I have a lovely Sony amplifier that has served me many years. I have my cable box, my DVD and my VDR all plugged into it, and depending on which device I choose, pretty pictures from cable, DVD or VHS show and sound on my television, and I can listen to them through my headphones. I do not use speakers. Lord knows I have plenty of speakers I could use, but the TV sound and the headphones cover my needs quite adequately, so why bother with speakers taking up room and gathering dust?
Unfortunately, my lovely amplifier seems to be a goner. Looking to replace it, I realized that I don’t really need an amplifier at all; what I need is a switching station. Something I can plug several sets of RCA jacks into as sources, and have a single set of RCA jacks coming out to go into the TV. But, it also has to have a headphone jack, as my television does not (very odd, that, but there it is. No headphone jack).
I’m poor. I mean, really poor. So I’d like to get the least expensive thing I can to serve my needs, but I don’t have the slightest idea how to describe what I want so that I can Google it. I’d like to be able to switch between inputs without having to unplug and plug in jacks every time. I’d like to be able to use my headphones, or the TV sound by itself. Ideally I’d like to have as many as three inputs, although I’ll settle for two, as I don’t watch many video tapes.
You need 3 AV inputs for cable, DVD and DVR players, one video out to your TV, one headphone outlet, and presumably a pair(?) of RCA outlets to the TV speakers (just in case you have guests who would like to hear the sound). Is this correct.
Yes, and my TV has stereo speakers. I am very poor, so I want to spend as little as possible. I’ve seen amplifiers, very cheap ones, for about a hundred dollars, but I’d like to spend less since I don’t actually need amplification.
You might check with Radio Shack. They carry all manner of things like that. I got a two input/one output switcher there for my CD players some years ago.
I asked here before Radio Shack, because while Radio Shack can be helpful, they also want to sell. You all have no dog in the hunt, so I view you as expert, impartial judges.
astro, that is exactly what I need, except they have no additional headphone output jack. I’ve never heard of an AV Audio Video Signal Switcher. Thank you.
I’m not so sure. Looking at it again, I don’t see either a power cord or a volume control for the headphone outlet. Which means that it splits the line level input in two, sending part to your headphones and part to the TV.
I think you need a powered device that will give you a small amp for your headphones. I’ll look around a bit more, but I’m about to go off to a job interview, so it’s gonna be a while until I get back. Maybe you can find something similar in the meantime.
Just so you are aware, what you have ordered is a passive switcher. The headphone jack on that switcher is simply passively feeding off the RCA line level inputs. It’s intended for “monitoring” the signal and has no volume control. The audio quality and volume you will get from that switcher headphone jack may not be what you are used to from the receiver.
Yeah, I just thought about volume control for the headphones. So I’ll give this a try and see. I don’t need both headphones and TV sound simultaneously - typically I mute the TV when using headphones.
Worst case, I have to send this back and get something else. At least I know there’s something.
In that case, I’ll answer your question above: yes, the unit I bought had two RCA inputs and one RCA output. No headphone jack, but I wasn’t looking for one. It was also a passive device (no power) with mechanical switching via a two-position toggle.