View Full Version : Connecting wireless headphones to vintage gear
Hi guys
Hope everyone is retaining their sanity in these odd times.
Some digital help please!
I would like to connect some wireless headphones to vintage receivers and pre-amps [Pioneer SX-1250; Yamaha CR-2020; Sony TA-E80ES] each of which which have large (6.5mm?) headphone jack sockets. The reason being that sometimes I would like to be able to listen to that gear (obviously not all at once!) while doing other stuff.
Has anyone done this? If so your guidance would be appreciated!
best
Robin
the ioneer as a tape loop so you could attach an avantree or similar to it and get wifi headphones that way.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BQYYDNJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
there will be cheaper options but these units are top notch and have great range
Grant
Thanks for the quick response!
Your message got a little truncated - however I think you are suggesting plugging something into the "tape out" phono connectors?
That might well work but what I was (naively?!) hoping for is something I can plug into the headphone socket so I could move it easily from one unit to another.
Do you think there might be a solution that could work like that?
kind regards
Robin
Grant
Thanks for the quick response!
Your message got a little truncated - however I think you are suggesting plugging something into the "tape out" phono connectors?
That might well work but what I was (naively?!) hoping for is something I can plug into the headphone socket so I could move it easily from one unit to another.
Do you think there might be a solution that could work like that?
kind regards
Robin
sure you could use a similar device as long as it has an analogue in. just use an adaptor from 2 x rca to say a 3.5mm stereo jack.. then if your headphone socket is 6.3 mm then an adaptor for that.. should work i guess. might help if the unit had a battery inside, i dont know if you need that? think on amazon you might find what you need
https://cpc.farnell.com/av-link/100-596uk/bluetooth-2-in-1-audio-trans-receiver/dp/AV28212?mckv=sGOZQB2dX_dc|pcrid|224635168920|kword ||match||plid||slid||product|AV28212|pgrid|4653324 6385|ptaid|pla-796643856889|&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-SHOPPING&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_j1BRDkARIsAJcfmTG0mxnEI1HwSgNuM45w-vJvFL9prUpl06bLEX3278S8SMO7vkGgvlkaAg4TEALw_wcB
no battery but any 5v power adaptor or even a battery pack will run it
I picked up a Bluetooth transmitter dongle from ebay about a year ago, there are quite a few there with different specs (A2DP, APTEX, APTEX HD) and usually have either a 3.5 socket or jack plug on them. So you can add either a 6.5 - 3.5 lead or 3.5 - 6.5 jack adapter. Shove it in whichever machine you want and it will transmit to your headphones.
brian2957
26-05-2020, 19:36
I use one of these . Always works when I want it to https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XY2HLW8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hi Grant (and indeed anyone else who might have some ideas!)
So, I picked up one of these - and some Sony WH-1000XM3 'phones - and after the usual faffing got them talking to each other with the signal to the Avantree coming via the headphone jack on an amp. That's the good part.
Less good is that the sound in the 'phones is very quiet. If I turn the sound from the amp up (to almost 75% of the output - which can't be right) the sound gets a little bit louder but is full of static. Plus I get a static sound emitting from the speaker in the Avantree itself.
The volume control on the Sony is managed by touch and judging by the "beep" I am getting when trying to turn them up they are already on max. Turning them down certainly works which would imply that they are at max volume.
There is (supposedly) a volume control on the Avantee - but when I press it the sound merely cuts out completely.
Finally there is an app for the Sonys but the volume control that ought to be there isn't showing - possibly because the signal they are picking up is from the Avantree rather than my phone.
Any ideas on what might be limiting the volume of the signal being picked up by the phones?
Not sure. You could try connectinf up the cans to your phone and use app to see if vol is maybe only set so far up. I had that once if memory serves.
Also play some music from your phone via bt to cans and see how loud they go. The eu does force headphones to be fairly low but nowhere like what your getting
Also there is different output formats from the avantree so try them all
Hi Grant
Have checked the cans as you suggested and they are fine. It's definitely the Avantree so am currently dealing with their help desk...will lyk outcome...!
Finally, it all seems to be working just fine :-) - thanks for your help.
It is now (imho) the perfect setup for listening to 1970s audience recordings of which I have an embarrassing amount.
Constrained as these recordings were by the twin limitations of poor PAs and (usually) early portable cassette decks the advantage of hearing exactly what was picked up on the tape - without the ambient noise from a listening room - turns these into an enjoyable (if far from audiophile) experience. And the convenience of not being physically tethered to a system is worth the drop in signal that Bluetooth is causing.
Great you've got it going...
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