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ComedyAddict's avatar
ComedyAddict
Reel Rookie
2 years ago
Solved

No headphone jack on the Roku Remote Pro 2nd Edition

What! No earbud jack in your new  Roku Voice Remote Pro Second Edition . What's the point of that? Don't you guys realize how most people watch these days. So you've tried to solve the battery drain ...
Other accessory issue
Private Listening
remotes
  • RokuCarly's avatar
    RokuCarly
    2 years ago

    Hey ComedyAddict, welcome to the Roku Community!

    Thanks for your feedback about the Voice Remote Pro 2nd Edition! 🙏

    While the Voice Remote Pro 2nd Edition doesn't have a headphone jack, you can still use the Roku mobile app with headphones for a great audio experience! 🎧

    Check out this article for how to use Headphone Mode: How to use headphones with the Roku mobile app for Headphone Mode

     

RokuCarly's avatar
RokuCarly
Community Moderator
2 years ago

Hey ComedyAddict, welcome to the Roku Community!

Thanks for your feedback about the Voice Remote Pro 2nd Edition! 🙏

While the Voice Remote Pro 2nd Edition doesn't have a headphone jack, you can still use the Roku mobile app with headphones for a great audio experience! 🎧

Check out this article for how to use Headphone Mode: How to use headphones with the Roku mobile app for Headphone Mode

 

  • ComedyAddict's avatar
    ComedyAddict
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    When our older Pro remote could no longer hold a charge, I had to rely on my phone app while I waited for a replacement. The app is an excessive phone battery drainer - that's true whether you plug your earbuds into you phone or use bluetooth earbuds. Does not matter if the screen is off or not, the phone is constantly communicating with the Roku and draining battery.  

    Here's a solution: fix the battery door problem and offer the removable battery model as an alternative. But don't forget the head jack!

    We've used your competitors' streaming devices at friends houses and Airbnbs, and have decided to stick with Roku. However, your remote is your Achilles heal - fix it and you'll stay competitive in the market. 

    We fixed our head jack problem by buying several of the older models (the ones with earbud jacks) - we keep the ones not in use charging so we always have a remote to use. When those wear out, we'll see if you've made improvements, and, if not, we'll find another brand, and, hopefully, by that time, your competitors will not also have gone the Apple way and forgone plug ins.

    Have you heard, the European Union will force phone manufactures to have removable batteries by 2027 - hallelujah! 

  • S2Srini's avatar
    S2Srini
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    Apart from the other issues mentioned by people with the Roku app, there is one big issue with removing the headphone jack -

    If people want to take their Roku to a different location and are under public WiFi or non-private WiFi, they cannot use the app to connect to their Roku's on those WiFi networks and therefore cannot use the Private listening mode. An example of this is when people travel on vacation and take their Roku sticks to hotels for "on the go entertainment". The Roku app does not recognize the device on public WiFi and no private listening is possible. 

    Bring back the headphone jack on the Roku voice remote!

    • erineyes51's avatar
      erineyes51
      Newbie
      11 months ago

      I did not think of the issue of traveling with a Roku device now that headphone jacks are no longer available on the 2nd Edition remote. This is just another reason not to purchase Roku devices in the future. 

    • RokuCarly's avatar
      RokuCarly
      Community Moderator
      2 years ago

      Greetings from the Roku Community, S2Srini!

      We appreciate your feedback about the Headphone jack on a Roku Voice Remote Pro. Rest assured that we will share this with the team. 

      In the meantime, For the Roku Mobile app to work properly, it's essential to ensure that it is connected to the same network as your Roku device.

      For more details about this, you may refer to our support article dedicated to this: How to use the Roku mobile app to control your Roku streaming device without a remote

      Feel free to reach out if there's anything else you'd like us to address. We'd be more than happy to listen and take appropriate action.

      Best regards,
      Carly

  • davecarp's avatar
    davecarp
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    I can't find my Apple EarPods so I can't use the Roku App to silence the TV while listening. That's why I went back to using the Roku remotes. I just bought three Roku Voice Remote Pro Rechargeable ver 2 and have to return them because they do not have an headphone jack like my version 1 remote has. Can I purchase three version 1 remotes? Do I have to choose between using a headphone or having a rechargeable battery? 

    Purchasing another set of earbuds would cost more than simply and completely replacing all the Roku devices in my house.

    Dave Carpenter

    • RokuCarly's avatar
      RokuCarly
      Community Moderator
      2 years ago

      Welcome, to the Roku Community, davecarp.

      Thanks for reaching out. We'd be happy to help you with your questions.

      The Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) omits the headphone jack; however, the Roku mobile app serves as a viable alternative at all times.

      To answer your question, you can consider getting the Roku Voice Remote Pro, which has a headphone jack and is also a rechargeable remote that works with any available (wired) headphones you have.

      We hope this answers your question. Feel free to respond if you need further clarification and assistance. 

      Best regards,
      Carly

      • Mbs1979's avatar
        Mbs1979
        Newbie
        2 years ago

        I had the same concern about the 2nd gen losing the headphone jack, but it is good to know that the Roku TV app’s remote has the headphone button. I never had any issues with the battery life on my 1st gen remote with the headphone jack and USB-C charging port. It lasts a very long time, and I even use the headphone jack and connect a Beats headset to it. The sound is amazing.

        I am looking at replacing my 65” Samsung 4K Smart TV with a 75” Roku 4K Smart TV (I despise the Samsung “Smart Hub” interface… it is absolutely horrible). I love my 43” Roku Smart TV I have in my bedroom, but I want the 75” Roku in my living room. Does the 75” Roku TV come with the 2nd gen remote?

    • FranklinJ's avatar
      FranklinJ
      Roku Guru
      2 years ago

      I have a few ways of listening to the audio portion of the show with the video through my Roku ultra device.

      I keep an iPhone 6s  that has an earphone jack Built-in. I can use standard wired headphones with the iPhone 6 or use an extension cable to give myself a little more distance between my earphones and the iPhone. What is important is that you have and utilize the official Roku remote app.

      With any of my iPhones, And again utilizing the mobile Roku app as an interface, I can Bluetooth directly to the iPhone device or use the remote app to route the sound through the iPhone for personal listening Or use like a speaker pillow. Bluetooth headphones cost is low is 1995 to 29.95.  Additional cost if you want additional features.

      On the newer, iPhone models, I can purchase a USB-C headphone And plug the USB – C headphone directly into the USB-C port of the iPhone.

      For the price of a Roku remote, you can have your choice of wired headphones or Bluetooth wireless headphones And the official Roku remote app is free. 
      I hope you find at least one of these plans beneficial for your personal needs

  • DH2OS's avatar
    DH2OS
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I just received a new Gen 2 Roku Voice Remote Pro this morning - and was a little horrified to find that the headphone jack was missing!  I will return it.

    I normally use a wired headset because the sound quality is much better than my TV's speakers - so I can better understand some of the actors with stronger accents (BritBox!).  I also very much like being able to carry the remote around while listening!

    Also, even with using the headset daily for a few hours, I still only need to charge the Gen 1 remote about once every 1 - 2 weeks.

    A suggestion for Gen 3!  If you can't put the headphone jack back in, then have the electronics engineers make a redesign that allows the USB C charging port to also be used as a headphone jack (it's quite unlikely that someone will be using their wired headphone jack.  I have an adapter cable ($6 and about 8" long) which has one end as a USB C male with the other end as a 3.5 mm female.  This allows me to use the USB adapter cable between a wired headset and the USB C charging port on my cellphone!  The Roku remote should be able to be redesigned to do the same thing.

    I'll have to stick with the Gen 1 for now.

    • RokuJharra-Q's avatar
      RokuJharra-Q
      Retired Moderator
      2 years ago

      Hey there, Community Users!

      We're so grateful for all the about our Roku voice remote 2nd edition. We understand that some of you were disappointed about the removal of the headphone jack, and we genuinely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. As our valued customers, your feedback matters a great deal to us, and we are committed to working together to bring this up with the right team for further review and consideration.

      Thank you for your understanding and support!

      Best regards,
      Jharra

      • xenon2000's avatar
        xenon2000
        Binge Watcher
        2 years ago

        What shocks me the most about dropping the wired headphone jack and only offering the use of a mobile device for headphones, is that is shows Roku doesn't understand the audience for the wired headphones. Which is primarily elderly that often need support from younger family and friends for the setup and troubleshooting of mobile devices. But also there are plenty of younger users that simply do not want to rely on a 2nd device just for private audio. If Roku wants to save money, simply stop including the wired headphones but keep the jack.

    • FranklinJ's avatar
      FranklinJ
      Roku Guru
      2 years ago

      Have you tried using your cell phone with the “official Roku app?”
      You can configure the app to play the sound through your cell phone, a Bluetooth port on your cell phone, or the “USB-C”  to audio out on your cell phone.

      In the Official Roku mobile app there is a switch to toggle called “headphone mode”

      Unfortunately, I cannot send you a picture of this Software switch, however, I can give you some instructions.

      In the mobile app Link the app to your device.   You can do that in a section marked “Devices” on my app,  Devices”  is located on the bottom of the screen.  Select your Roku device that you wish to have connected to your cell phone for audio.  

      After selecting my Roku device, I select from the bottom of the screen, the icon named “remote”  I get a working image of a roku remote control device.

      You may check to see if the software remote is properly connecting to your device by using the left arrow right arrow home button, etc.
      Presuming it is properly connected, in the upper right corner is a gear.  Press the gear
      Among other sub menus on the gear, you should see haptic feedback, Swipe, switch device, and “headphone mode.”

      Select “headphone mode”  And you may get some visual cues that your official Roku mobile app is now channeling the sound through your phone device.

      Have your headphones connected to your phone device as you normally would for audio, and you should hear the sound of your Roku device. Depending on my headphones, and the type of phone I use, I can connect to the Headphone audio jack, Bluetooth into the phone, Or use the USB-C To Mini headphone Adapter connected to my USB-C on the phone.  
      Feel free to write back if these instructions do not work for you.

      Or better yet let me know that these instructions do work for you!

      • DH2OS's avatar
        DH2OS
        Reel Rookie
        2 years ago

        Hello FranklinJ ...

        I haven't used the mobile app but I'm sure it works as you described.  My response:

        1)  A cellphone will weigh a little more than twice what the remote does.  I can carry my wired remote in my shirt pocket and barely realize that it's there.  Can't do that with a cellphone.

        2)  To use the app you'll need to go through a lot of steps (like any app) while looking directly at the cellphone.  This takes time and distracts from what is playing.  The Voice Remote Pro is very well designed as an ergonomic device - after a few weeks of use, I can operate all the buttons without looking. 

        3)  Because the Voice Remote Pro is designed well enough that I don't to look at the buttons then I don't need backlit buttons at all.

        4) I use the remote for a few hours a day and the rechargeable battery lasts for about a week, and even with that, I get about an hour's notice on screen before it stops working.  We all charge our cell phones daily, so doing the same with the Roku remote is just as easy and just as normal.

        5)  I don't have Bluetooth headphones but from what I can see the ones that provide good quality sound can be expensive.  The headsets I use are all wired and all produce very high-quality sound and cost $10.

        6) I can't comment on the increased range because my house is relatively small and I can currently get a good signal everywhere with the Gen 1 remote.

        The next time Roku wants to make a change - use Focus Groups!  It takes longer to get the new product out the door but you'll have better certainty that your users will like your new product.  When you're trying to improve on an existing product your groups will need to consist of members who are already familiar with the current product.

        All the best!

  • Stiina's avatar
    Stiina
    Newbie
    12 months ago

    Yes the app is useful but some of us like to use our phones while watching tv and if whatever we’re doing has audio it will either stop playing one of them or blends the audio. Somethings don’t let you turn off the audio or automatically plays the audio so you have to either deal with both playing for a bit or pause whatever you’re watching while whatever game, ad, or video plays.

  • SWyatt502's avatar
    SWyatt502
    Newbie
    12 months ago

    This is such a disappointment.  I have the remote with headphone jack in my bedroom and I love it.  I don't charge my phone in my bedroom, so linking direct to the remote is a better option for me.  I do use the phone app for my living room tv - which is fine, but if my screen goes dark - it disconnects the private listening mode. I like to listen to the news while getting ready for work but when the screen closes on my phone, the earbuds go silent.  If I'm in the kitchen, I have to run back to wherever my phone is and wake it up because it kicks it out of headphone mode.  Pretty annoying - especially because it seems to do it just at the moment of something I really want to hear on the news. 

    I was looking for another headphone jack remote and was having difficulty finding it - now I know why.  I wanted it so I could remedy my morning ritual problem by inserting earbuds and just putting it in my pocket while I walk around the house.  I saw someone posted a link to the old version.  I hurried and bought it while I could.  Crossing my fingers that the correct model is delivered.   I hope this is reimplemented in future remotes.  

    • RokuJharra-Q's avatar
      RokuJharra-Q
      Retired Moderator
      12 months ago

      Hello, SWyatt502,

      Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts in the Roku Community. We genuinely appreciate your feedback regarding our Roku remote. We would like to bring to your attention the Roku Voice Remote Pro, a rechargeable option that features a headphone jack for added convenience. For more information, we encourage you to explore our support page.

      Your input is invaluable to us and plays a significant role in helping us enhance the features of our Roku devices. Please rest assured that our team will take your suggestions into account, as your satisfaction and convenience are of the utmost importance to us.

      If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let us know. We would be willing to assist you!

      Best regards,
      Jharra

  • xenon2000's avatar
    xenon2000
    Binge Watcher
    2 years ago

    This is insane. So not only does the Pro 2nd Edition NOT have a wired headphone jack, it REQUIRES the Roku mobile app to do the pairing? Please tell me that at least the mobile app is no longer needed after you have completed the pairing step.

    I am also sad that both the Pro 1st and 2nd edition remotes are rechargeable instead of removeable batteries. I am already using high capacity rechargeable removeable batteries in my 2022 Roku Ultra remote and it's nice to just put already-charged batteries in the remote and move on with life instead of having to plug in the remote and wait. 

    • Tivoburkee's avatar
      Tivoburkee
      Community Streaming Expert
      2 years ago

      xenon2000 

       

      You do not need the cellphone app to pair Roku remote with Roku device. Newer remotes or old. You can use cellphone app to give access to headphones that the 2nd gen pro remote is missing.

      The recent discontinued Roku Streambar Pro and all the true Roku branded Roku tv's released last year all came with headphone jack remotes that takes AA batteries. The newer 2024 Roku tvs come with rechargeable remotes.