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Post by gato on Jul 4, 2020 16:27:11 GMT -5
Suppose you stepped into the shower and were given a choice: hot water only or cold water only, with the caveat that if you try to get a mix of hot and cold, you end up getting neither.
That's kind of what I face with sound from my Panasonic flat screen TV. I have a ZVox Soundbase 350 that puts out great sound across the audio spectrum.
Problem is, the volume level I need is uncomfortable for my wife. So I solved the problem (I thought) by getting Styletto Bluetooth hearing aids that I needed anyway. With the BT device plugged into the TV, sound is streamed to my hearing aids via my iPhone, which allows control of volume, bass, treble and balance with an app.
Bummer though: the TV has only one optical audio output. So ....it's ZVox or Styletto Bluetooth device, but not both.
I tried an optical splitter: neither device worked with it in place.
Aha! Analog outputs from the TV to analog inputs on the ZVox, and optical for my haring aids! Nope again. On the TV I can output either the optical or the analog. With both plugged in, I get neither.
So if we watch TV together, my wife gets the tinny built in TV speakers and I get the superior Bluetooth output. Oh, and to ice the cake: the Styletto Bluetooth device is proprietary and pairs ONLY with the Styletto hearing aids, so I can't give my wife BT earbuds connected to the Styletto Bluetooth device.
Is there a Bluetooth device with TWO sets of earbuds? And if so, can the volume be controlled independently for each set? Or would I be right back where I started, with my volume level too loud for her ears?
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Post by Taildragger on Jul 4, 2020 18:18:23 GMT -5
My wife's hearing is even worse than mine, so she always wants the subtitles on. I really hate how the dynamic range of many movies' audio seems to be an "all or nothing" proposition: turn it up enough so that you can hear the dialog and you'll get blown right out of your chair when the next action sequence erupts.
I've gotten to the point that I usually turn the movie off right after the first time that happens. It really just pretty much spoils any enjoyment I was getting out of the film.
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Post by rickyguitar on Jul 4, 2020 20:49:27 GMT -5
I depended on subtitles, I have a real tough time making out dialogue. I tend to just not watch.
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Post by rangercaster on Jul 4, 2020 21:07:39 GMT -5
You need separate TVs ... spendy... but a perfect solution . ..
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Post by LTB on Jul 4, 2020 21:08:22 GMT -5
I depended on subtitles, I have a real tough time making out dialogue. I tend to just not watch. Don't feel alone! |
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009
Wholenote
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Post by 009 on Jul 4, 2020 21:25:49 GMT -5
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Post by gato on Jul 5, 2020 5:48:31 GMT -5
My wife's hearing is even worse than mine, so she always wants the subtitles on. I really hate how the dynamic range of many movies' audio seems to be an "all or nothing" proposition: turn it up enough so that you can hear the dialog and you'll get blown right out of your chair when the next action sequence erupts.
I've gotten to the point that I usually turn the movie off right after the first time that happens. It really just pretty much spoils any enjoyment I was getting out of the film.
Amen to that. And it's not just action sequences, it's overbearing background music as well. |
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Post by HenryJ on Jul 5, 2020 6:42:51 GMT -5
Re the overbearing background music:
The human ear's hearing frequency response is not flat. It's bell-shaped. The dome of the bell is in the range of human speech. As we get older, the dome sinks down, the ear's frequency response gets closer to flat, and all other sounds, such as background music, drown out human speech.
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Post by Laker on Jul 5, 2020 6:51:43 GMT -5
Would something like this work for your issue? insert code hereTendak splitter |
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Post by gato on Jul 5, 2020 7:27:19 GMT -5
Would something like this work for your issue? insert code hereTendak splitterSince it's powered, it might have the "oomf" needed to keep the signal from degrading. |
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Post by Stratluvr on Jul 5, 2020 7:43:18 GMT -5
Re the overbearing background music: The human ear's hearing frequency response is not flat. It's bell-shaped. The dome of the bell is in the range of human speech. As we get older, the dome sinks down, the ear's frequency response gets closer to flat, and all other sounds, such as background music, drown out human speech. That explains why I can't hear a thing my wife is saying to me. Music and background noise are all clear as a bell. |
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Post by rickyguitar on Jul 5, 2020 11:58:44 GMT -5
I have been checking out some of the links posted here. I did not realize this kind of tech was out there. We don't have a TV in our house, by choice. We watch Netflix or prime. I really need to come up with something to get better audio on my tablet. It has a great pic but really poor audio. I could use my in ear mon but if we are lying in bed my wife would be left out. Kinda funny phone has much better audio and is tiny. Oh well.
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Post by Opie on Jul 7, 2020 7:13:52 GMT -5
One of my customers when I was still in the wood game, was a Hungarian guy who made millions off of his medical patents.I did all the cabinets and much of the woodwork throughout his house(one of many around the world) Anyway, his entertainment system was pretty impressive, the three or four power amps alone were in the $20K range,each. The stereo guy told me he had close to $200k in it. I was in there maybe a year after doing a mod on one of the cabinets and his wife told me a funny story. He was watching some action movie (Top Gun if memory serves) and he has it cranked up so load that his alarm went off but he couldn't hear it. The cops come in and had to shake his shoulder to get his attention. She arrives just as the cops do and said he damn near hit the ceiling it scared him so bad !
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Post by fkaJimmySee on Jul 7, 2020 7:18:40 GMT -5
My advice ..... call Crutchfield. They can probably help. I've made a few purchases from them along the way. They are big on customer service, so if there is a solution, they'll help you figure it out and sell you the gear you need. And with Crutchfield, it is always returnable if it does not work out to your satisfaction.
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Post by modbus on Jul 8, 2020 7:29:26 GMT -5
I'm with 009 -- I wouldn't give up on splitters just yet. You might be able to get yours to work with some tweeking, or possible find another splitter that does work.
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009
Wholenote
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Posts: 516
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Post by 009 on Jul 8, 2020 9:35:09 GMT -5
All of the sellers of these mention making sure the protective end cap from the end that plugs into the TV. I can't imagine the cap fitting into the optical port of a TV, thereby faking someone out, but....
You should be able to see the red glow of the light coming out of the both ends of the TV-connected splitter. If both ends glow and it doesn't work, then a powered splitter is probably in order. If there is no light coming out of one or both ends, then the splitter is defective.
Well, this is what I gleaned from a cursory scan of a couple of Amazon reviews.
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009
Wholenote
Take me to your leader!
Posts: 516
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Post by 009 on Jul 8, 2020 9:39:04 GMT -5
All of the sellers of these mention making sure the protective end cap IS REMOVED from the end that plugs into the TV. I can't imagine the cap fitting into the optical port of a TV, thereby faking someone out, but.... You should be able to see the red glow of the light coming out of the both ends of the TV-connected splitter. If both ends glow and it doesn't work, then a powered splitter is probably in order. If there is no light coming out of one or both ends, then the splitter is defective. Well, this is what I gleaned from a cursory scan of a couple of Amazon reviews. ... "edited" ...left out "is removed" from the original post. (Two seconds of allowed editing time is too short.) |
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