Forum Discussion

rolomart's avatar
rolomart
Reel Rookie
2 years ago
Solved

Simultaneous Headphone and Speaker Support for Hearing Impaired

I own the Roku Ultra and I'm very surprised and disappointed that their flagship Roku steamer will not allow simultaneous sound (wireless headphones and speakers to play at same time). My wife has a condition that renders her near deaf. I bought Bluetooth headphones so the entire family can watch programing together. It turns out that when headphones are used no sound to speakers and visa versa. One would think that since this is a common problem for hearing impaired and their families, that a Roku software update or setting selection would allow both. This could be done via update. Or add an optical out on the device itself. Roku you can do better.

TV & Player settings

16 Replies

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

    much requested feature.   Never implemented.  I'd like to have it too.

    • RickAdams's avatar
      RickAdams
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      So would I. It is not my young wife of 66, but her old husband of 75. Surely this is a common problem. Anyone found a work around??

    • SkipG47's avatar
      SkipG47
      Reel Rookie
      2 months ago

      How can I use my Roku Smart Tv using bluetooth with my hearing aids via my iPhone, and still have my wife sitting next to me hear programs.  It's frustrating that only of us can hear properly at a time.  We love the Roku Smart TV, but need to have both of us hear programs

      • renojim's avatar
        renojim
        Community Streaming Expert
        2 months ago

        SkipG47, it's been asked for many, many times, but it's not possible.  You need to add another device like the one given in the "solution".

  • DaleRaymond's avatar
    DaleRaymond
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    Dear ROKU-

    Please consider an option allowing extended listening choices to those dealing with hearing issues.

    I am hoping that this will become a very obvious upgrade to our streaming service. It is such a minor option, but, I believe that this option is not an either / or issue, as there are many of us that need to share our viewing experience with those that have full hearing and do not need the clarity and independent volume control that this option would provide.

    Yes, I will look for a work-around that will enable a headphone or ear-pod for the hearing impaired while still providing high acoustic fidelity to others in the family.

     

    • Emissary35's avatar
      Emissary35
      Roku Guru
      2 years ago

      You should absolutely have the option of headphone only or headphones with speakers. I have this option on my TV for using the headphone jack on the TV itself. So if TVs can do it Roku can also with an update. This is just another obvious failure by Roku to not have this feature already.

      To those wanting this I wouldn't hold your breath, Roku probably doesn't see this as a priority, they are more interested in adding annoyances to the home screen that everyone hates or other useless features while ignoring important ones that should be added, like this.

  • LLR's avatar
    LLR
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I do tech support for several friends and I can confirm that given the aging community, the simultaneous output to HDMI-ARC (for sound bar) and optical or Bluetooth (for hearing aids) would be greatly appreciated.  Older TVs used to have this feature buried deep in their settings, but this seems to be absent from Roku devices.  Using a streamer is just adding more boxes/wires/complexity while reducing the sound features/quality.

  • Lgagne's avatar
    Lgagne
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    My TV is Roku model # 58R63G.. hopefully your model will be capable.  

    We bought Sennheiser RS195 Digital Wireless headphones for TV.  Sennheiser are designed for hearing impaired with higher volume control.

    We set the TV audio output to "speakers", note it will say that "Optical Output is always on".  Then set the "digital output format" to "stereo".

    We used the digital output connected to the headset base and it works amazing!  

    I listen via the speakers and he listens via his headphones! 

    It took a lot of trial and error but finally success!  👍

    • LLR's avatar
      LLR
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      Thank you for your input.  I think we are facing the same challenge: having a hearing impaired person and a person with normal hearing listening to the same movie.  In my case, I want to use a sound bar (hdmi-arc) because the TV's speakers are not that good, and a blue tooth transmitter connected to the optical output of the TV but this seems to be technically impossible at this time.  I may have to resort to using the optical output exclusively, with an optical splitter to the sound bar and to the blue tooth transmitter but some people have complained about sound delay issues using this configuration.  Also I would lose Dolby Atmos (my sound bar is a Bose 600).  On the feasibility of using both outputs, I have also read some posts on another forum that reported that it was actually a CEC requirement that the HDMI-ARC and optical outputs be mutually exclusive (maybe to limit illegal copying).  If this is the case it would be up to the sound bar makers and the hearing aid makers to pressure the CEC for a solution.  If I am mistaken in my statements please do not hesitate to correct me.

    • mariodavirro's avatar
      mariodavirro
      Newbie
      3 months ago

      Getting another expensive device to connect is so complicated.

      I have an LG TV and a Roku Ultra. I added the Roku app to my smartphone to make it a remote. I then connected earpieces to my smartphone, and selected headset. Once headset is on, the TV speakers come off. There has to be an option to have them both on at the same time.

  • Scanners999's avatar
    Scanners999
    Reel Rookie
    12 months ago

    I don't consider myself old, or hearing impaired, however I suffer from tinitus and struggle to distinguish dialog from ambient sounds.

    When is use the earbuds attached to the Roku remote I can hear dialog really clearly, but of course my family cannot. 

    This seems like a really obvious ADA consideration. Why is this not an easy fix?? I haven't seen anyone from Roku respond to this thread!!

    • LLR's avatar
      LLR
      Reel Rookie
      12 months ago

      I have an update on this subject.

      The simultaneous output is working on the following configuration:

      - Hisense Roku tv

      - Bose sound bar (connected to TV via HDMI)

      - Phonak wireless (connected to TV via optical)

      - Everything on the TV set to automatic (audio input, audio format, ...) 

      The configuration was done by the hearing assistance people who installed the Phonak and I was not present.  I do not know if this is the result of their work or an update on the TV.  Simultaneous sound output now works flawlessly.

      I hope this helps and would appreciate hearing from people with similar experience.

  • b3's avatar
    b3
    Reel Rookie
    10 months ago

    I own an older model Roku Ultra.  I was ready to buy the newer model so I could use it with bluetooth headphones but it's a showstopper that I can't use my regular speakers at the same time I am using the headphones.

    I hope Roku comes out with an update that allows hearing impaired users to enjoy their TV with other family members at the same time.