conquered by foreign enemies has been conquered by its elected officials" odawg Free Republic in reference to the GOP Elites who are no difference than the Democrats

Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2011, 08:49:24 PM »
OMG! I don't have to worry about watching the old tv's without the headphone jack. I googled free live TV on the internet and I found this site :yahoo:

http://www.streamick.com/

I was watching live on the computer and my tv and it really was live!
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"The nation that couldn’t be conquered by foreign enemies has been conquered by its elected officials" odawg Free Republic in reference to the GOP Elites who are no difference than the Democrats

Offline SSG Snuggle Bunny

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2011, 03:10:55 PM »
OMG! I don't have to worry about watching the old tv's without the headphone jack. I googled free live TV on the internet and I found this site :yahoo:

http://www.streamick.com/

I was watching live on the computer and my tv and it really was live!
hulu.com too
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Offline CactusCarlos

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2011, 03:47:25 PM »
I called Radio Shack earlier, they have wireless headphones that have the red and white thingy plug, I just need to justify spending $49 for it, especially after buying the Android LOL.

If you're really intent on wireless headphones, I would recommend you avoid Radio Shack.  I bought a pair of wireless headphones there and they lasted, maybe, a year.  Very cheaply made. 
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Offline Thor

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Re: Old TV Audio Question
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2011, 03:52:05 PM »
If you're really intent on wireless headphones, I would recommend you avoid Radio Shack.  I bought a pair of wireless headphones there and they lasted, maybe, a year.  Very cheaply made. 

The ones I got for my daughter were pretty crappy, too and if I recall, they came from Radio Shack. (should be AKA, "Radio Crap" any more)
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."- IBID

I AM your General Ne'er Do Well, Troublemaker & All Around Meanie!!

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."-Thomas Jefferson