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Topic: TV headphone out to stereo amp (Read 28618 times) previous topic - next topic
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TV headphone out to stereo amp

My TV (Samsung EH5000) doesn't have line out (line level output) just headphone out. Is it safe to connect headphone out to integrated stereo amp (old NAD C325BEE) and if it's ok what would be the safe volume level set on TV? What are the consequences of probable impedance and signal level mismatches?

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #1 –
Its safe.  You'll probably have to set the volume to 100% to get to line level.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #2 –
The TV has a SCART socket, the manual doesn't have a pin diagram for it but I'd suggest trying a SCART to 2 phono out as this would give you a line out if your TV has a fully wired SCART socket

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #3 –
Quote from: probedb on
The TV has a SCART socket, the manual doesn't have a pin diagram for it but I'd suggest trying a SCART to 2 phono out as this would give you a line out if your TV has a fully wired SCART socket


I have tried that but it only outputs audio signal when watching terrestrial tv channels. It doesn't output signal from hdmi input or inbuilt media player. 

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #4 –
Quote from: probedb on
The TV has a SCART socket, the manual doesn't have a pin diagram for it but I'd suggest trying a SCART to 2 phono out as this would give you a line out if your TV has a fully wired SCART socket


The connector is called RCA. Stop confusing people with talking about "phono out" please!



@papucar: As said, using the headphone output shouldn't be much of a problem. Since the line in has a greater impedance, both parts are safe (the opposite would be bad).
On the other hand, I'm not so sure about saratoga's claim to use 100% of volume... Just try it out, starting from low volume until you're fine.

Else, you'll have to buy other components for your setup, as the TV has Digital (optical) audio out.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #5 –
Quote from: saratoga on
Its safe.  You'll probably have to set the volume to 100% to get to line level.


I'm doing that with an LG TV and Technics receiver. It doesn't need 100% but it's up around 70. Residual noise is below ambient at 6 inches from the speaker. IOW it works fine.

G²

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #6 –
Quote from: [JAZ] on
Else, you'll have to buy other components for your setup, as the TV has Digital (optical) audio out.
I use the FiiO D3 for my bedroom TV that is very similar: only optical audio out. Anyway, for about $25 it does the job handily.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #7 –
I use the headphone out on my Samsung TV too. The frequency response is pretty linear (i checked it), so that's good. The output level is quite usable as well, i usually keep it in the middle. You certainly don't need volume at 100.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #8 –
Thanks you everyone! I connected TV to amp through headphone out and it seems to work fine.

Quote from: Hotsoup on
Quote from: [JAZ] on
Else, you'll have to buy other components for your setup, as the TV has Digital (optical) audio out.
I use the FiiO D3 for my bedroom TV that is very similar: only optical audio out. Anyway, for about $25 it does the job handily.


I looked into fiio D3 but it seems to have weak line out. I would be interested in cheap DAC that is able to output line level signal as my TV doesn't let user choose between internal speakers and headphone out.   

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #9 –
Quote from: [JAZ] on

The connector is called RCA. Stop confusing people with talking about "phono out" please!


Definition.... "An RCA connector, sometimes called a phono connector or cinch connector". Stop being pedantic it's not helping anyone.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #10 –
Quote from: CiTay on
I use the headphone out on my Samsung TV too. The frequency response is pretty linear (i checked it), so that's good. The output level is quite usable as well, i usually keep it in the middle. You certainly don't need volume at 100.

Did you menage to find any specs for the headphone out? I asked Samsung support but they didn't know. It's a pity that they don't include line out on their TVs any more. 

In addition to FiiO D03k I looked into these devices but I couldn't find line out specs:
http://orei.com/index.php/electronics/audi...-converter.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Optic-Coax...121157118026%26

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #11 –
Quote from: probedb on
Definition.... "An RCA connector, sometimes called a phono connector or cinch connector". Stop being pedantic it's not helping anyone.

I am not interested in further discussion. If you feel fine talking about phono connectors, let's be it. The "sometimes" in your sentence is more important than what you seem to think.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #12 –
Quote from: papucar on
Quote from: CiTay on
I use the headphone out on my Samsung TV too. The frequency response is pretty linear (i checked it), so that's good. The output level is quite usable as well, i usually keep it in the middle. You certainly don't need volume at 100.

Did you menage to find any specs for the headphone out? I asked Samsung support but they didn't know. It's a pity that they don't include line out on their TVs any more. 


Its almost unheard of for consumer electronics to include meaningful specs for headphone ports.  At best you might find some made up power figures or meaningless frequency response number.  Fiio is actually pretty atypical in this respect. 

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #13 –
I got my mom a Samsung UN40EH5000 a while back and was disappointed to find the "headphone" jack on the back was actually a fixed-level line out jack. I ended up having to make a remote controlled volume attenuator using an Arduino Uno, which turned out to be rather fun and educational.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Rotareneg on
I got my mom a Samsung UN40EH5000 a while back and was disappointed to find the "headphone" jack on the back was actually a fixed-level line out jack. I ended up having to make a remote controlled volume attenuator using an Arduino Uno, which turned out to be rather fun and educational.


My TV is UE40EH5000W (model for continental Europe) and volume of headphone out can be controlled by remote. Models for different markets vary significantly for example UK Model has LAN connection but continental Europe model doesn't have it.

I suppose Samsung could easily modify the firmware to allow switching between line level signal and amplified signal on headphone out as well as switching between headphone out and internal speakers.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #15 –
Quote from: papucar on
Quote from: probedb on
The TV has a SCART socket, the manual doesn't have a pin diagram for it but I'd suggest trying a SCART to 2 phono out as this would give you a line out if your TV has a fully wired SCART socket


I have tried that but it only outputs audio signal when watching terrestrial tv channels. It doesn't output signal from hdmi input or inbuilt media player.


This was also quite common for TVs sold in the US regarding their optical out, at least in the past. The optical out worked for the internal tuner, however it was silent for HDMI sources. On some other TVs the optical out provides a dumbed down version of the incoming HDMI signal [for example, a 5.1 Dolby Digital signal is converted to PCM 2.0, which probably wouldn't be a problem regarding how you seem to want to use it with your NAD amp].

Samsung doesn't explain this well in their manuals but instead has a generic FAQ page which warns that this varies from TV to TV, here:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/SupportO...&fm_seq=804

[Read the last section: "Digital Optical Does Not Work For All Sources"]

In any event, I think using the headphone jack as you now are make the most sense if you need to keep the TV's remote control volume functional. The optical out may or may not work for incoming HDMI signals, but I'd be shocked if it's level was adjustable via remote. You should assume it will be a fixed level.

TV headphone out to stereo amp

Reply #16 –
Quote from: mzil on
This was also quite common for TVs sold in the US regarding their optical out, at least in the past. The optical out worked for the internal tuner, however it was silent for HDMI sources. On some other TVs the optical out provides a dumbed down version of the incoming HDMI signal [for example, a 5.1 Dolby Digital signal is converted to PCM 2.0, which probably wouldn't be a problem regarding how you seem to want to use it with your NAD amp].

Samsung doesn't explain this well in their manuals but instead has a generic FAQ page which warns that this varies from TV to TV, here:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/SupportO...&fm_seq=804

[Read the last section: "Digital Optical Does Not Work For All Sources"]

Samsung support didn't know the answer as well!

Quote
In any event, I think using the headphone jack as you now are make the most sense if you need to keep the TV's remote control volume functional. The optical out may or may not work for incoming HDMI signals, but I'd be shocked if it's level was adjustable via remote. You should assume it will be a fixed level.

I would prefer fixed line level output but headphone out seems to work just fine. I set the volume of headphone out on TV to the middle value and then I control volume trough amp's remote. I will try to experiment later to compare TV's headphone out loudness to other sources.