My question seems simple enough at first glance, but I'm having a hell of a time thinking of a solution.
My mother and father are both very elderly. My mother, despite her age, is very spry and still very much "with it." My Dad has dementia, and has begun to exhibit some... very strange... behavior. One of the things that he's started doing, is he wants to keep the television volume extremely low. I've witnessed this, and he really does insist on having it just low enough to be extremely annoying to anyone who is in the room trying to watch too. So... my mother, thinking that her "tech savvy son" (i.e. me) can usually fix every situation that involves gadgets... she asked me if I could make her a tiny speaker that she can have sitting right beside her, with a volume knob, so when my dad turns the tv down super low, she can kind of ease the volume up on "her speaker" so she can still hear.
Here are the parameters that make finding a solution more difficult than you might think.
I bought her a Bose sound bar for Christmas, thinking that might be the ticket. With there being 1 remote for the TV, one remote for the Bose speaker, and another for the cable... even though it did not pair up with any kind of bluetooth... I knew right then and there that there is no way I'd ever be able to get her to figure out Bluetooth. Plus... I may be mistaken, but... I believe that any kind of Bluetooth device that pairs with a Television, takes over the audio all together, and the television's native speakers shut off. That would mute the TV for my Dad across the room, and only my mom could hear.
Such a crazy issue. Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks everybody!
My mother and father are both very elderly. My mother, despite her age, is very spry and still very much "with it." My Dad has dementia, and has begun to exhibit some... very strange... behavior. One of the things that he's started doing, is he wants to keep the television volume extremely low. I've witnessed this, and he really does insist on having it just low enough to be extremely annoying to anyone who is in the room trying to watch too. So... my mother, thinking that her "tech savvy son" (i.e. me) can usually fix every situation that involves gadgets... she asked me if I could make her a tiny speaker that she can have sitting right beside her, with a volume knob, so when my dad turns the tv down super low, she can kind of ease the volume up on "her speaker" so she can still hear.
Here are the parameters that make finding a solution more difficult than you might think.
- She does not want it to be headphones. Absolute no-go.
- Can't have a cable going across the floor. Their living room is enormous.
- It must be wireless, but it can't be something she has to "pair" or do anything technical.
I bought her a Bose sound bar for Christmas, thinking that might be the ticket. With there being 1 remote for the TV, one remote for the Bose speaker, and another for the cable... even though it did not pair up with any kind of bluetooth... I knew right then and there that there is no way I'd ever be able to get her to figure out Bluetooth. Plus... I may be mistaken, but... I believe that any kind of Bluetooth device that pairs with a Television, takes over the audio all together, and the television's native speakers shut off. That would mute the TV for my Dad across the room, and only my mom could hear.
Such a crazy issue. Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks everybody!
FM radio ?
You can buy FM transmitter on ebay (thay used to make those for cars, so that you can connect something to original had unit that didn't have lets say cd player)
Connect FM transmitter at TV output
And use portable FM radio to receive audio from TV...
You can buy FM transmitter on ebay (thay used to make those for cars, so that you can connect something to original had unit that didn't have lets say cd player)
Connect FM transmitter at TV output
And use portable FM radio to receive audio from TV...
Separate HDTV converter? with its own antenna?
The HDTV converter from farnell (newark in US) has RCA jacks for line level audio out. then a little powered speaker can get mono, or two can get stereo. One may need a mixer or passive preamp for volume control. disadvantage, a separate remote to change the channel on the HDTV converter. Doesn't work if your Mother watches cable or internet video channels.
Parts express had a RF link pair for inside the home, but many modern TV only have toslink fiber optic out, not line level. So that would involve five boxes, one toslink converter, RF transmitter & receiver, two powered speakers. Plus none of those have a volume control, so a mixer or passive preamp, too. An additional negative, the toslink converter I just bought off ebay has an annoying level of hum.
The HDTV converter from farnell (newark in US) has RCA jacks for line level audio out. then a little powered speaker can get mono, or two can get stereo. One may need a mixer or passive preamp for volume control. disadvantage, a separate remote to change the channel on the HDTV converter. Doesn't work if your Mother watches cable or internet video channels.
Parts express had a RF link pair for inside the home, but many modern TV only have toslink fiber optic out, not line level. So that would involve five boxes, one toslink converter, RF transmitter & receiver, two powered speakers. Plus none of those have a volume control, so a mixer or passive preamp, too. An additional negative, the toslink converter I just bought off ebay has an annoying level of hum.
Last edited:
Check professional audio stores. Wireless Mic / Instrument bodypack, Wireless speaker transmitter or In Ear Monitor do also the job but a bit more priced. Wireless AV links are perhaps the cheapest option. I was able to send digital spdif one time with an 2.4Ghz AV transmitter using the Yellow RCA.
Aside from your dad's condition - which will inevitably be deteriorating over the next year or so - the core problem is the TV audio output.
On my TV, your only choice is between TV speakers controlled by the TV VC or fixed-level output to an external amp.
So I'd go with the fixed-level output going to a "Y" (hard-wired or electronic) and then to (1) a little amp that your dad can control and (2) a little amp your mom can control.
Instead of an amp and speakers, maybe self-powered computer speakers might be easy and with reasonable quality for TV watching. Or your mom might be OK with some of smart ear-buds out now.
As far as the link, as per post #1, suggestions already mentioned are available. Stores supporting hard of hearing customers have all kinds of gear for separate people watching TV.
On my TV, your only choice is between TV speakers controlled by the TV VC or fixed-level output to an external amp.
So I'd go with the fixed-level output going to a "Y" (hard-wired or electronic) and then to (1) a little amp that your dad can control and (2) a little amp your mom can control.
Instead of an amp and speakers, maybe self-powered computer speakers might be easy and with reasonable quality for TV watching. Or your mom might be OK with some of smart ear-buds out now.
As far as the link, as per post #1, suggestions already mentioned are available. Stores supporting hard of hearing customers have all kinds of gear for separate people watching TV.
Last edited:
Dolmetscher007, did you update firmware of both TV and Bose bluetooth speaker? It should be technically possible to perform like you planned it to, provided the TV has bluetooth built in.... Since many here like to solve riddles it is always necessary to write brand and type number instead of "TV" as there are a hell of a lot TV's out there with different properties. If you sell your car you wouldn't write "red car for sale" in the advertisement would you? 🙂 Anyway you could write down type numbers and start a search for most recent firmware of each (also for your specific country!) . It often solves things like this as testing of hard/software is nowadays done by the consumers when the devices are already in the field. If the TV has bluetooth and the Bose speaker as well they should at least be able to pair. What you exactly want it to do depends much on brand and type of TV.
If they will pair after updating firmware then it should be an "install and forget" affair, perfectly OK for your mother.
What your dad does is contrary to the general way i.e. putting volume to earbleeding levels so I think you should not complain 😉 I wish you strength in what will be coming. It belongs to life but it is not an enjoyable ride.
If they will pair after updating firmware then it should be an "install and forget" affair, perfectly OK for your mother.
What your dad does is contrary to the general way i.e. putting volume to earbleeding levels so I think you should not complain 😉 I wish you strength in what will be coming. It belongs to life but it is not an enjoyable ride.
Last edited:
maybe something like this;
it have analog input as I understand
you can connect it into headphones output or into analog outbut at the back of tv...
FM transmiter
I think it's not expensive so it mide do the trick 😀
I would just look for old wireless speakers that predate Bluetooth. It really wasn't that long ago. They ran at 900MHz in North America. They may have even evolved to 2.4GHz, can't be sure. I actually saw a pair new in box at a garage sale 2 years ago.
Just leave 1 at the TV and 1 near your mom. If that isn't loud enough, make a resistor attenuator for the channel that is located near the TV.
Just leave 1 at the TV and 1 near your mom. If that isn't loud enough, make a resistor attenuator for the channel that is located near the TV.
Dayton Audio and Parts Express have some rather good wireless audio sets. They are not Bluetooth.
However, I think that Bluetooth is the answer for this problem. Find a little Bluetooth portable speaker that you mother would like (there are 100s of choices) , the buy a Bluetooth transmitter to go at the TV. The latest BT protocols have low latency so that lip sync is not a problem. You'll see that mentioned in product descriptions.
Here is an example of a little Bluetooth speaker I've had for a couple of years and often used for watching films on the computer. It's rather good with dialog.
https://www.amazon.com/AOMAIS-Bluetooth-Speakers-Wireless-Waterproof/dp/B088LNH749
Just an example, there are plenty of others like it. These can be used on battery for hours, or run from wall AC with a USB charger.
However, I think that Bluetooth is the answer for this problem. Find a little Bluetooth portable speaker that you mother would like (there are 100s of choices) , the buy a Bluetooth transmitter to go at the TV. The latest BT protocols have low latency so that lip sync is not a problem. You'll see that mentioned in product descriptions.
Here is an example of a little Bluetooth speaker I've had for a couple of years and often used for watching films on the computer. It's rather good with dialog.
https://www.amazon.com/AOMAIS-Bluetooth-Speakers-Wireless-Waterproof/dp/B088LNH749
Just an example, there are plenty of others like it. These can be used on battery for hours, or run from wall AC with a USB charger.