Help with wireless headphones

[keithge]

First time posting on the forum here. I have just finished my htpc build and am quite happy with the results. My wife needs to use a set of wireless headphones to listen to the tv due to hearing issues. I want to know if there is a way for me to have both the headphones and the tv speakers on at the same time. The headphones are plugged in to the rear port on the motherboard (ASUS F1A75-M PRO FM1 AMD A75).
Thank you, Keith

[STC]

Hi Keith,

It can be done with a bit of jiggery-pokery. It all depends on how you have things setup right now. Do you connect your HTPC to your TV with a HDMI cable?

[keithge]

Yes, I do.

[STC]

Okay, well Media Center will only allow sound through one path, it's probably best we keep it coming through the HDMI cable. What make and model is your TV?
We need to see if we can leech sound out of the back of it.
also, I presume the wireless headphones have their own volume control and little box of tricks at the HTPC end?

[edit]
Ahh I see you just filled out your HTPC specs, you have a LG LM7600 55. Looking it up...

[keithge]

TV is LG 55LM7600. Yes there is a sending unit which I currently have plugged into the back of the htpc.

[STC]

Okay, well I am going to be done for the night shortly, but what we need to find out is if we can feed sound out of your TV from a port at the back of it.

The way the protected path of sound needs to be we have to try and keep sound going through the HDMI cable, then once it's playing out of your TV speakers, see if your TV can feed another set of speakers or amp i.e. the wireless headphones. If not, then you still could get this working by feeding out of the back of your TV to another amp, then to speakers for your and also the head phones. It's nasty but should work.

[STC]

It appears to have Digital Audio Out (Optical) at the back. Find out if that can output audio whilst leaving your TV speakers working. Perhaps try LG support. If it does all you need to buy is an optical spdif to stereo analogue converter.

[keithge]

OK, thanks for the help. I too am about finished for the day. Good night

[STC]

Hi again,
Let me know if above is a go.

[keithge]

Will do. I emailed the mother board manufacturer, Asus, today to see if they had any solution. I'll keep you posted, thanks

[keithge]

A thought I was pursuing today was this: The tv has 4 hdmi in ports with the forth one marked hdmi/pc. I was thinking that maybe this input allows video only and you get your sound from the pc. eg, you want to take advantage of the pc's 5.1 audio. If this is the case I will go hdmi to port 4, headphone jack on pc to 2 way split with one going to the tv and the other to the wireless unit. I will pick up a male-to-male 3.5mm cord tomorrow and give it a shot. Thoughts?

[STC]

[edited]
I believe Asus won't help as it really has nothing to do with operability.
Your computer locks down all the video and sound from recorded TV and will only allow playback of both if a lot of criteria are met. What it will do is always force only one output for sound.
You could split the sound coming out of your Asus board audio port with a splitter then feed an amplifier feeding both the wireless speakers and another set of speakers for you but both need to have independent volume controls and seperate speakers for you. Good luck with what ever method you choose.

[keithge]

Reply from ASUS:
I am afraid to say it is not possible for the sound to be output on both the rear headphone port and via HDMI simultaneously.

If you continue to experience issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.

[STC]

Right. That's why this thread has been discussing doing it from your TV. Have you spoken with LG yet?

[keithge]

Reply from LG:
Thank you for writing to LG Singapore.
Please contact your localised LG Service Centre for assistance.
Best regards,
LG Electronics Singapore
I'll pursue that route next. Keep you posted.
Keith

[STC]

I'll ask here. Maybe someone has the same family TV

[keithge]

Thanks, I appreciate the help

[STC]

It's a feature you may or may not have, and may or may not be able to configure in the menu, including telling it to spit out stereo instead of Dolby Digital 5.1.
I'm hoping you can do it, then it will be relatively easy and very clean solution, with minimal extra hardware to get.

[keithge]

That is my hope also. The LG support tech I spoke with alluded to the same.