Where's the dang headphone jack?

[fustercluck]

Got a new TV not long ago and sometimes I like to watch TV really late at night or early in the morning so I gotta use headphones. This is the TV here

There is no headphone jack so I'll have to do it another way. It says this in the support pages:

An optical cable can be connected to the TV to send audio from the TV to a digital to analog audio converter. A digital to analog audio converter can convert audio from the television's "Digital Audio Output" and send the audio to your headphones or home theater system using an RCA connection.

Is a digital to analog audio converter my only option? That shit is expensive :< - Is there any other way I can do it? I got an HDMI cable going from the TV to my computer but I doubt I could get the TV audio through my computer?

Thanks.

 

[nsafreak]

Unless there's a video card out there that supports Audio Return Channel through HDMI (and I haven't found one that does) then yes you'll have to purchase a DAC/AVR. I suppose if you're willing to pick up one used that be one option or get something like a Denon 1612 for $180 or less from an online retailer.

 

[SithSolo1]

You can do this for about $100 with the added benifit of using external speakers if you so choose.

This - http://www.amazon.com/D3-Digital-Con...ywords=usb+dac

Plus This - http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=310-310


Or if you want a cheap receiver - http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...hannel-3-D-Ready-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

Also I find it rather odd that the only Audio Out options are Digital, you'd think they would have at least had 1 set of RCA out.\

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks

I already have a headphone amp. I guess $30 isn't so bad, but for a $730 TV it'd be nice to just have a headphone jack at least, heh. Would be much simpler that way. Now it's hella confusing. When it comes to home theater technology I'm pretty much lost.

One of the reviews for the D3 converter says it doesn't work for his panasonic TV and it's similar to mine. Drats.

Is it possible I could just connect the TV to my headphone amp? I think my headphone amp uses RCA inputs. The more I talk about this the dumber I feel. And rightfully so.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks

I already have a headphone amp. I guess $30 isn't so bad, but for a $730 TV it'd be nice to just have a headphone jack at least, heh. Would be much simpler that way. Now it's hella confusing. When it comes to home theater technology I'm pretty much lost.

One of the reviews for the D3 converter says it doesn't work for his panasonic TV and it's similar to mine. Drats.

Is it possible I could just connect the TV to my headphone amp? I think my headphone amp uses RCA inputs. The more I talk about this the dumber I feel. And rightfully so.

You're saying the TV doesn't have a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. If you need RCA input to the headphone amp, you would need RCA output from the TV under those circumstances. Your best bet would be to use the digital/optical "out" of the TV, as someone already suggested.

We all have these sorts of problems. In converting my HTPC to incorporate an AV Receiver and 5.1 speakers, I had to learn that keeping the old 5.1 PC speaker system would cause trouble if I attempted switching back and forth. The Receiver is fed by HDMI, and I didn't want to leave it turned on all the time. Luckily, it has a pass-through or standby feature for the TV connection, so the HDTV's speakers can be used while the receiver is turned "off" and in standby. Then, I wanted to hook up a PC 2.1 speaker system to the TV, and lucky that my TV has a 3.5mm stereo "out" jack. Then -- began to wonder about extending this for other speakers and a headphone.

So the advice and equipment suggested in this thread are food for thought, and may be useful to me.