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Cauliflower's avatar
Cauliflower
Channel Surfer
3 years ago

Headphones While Using Roku Device

I have a new Hisense Google Smart TV and I have a Roku device hooked up to it as an HDMI connection. And even though I can listen to my Smart TV through my headphones, when I switch over to the HDMI Roku source and use my Roku device, the headphones won't work. Also, I've tried all the Roku sound settings, but it doesn't appear that there are any for headphones.

However, I did used to have a Samsung Smart TV, but with that TV, it had controls where you could switch off external speakers and turn on headphones, but which would be for all sources. However, with this Hisense TV, it seems as if the headphone capacity cuts off when the source is changed to HDMI. Therefore, does anyone know anything about this or if there's a way that I can get my headphones to play with my Roku device?

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  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    3 years ago

    Your issue is with the TV, not the Roku. Not all TVs will output the audio from external devices through a headphone jack.

    You have two possible choices to use headphones with your Roku player. One is to get one of the Roku Voice Remotes and pair it to your Roku. I believe it can be added to any player other than the basic Express model. This remote has volume buttons and a headphone jack, and can feed the Roku audio from that jack. Just remember that your remote batteries will be drained fairly fast if you use the headphone jack for an extended period of time. Make sure you unplug the headphones from the remote when not in use. 

    The other option is to use a phone or tablet, install the Roku app (free), and play the audio through headphones connected to the phone or tablet. That too will drain the battery faster, but since it's a larger battery than the Roku remote it should last much longer, and of course you just plug the phone/tablet back in to charge. 

    • makaiguy's avatar
      makaiguy
      Community Streaming Expert
      3 years ago

      Cauliflower-

      atc98092 wrote:

      You have two possible choices to use headphones with your Roku player. One is to get one of the Roku Voice Remotes and pair it to your Roku. I believe it can be added to any player other than the basic Express model. This remote has volume buttons and a headphone jack, and can feed the Roku audio from that jack.

      Both the Voice Remote and the Voice Remote Pro have buttons to control the TV volume. Only the Voice Remote Pro has a headphone jack for remote listening.

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        3 years ago
        makaiguy wrote:

        Both the Voice Remote and the Voice Remote Pro have buttons to control the TV volume. Only the Voice Remote Pro has a headphone jack for remote listening.

        I didn't realize they removed that option from the standard voice remote. But that apparently happened some time ago, as I see the remote sitting next to me (which was one I picked up a couple of years ago to update my Premiere) doesn't have a headphone jack. I did go look at the Voice Remote that came with my Ultra 4640 and it does have a jack.