topic Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers in Android TV

How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:10:57 GMT

Hello. On my Sony TV KD-32W800 I am unable to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers. Bluetooth and optical connections switch off loudspeakers.

Is there a way to have sound on both headphones and loudspeakers ? Maybe by using an HDMI ARC to RCA converter ?

The Sony support explains a solution but it does not apply to my Sony TV.

Thanks for answers

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

Marino.Manolo — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:15:30 GMT

Have you tried?:

https://helpguide.sony.net/tv/iaepm1/v1/en/3_3_2_other_sound_settings.html

Speakers

Set the TV to play the sound on TV or on the connected audio system.

You can select where you want to hear the TV sound and how you want to control it.
• If you select External audio system, you permanently switch off the TV speakers.
• If you select TV speakers, the TV speakers are always on.

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:20:22 GMT

TV speakers are checked in the Sound settings but there are automatically switched off if we connect simple headphones in the 3.5 jack (on the left side of the TV set). We have also connected bluetooth headphones and the TV speakers are automatically switched off when bluetooth connection is established. Sony support has also told me that the optical connection will switch off the TV speakers (not tried). Last chance : the HDMI ARC connector. The audio settings of the TV seem to lead to an exclusion between TV speakers and digital HDMI output, but not tried.

I don't know how to manage to have sound on both headphones and TV speakers. I need this for an old hearing impaired person who would like to watch TV with personnal headphones and suitable volume while the other persons watch the same TV with TV speakers set at a "normal" volume.

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

Marino.Manolo — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:35:26 GMT

On some Sony Android TVs the only way to get Audio from the Speakers and a connected Audio device is via Optical Connection, not via Bluetooth or Headphone Jack Cable.
In the Web Guide you don't explicitly read about Optical Connection as the only method but you can try, I understood you had tried but from your previous answer I would say no.

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:51:35 GMT

No, I did not try the optical connection. I had just an answer from the Sony support which says that the optical connection will disconnect the TV speakers. Can anybody confirm that ?

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

Marino.Manolo — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:59:13 GMT

We need someone to confirm it for this specific Model, because as I wrote in Sony TVs with Android TV the only connection that allows "double Audio" is the Optical one, but the W800 Series is different from other Sony Android TVs.
The fact that the Web Guide doesn't mention this leads me to think that it's not possible, but there is the link I attached to you, when it comes to the Audio System usually we are referring to at least Optical so the method will most likely work.

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

HannahEd01 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:45:52 GMT

Hey f6dqm1, the TV itself doesn't support outputting sound from the headphones and the TV at the same time, you can find more info here:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00049501

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:30:13 GMT

Yes, I know this article. It does not apply to my Sony KD32W800 which as a different menu.

I am wondering if using an adaptor HDMI-ARC to RCA and/or 3.5" stereo jack would do the job ? In other words, does connecting such an adaptor to the Sony HDMI-ARC will swich off the TV speakers or not ? I consider the PROZOR ARC Audio Extractor.

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

royabrown2 — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:16:31 GMT

@f6dqm1

This might be better:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C65DTX7P/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza
as it claims to support eARC, for better current or future compatibility, and has an HDMI out.

So it might be able to sit in the path to a soundbar, and put out audio from its other outputs as well.

But that’s not clear, so I have asked the question for you there - see if it gets answered, and what they say.

i can say that anything connected to the (e)ARC out of the TV will mute the internal speakers, no question. Have you got a soundbar?

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:47:37 GMT

No, I want use wireless headphones, wifi or HF. I know that bluetooth headphones do not work because the TV set switches off TV speakers when it switches to the bluetooth headphones.

The internal 3.5" jack also switches off the TV speakers when wired headphones are directly plugged into this jack.

I need to have both TV speakers and headphones functionning together. This is the title of the post.

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

royabrown2 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:58:45 GMT

@f6dqm1

As far as I know, the only way any modern Sony TV will do audio out without muting the speakers is via optical. You have been told by Sony this won’t work, and you have had to accept that without trying it.

But the thing to know is that there is nothing sitting on the optical connection that will switch this (unlike, say, ARC, where there are intelligent handshakes).

So if anything on the TV is going to switch off the internal speakers when you select Optical, then it’s going to be something connected with that selection. i.e., you can try this on the TV without needing to connect anything to the Optical output.

So if you select Optical, and the internal speakers stop, then Sony are right, and I have no other solution to offer you apart from the soundbar possibility.

But if they don’t stop, then it looks like optical might be the solution. You’ll need an optical to analogue converter to use RF headphones, or you could use an optical to Bluetooth converter/transmitter and Bluetooth headphones; as this Bluetooth connection would be independent of the TV, it would not affect the TV speakers.

Re: Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

HannahEd01 — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:29:33 GMT

Hey f6dqm1, as per the article I shared your TV does not support this feature, it's not within the applicable models, this is what I was trying to say.

Regarding the adapters, it's not guaranteed they'll work or override the TV's system.

Re: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

kendalwilliams — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:25:54 GMT

First, you need to check if your device really allows you to get the sound on both headphones and loudspeaker at the same time. After that, use the splitter cable to add the loudspeaker and headphones to your TV. Also, you can make the settings changes by pressing the Settings button on the remote. Then, move to the Speakers option and select the Audio System option. In addition, you can connect your headphones via Bluetooth connection, too, if you want.
Thankyou

Re: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:18:25 GMT

I have just bought an optical to RCA/3.5" adapter. When I have received it and I have tried it, I will report. See you later.

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

Sunnygrove — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 06:30:28 GMT

I have just connected a soundbar via the optical outlet on my Bravia OLED 55 tv.

The tv speakers can still be used at the same time if you want to.

You just reduce the volume on either to suit.

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

rooobb — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:15:50 GMT

Are you aware that in this way you are sending only stereo signal to the soundbar in this way and that the TV speaker cannot be fully synchronized with the soundbar so in the end you are getting a worse result than using the soundbar alone?

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

f6dqm1 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 13:15:27 GMT

I just received and connected an AMANKA 192kHz DAC Converter (made in China).

Optical connection between the TV and the DAC.

Headphones connected to the 3.5" output of the DAC.

In the Bravia TV, TV speakers set to "connected", digital output set to PCM.

And I have sound on both TV speakers and headphones.

The AMANKA DAC has its own volume control, then I can set the headphones volume to fit my ears while my wife sets the TV speakers volume to her usual low volume.

It seems that there is a littlle latence between decoded audio and image. Not a problem when watching sports but I can notice it when watching a film or news.

The audio settings of the TV speakers do not apply to the digital output. That means no balance, no trebble, no bass settings on the headphones but OK, we will see after some weeks of utilisation.

I just hope that this chineese product will last a few weeks !!!!

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

royabrown2 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 14:43:43 GMT

@rooobb

It’s perfectly possible to pass 5.1 over Optical. Maybe only what ARC would pass, and it isn’t up to eARC standards, but doable.

Or are you saying this is a Sony limitation, despite the S in S/PDIF?

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

royabrown2 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 14:50:42 GMT

@f6dqm1

Good for you!

As I suspected, Sony were wrong about this not working.

But as you have found, the optical signal is sent ‘flat’, and if you want to adjust balance, treble and bass, then you will need a small headphone amplifier between DAC and headphones. This should not affect the latency any further.

I’m sure the Chinese make one of these also 😛

Rif.: How to get sound on both headphones and loudspeakers

rooobb — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:43:46 GMT

@royabrown2 not when leaving on TV speakers. In that case on Sony's TV (and I think any other brand) only 2.0 stereo channel are passed through