Using Earphones with TV - HiFi Headphones Forum - online headphone & earphone community forums

jfsebastian · 08-05-2009, 06:49 PM

I have a pair of Shure SE530 earphones which I mainly use with the TV. Most of the time I'm using my PS3, not just for games but also music, television and films. I've noticed that the sound quality of a lot of newer LCDTVs is pretty poor when listening through earphones. Would a headphone amp help to improve the sound quality? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Saiyajin · 08-06-2009, 10:46 PM

I think you will only get a small improvement by that. If the input signals are crappy, there won't go much better signals out of the amp either.
If your LCDTV is the cause by the poor sound quality I would try avoid let audio go though you’re LCDTV and find a way taking the audio directly from your PS3.

jfsebastian · 08-06-2009, 10:55 PM

That seems like a likely solution. Can anyone tell me how I could do this? Perhaps a headphone amp could be connected to the PS3 in some way?

ShaunG · 08-09-2009, 12:01 PM

I don't own a Playstation 3, so excuse my ignorance. I understand (from doing a bit of Googling) that the PS3 has a digital audio output (optical). This would be the way to get the very best signal out of the PS3. However, you would need to convert it to an audio analogue signal somehow, either via a stereo amplifier that supports digital input) or via a DAC, such as the iBasso D10.

An external DAC is a great way of getting the very best out of many digital audio devices. CNET recently wrote an article about improving the Apple AirPort Express with an external DAC like the iBasso D10.

jfsebastian · 08-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Thanks for the idea. That product looks good but a little pricey. Would a cheaper headphone amp do the job? Rather than connecting via optical out and thus requiring a DAC I could connect using component leads.

ShaunG · 08-11-2009, 07:09 PM

One option I was thinking of was taking the audio left/right from the TV and feeding the headphone amp with this.

This would give you a digital connection (via HDMI I presume) from PS3 to TV, and then you would use the DAC in the TV (might be worth checking the spec).

Just an idea. Probably not as good as taking the digital output from the PS3 to a dedicated DAC, but may be good enough.

I would recommend avoiding the headphone output on the TV. It's likely to be very poor quality (as Saiyajin suggested).

08-05-2009, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
jfsebastian Headphone Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Using Earphones with TV I have a pair of Shure SE530 earphones which I mainly use with the TV. Most of the time I'm using my PS3, not just for games but also music, television and films. I've noticed that the sound quality of a lot of newer LCDTVs is pretty poor when listening through earphones. Would a headphone amp help to improve the sound quality? Any advice would be much appreciated. __________________ "Flying blind on a rocket cycle?"

08-06-2009, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Saiyajin Headphone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 36 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I think you will only get a small improvement by that. If the input signals are crappy, there won't go much better signals out of the amp either. If your LCDTV is the cause by the poor sound quality I would try avoid let audio go though you’re LCDTV and find a way taking the audio directly from your PS3. __________________ Greetings Saijajin (and sorry my poor english if I...that yes you know..I'm not UK) Player: Meizu Miniplayer SP/SL 8GB, Cowon S9 32GB, Sony D-NE830 IEMs: SoundMagic PL-30, PL50, SA6, ER-4P, Sennheiser IE8, Triple.fi 10 Pro with custom cable. Amp: FiiO E5 Last edited by Saiyajin; 08-06-2009 at 10:52 PM.

08-06-2009, 10:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
jfsebastian Headphone Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That seems like a likely solution. Can anyone tell me how I could do this? Perhaps a headphone amp could be connected to the PS3 in some way? __________________ "Flying blind on a rocket cycle?"

08-09-2009, 12:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
ShaunG Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 416 Thanks: 2 Thanked 78 Times in 60 Posts	PS3 connection to headphone amp / DAC I don't own a Playstation 3, so excuse my ignorance. I understand (from doing a bit of Googling) that the PS3 has a digital audio output (optical). This would be the way to get the very best signal out of the PS3. However, you would need to convert it to an audio analogue signal somehow, either via a stereo amplifier that supports digital input) or via a DAC, such as the iBasso D10. An external DAC is a great way of getting the very best out of many digital audio devices. CNET recently wrote an article about improving the Apple AirPort Express with an external DAC like the iBasso D10. __________________ Shaun @ HiFi Headphones HiFi Headphones - the UK Headphone & Earphone Store That's Serious About Headphones Ultimate Ears, Grado, Phonak Audéo, Klipsch, Shure, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and many other high quality brands - visit our store. Join us on FaceBook

08-09-2009, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
jfsebastian Headphone Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the idea. That product looks good but a little pricey. Would a cheaper headphone amp do the job? Rather than connecting via optical out and thus requiring a DAC I could connect using component leads. __________________ "Flying blind on a rocket cycle?"

08-11-2009, 07:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShaunG Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 416 Thanks: 2 Thanked 78 Times in 60 Posts	Playing PS3 with headphones One option I was thinking of was taking the audio left/right from the TV and feeding the headphone amp with this. This would give you a digital connection (via HDMI I presume) from PS3 to TV, and then you would use the DAC in the TV (might be worth checking the spec). Just an idea. Probably not as good as taking the digital output from the PS3 to a dedicated DAC, but may be good enough. I would recommend avoiding the headphone output on the TV. It's likely to be very poor quality (as Saiyajin suggested). __________________ Shaun @ HiFi Headphones HiFi Headphones - the UK Headphone & Earphone Store That's Serious About Headphones Ultimate Ears, Grado, Phonak Audéo, Klipsch, Shure, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and many other high quality brands - visit our store. Join us on FaceBook

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