Forum Discussion

Ericf's avatar
Ericf
Reel Rookie
6 years ago
Solved

Is private listening available on all Roku TV HDMI inputs?

Hi, I just bought a new Roku Smart Tv I have the app on my phone I plugged in my headphones and it muted the TV but it tells me Private is not available for this input? Help please  Eric 
  • RokuTannerD's avatar
    RokuTannerD
    6 years ago

    Thanks for the question here! Private Listening is available for all built-in streaming channels, but is not available for HDMI inputs on some models of Roku TV (depending on hardware). If your TV is displaying an HDMI input source and not a built-in streaming channel, you may not be able to use private listening for that input, and would see that type of message display in the app. 

     

    Thanks,

    Tanner

Grandi's avatar
Grandi
Newbie
6 years ago

I bought the TV, DVD player and Airpods specifically so I can use my workout DVDs at night while people around me are sleeping!  Is there any way private listening will work for HDMI, maybe with additional software or hardware?!

bsmithril's avatar
bsmithril
Newbie
5 years ago

There is a combination of hardware you can buy.  You need an hdmi audio extractor $25, a bluetooth audio dongle $10, and a bluetooth headset.  It's not a roku thing it's a group of components that gets the audio from the hdmi and then broadcasts it to a bluetooth audio device.

  • ethylmax's avatar
    ethylmax
    Reel Rookie
    5 years ago

    bsmithril 

    Hi, these 3 products you listed would work for an older Panasonic flat screen (not smart) and the Roku express? I would like one person to be able to watch tv with headphones.

    Also, Is there anything that would allow 2 people to watch tv with one using headphone so they could hear better?

    Thanks

    • djchristensen's avatar
      djchristensen
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      One way to allow one person to listen with headphones and another to the speakers would be using an optical adapter like this:

      https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Wireless/dp/B01KO1JNCA

      (Note: this is not an endorsement of that particular product, which I have not used, just an example.)

      Plugging something into the optical output on a Roku TV will not disable the speakers like the headphone jack will (the speakers can be disabled via Settings if needed, though).  This allows one person to listen via bluetooth headphones while others can listen to the speakers.  There may be a slight delay between the two that could be irritating to the headphone user depending on the headphones and volumes (make sure the headphones used support low latency to minimize this issue).

      An HDMI audio extractor solution might also work, but would be limited to the HDMI input it is attached to and would not work for streaming, tuner, or AV.  Private listening in the app would work for some of those.  The optical adapter should work for all audio the TV can produce.

      • heb1946's avatar
        heb1946
        Reel Rookie
        4 years ago

        Hello, I had downloaded the Roku remote app and was using it just fine with my Bluetooth headphones. No problem. Now, with no changes to anything, my remote displays a headphone with a red slash through it, and I get the "private listening not available for analog channels" message. Again, was going along fine for over a month and now it doesn't work. Have re-installed the remote app and my TV. 

    • lesmikesell's avatar
      lesmikesell
      Roku Guru
      5 years ago

      ethylmax 

      If your TV has an optical audio output - or an always-on RCA/mini wired output, you can connect that to the bluetooth transmitter and be able to use a headphone along with the TV speakers.    You'd only need the HDMI extractor if the TV does not have a usable audio out connection.   If it only has a headphone jack you would have to check your manual - in most cases having something plugged into a headphone jack will disable the TV speakers.

      If you don't mind both wearing headphones (and some, like earbuds are pretty unobtrusive) you can both use the app on your phones and listen at your own volume.  Recent iphones with apple airpods can also work with 2 sets of earphones connected to one phone, each with its own volume control.  (Mine is too old for this feature so I can't test it).