Features, settings & updates

[vokinko1]

Can someone tell me if I can use the earbuds with the Roku remote simultaneously with the sound bar, in other words can both work at the same time. I have a Roku Ultra feeding the TV. Due to hurricane Helene I have my elderly mother in law temporarily living at my house until hers is repaired. She is extremely hard of hearing on the verge of being deaf. The TV is turned up so loud that I can’t stay in the same room. I was hoping this might be a solution. Thanks in advance.

[RokuJohnB · Accepted solution]

Hi @vokinko1,

Greetings from the Roku Community!

Please be advised that you cannot simultaneously listen to audio on both headphone mode and soundbar using a Roku Ultra; the device only allows sound output through one audio source at a time, meaning you can use headphones or the soundbar simultaneously.

We hope you'll find this helpful info. Let us know if you still have any questions.

All the best,
John

[James43]

I figured it out. So my parents need different volumes. So I got blue tooth speakers and I Downloaded Roku remote on both their phones. I connected the bluetooth speaker to my mom’s phone and my dad’s air pods to his. They both use private sound and my dad can control his volume on his AirPods. And my mom can control her volume in Bluetooth speaker or her headphones (what ever is connected.) 

Sounds great btw. 

[hanknj1]

Have you given any consideration to enabling both headphones and speakers at the same time? With separate volume controls! This would be of great assistance to the hard of hearing. It would be a feather in Roku's cap if you did this. 

[gentleben]

Agree , We just bought a 43inch for a 99 yr old gentleman . He uses headphones and likes the speakers on tv to be on. . Can not do this with this Onn Roku 43inch . Lol , ask if we can return it and get his old Vizio. The Onn Roku is great  but for this 

[Des123]

Why?  That’s stupid.

[atc98092]

@gentleben Most TVs don't permit audio from the internal speakers as well as sending it through an external device. If you had a TV that did so, it's in a pretty small club. I know none of my Samsung or LG TVs offer that capability. 

[Des123]

I understand what you are saying but you would have to explain something to me..  in my mind, the decision point as to whether to redirect audio to the roku remote, or allow it to continue on to the TV speakers, rests entirely in the Roku software/firmware residing on the television in question.   Now maybe, just maybe, the firmware in a typical TV is somehow set up to ensure that audio output is mutually exclusive, but I doubt it.  Someone would have to convince me of that.  Until then I'm sticking to my belief that Roku could simply add an option to their setup that allows you to check "Allow TV audio with headphones" or something like that.

[atc98092]

Oh, absolutely it’s the way the software is programmed. I’m certain it could be programmed to let the user choose how to send the audio. But I can also see people complaining they connected headphones and the speakers are still on. Can’t win for losing sometimes. 😁

[Wtfannin1]

Yes family of 4

1 is hearing impaired 

others would like to hear audio 

if impaired one uses headphones

stupid that Roku doesn’t give option

they used to I recently purchased a onn Roku tv and no simultaneous audio with speakers and headphones.

Daughter’s onn Roku tv does work it is about a year old .

so it can be done Roku is not caring about families with a member that is hearing impaired others.

I was able to do with Samsung Tv using Roku stick

mistake was buying a TV with Roku onboard So to speak.

maybe Roku can provide a software update to allow simultaneous audio like they used to.