Techie query for audio buffs

[magicsurfbus]

I've picked up an old pair of Amplivox Audiocups industrial headphones in a pile of old tat, and would like to try them out on devices with a 3.5mm stereo output socket (eg a computer), if possible.

Each ear cup has a 1/4" (6.35mm) mono plug so I need two sockets that will split the signal from a single 3.5mm stereo output plug.

Does such a thing exist or will I need some kind of black box doohickey in between to boost or convert the signal?

 

[Bailey58]

What, like this?

 

[magicsurfbus]

What, like this?

Unfortunately not, but thanks for looking - that gizmo is for stereo input only, it doesn't work the other way.

 

[pappajohn]

Unfortunately not, but thanks for looking - that gizmo is for stereo input only, it doesn't work the other way.

I think you are wrong....

Plug the 3.5mm pin into your sound source and plug the headphones into the 6.5mm sockets.

Its only a splitter taking one side of the stereo 3.5 to one of the mono 6.5 socket and the same with the other side..

 

[pappajohn]

Now i see what you want......

Convert the stereo output to mono in both earpieces at the same time, not to have stereo at the earpieces.
is there any mode to have mono from your source....some devices can switch between stereo and mono in a menu or settings.

But why would you want a burger when you can have steak ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[magicsurfbus]

I'm just going on what the eBay listing and the Kenable (manufacturer) website both say - that it's not suitable for stereo output to mono input.

I'm guessing there may be some sort of resistance (for want of a better word, maybe impedence?) issue with the headphone speakers which is why the plugs are so huge in the first place, but I don't understand electronics, hence my query.

 

[magicsurfbus]

Now i see what you want......

Convert the stereo output to mono in both earpieces at the same time, not to have stereo at the earpieces.
is there any mode to have mono from your source....some devices can swith between stereo and mono in a menu or settings.

But why would you want a burger when you can have steak ?

I'm assuming in a simplistic way that each headphone will behave like a stereo speaker, Left speaker signal to one headphone, Right speaker signal to the other.

It's just that big bulky headsets are back in among certain groups of youngsters at present and they attract a good price if they'll work on a modern stereo device. I paid peanuts for them so there's a potential profit to be made.

 

[Lenny HB]

The adaptor should work OK the tip of one of the ¼" sockets should go to the ring of the 3.5mm jack and the other one to the tip of the 3.5mm.

As the headphones old you need to check the impedance of them they could well be low impedance (8 ohm), which will either just not work or overload your output.
Modern headphones are high impedance 1k ohm+ so that they can work of pre- amp (line level) outputs.

 

[Gellyneck]

The description on Amazon does say "Please note this device is not designed to convert a 3.5mm out to two 6.35mm Mono cables.".

OK, a bit Heath Robinish but you could do this (http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/produ..._plug_-_2_phono_(left_+_right)_sockets_cable/) to this () to your headphones?
First bit splits the stereo male 3.5mm jack into left and right RCA female sockets. The second bit converts each RCA female socket (left and right channels) into female 6.35mm left channel and right channels sockets. Plug your headphone leads into these to get stereo output.

However, there must be an easier way like making up your own lead with a stereo 3.5mm male into individual left (ring and sleeve) and right (tip and sleeve) channel 6.35mm sockets?

 

[pappajohn]

The description on Amazon does say "Please note this device is not designed to convert a 3.5mm out to two 6.35mm Mono cables.".

Ok, but i dont see the purpose of the adaptor then, unless each 6.5mm is a seperate stereo socket which would allow TWO seperate sets 6.5mm headphones to be used simultaniously in stereo mode.

If so there must be a version somewhere to convert 3.5mm stereo to left and right 6.5mm mono phones giving left and right tracks to repective phones.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Broken Link Removed is what you want......

From the description info.....

It is common for splitting a 3.5mm stereo audio channel into left-right RCA configuration.

 

[pappajohn]

This could is the one you want.

3.5mm jack in...2x 6.35mm jack (left and right channels) out

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Ada...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item51bac7e2b8

 

[magicsurfbus]

A closer check reveals they're Telephonics TDH-39P noise-reducing earphones which are apparently aircrew standard, so it'd be nice to get them going, if they still work. They might even get me a few pennies in their own right, regardless of 3.5mm jack plug compatibility.

As the headphones old you need to check the impedance of them they could well be low impedance (8 ohm), which will either just not work or overload your output.
Modern headphones are high impedance 1k ohm+ so that they can work of pre- amp (line level) outputs.

I've checked with a multimeter at both earcup connections and I'm getting 8.5 - 9.0 Ohms, so that's not good news for everyday stereo, right?

 

[Gellyneck]

Ok, but i dont see the purpose of the adaptor then, unless each 6.5mm is a seperate stereo socket which would allow TWO seperate sets 6.5mm headphones to be used simultaniously in stereo mode.
No, the 3.5mm to RCA splits the single into individual left and right channels. The RCA to 6.35mm (mono) means you have left channel to left phone and right to right phone.

If so there must be a version somewhere to convert 3.5mm stereo to left and right 6.5mm mono phones giving left and right tracks to repective phones.

That's what I thought but .......!

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm just going on what the eBay listing and the Kenable (manufacturer) website both say - that it's not suitable for stereo output to mono input.

I'm guessing there may be some sort of resistance (for want of a better word, maybe impedence?) issue with the headphone speakers which is why the plugs are so huge in the first place, but I don't understand electronics, hence my query.

In that case it has probably has a couple of 10k resistors inside to form a passive mixer.

There is one here that may do the job the F376 may be worth messaging them to check.

As I said earlier check the impedance of the headphones first otherwise you will be wasting your time.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

A closer check reveals they're Telephonics TDH-39P noise-reducing earphones which are apparently aircrew standard, so it'd be nice to get them going, if they still work. They might even get me a few pennies in their own right, regardless of 3.5mm jack plug compatibility.



I've checked with a multimeter at both earcup connections and I'm getting 8.5 - 9.0 Ohms, so that's not good news for everyday stereo, right?

But a snot nose yoof wouldnt have a clue what yer on about.