Hello - I need to buy a TV and headphones for my folks so that my dad (who is hard of hearing) can watch loud on wireless headphones, while the TV is at standard volume for mum (and doesn't disturb the neighbours).

They want a new TV anyway, and have been advised that this will be relatively easy to do if they get a Smart TV, but I've had a dig round online for the last few days and I can't find much out there to give them and advice on what to ask for or think about. Ideally they're after a 48"-50" TV and have a budget of around £700. Does anyone know what the best solution would be, as I've found a cheap FM transmitter, but dad would rather pay more to have the best solution.

Any advice would be greatly received? Thanks

Many of the Sony TV's have had separate volume adjustments for speakers and headphones, and the option of muting the speakers or not when you plug the headphones in. They also commonly have the option of fixed level output from the socket or not.

But I've not done one recently, so best to go in a shop and check.

Alternately use wireless headphones. These have a volume control on the headset.

Thanks for helping guys, I really appreciate that.

My mum has a very old Hitachi TV which has separate volume controls for speakers and headphone socket. Her hearing isn't very good so she prefers to use corded headphones even though she's on her own. So I got her a pair of Sony headphones which have an in-line volume control which allows the speaker volume to remain reasonable but increases the volume to the headphones.

You can buy just the in-line volume control like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Headphone-Ea.../dp/B008EWP07E

Nice to know that in-line volume control exists, but not so useful if it's plugged in at the TV with the headphones plugged into it and you're sitting five or six feet away at the end of the cable and needing to get up every time to adjust the volume.

Buy an extension lead at the same time so you can have the volume control near you.

You can do this with both my Sony TVs. All you need is a pair of headphones with a volume control (or add one as suggested).
Plug that into the TVs headphone socket. The Volume Control is usually in the headphone lead close to hand, check that though.

You need to go to the sound setup and Link and then Unlink the Headphone and Speakers.

Basically you Link first, set the max Headphone level (Headphone level icon), then Unlink. The Headphone user can then twiddle their vol control and the Speaker user use the remote for volume.

You may have to go back and forth a bit to set the max Headphone level to suit the Headphone user.

This has nothing to do with so-called "Smart TVs" which is the internet services bit.

I don't know how to do this wirelessly, rather more involved with extra hardware.

I have a pair of these. Useful for following the F1 etc pre and post show while pottering around the house then settling back in front of the TV on the formation lap ready for the start of the race.

Certainly isn't. Being "Smart" or otherwise has absolutely no bearing at all on whether the TV has a headphone socket in the first place nor whether it is possible to independently adjust the volume on headphones and speakers.


Not really that much more involved.

Plug wireless headphone base unit into TV headphone socket and mains and switch on. That's pretty much it.

Apart from remembering to use the ON/OFF switch on the wireless headphones themselves.

Or something like this:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page18.htm#headamp01

That passive device can just make the headphones quieter - the OP needs the headphones louder ie an amplifier.

You can buy specialist headphones for people with hearing problems
http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.u...duct-l439.aspx

If you have a look around that site they also have other suggestions.

http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.u...listeners.aspx