XR55A80L

[Stevenwb]

I am trying to get sound from both headphones and my sound system at the same time.

I have watched the Sony videos but I do not have the “Speaker on/off” on the menu only “Audio Output”. 
My soundbar is a Sony HT-x8500 connected by eArc HDMI cables and I have just added an optical cable as I thought I needed this.

There is info to suggest this is possible but I am pulling my hair out. I can get the awful TV sound ( despite the blurb that is good), through my soundbar and through my Sennheiser headphones but never two at the same time.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. The Sony help pages do not help at all.

Thanking you in advance.

[LightFoot]

Hi @Stevenwb   

This can be achieved using the Optical out on the TV. I use a Phonak TV Connector (many other models available to suit all budgets), so Bluetooth direct to my hearing aids, but of course it could be to headphones. If you have wired headphones, then you need an Optical to 3.5 headphone socket adapter. The result is completely independent volume on headphones and speakers.

The only way to achieve this with your soundbar is to connect it using Optical (not ARC) with the loss of the latest audio formats like Dolby Atmos..

Page from your TV Web Manual https://helpguide.sony.net/tv/kaep1/v1/en/08-05_09.html?hl=headphones

[Stevenwb]

Thanking you so much for taking the time to reply to my question.

To be clear, to use my soundbar I have to use an optical cable and not an HDMI arc connection, but do I still have to purchase a connector like the Phonak? Or is it possible just to connect the soundbar with an optical cable?  I don't mind  purchasing an adapter but there are various statements and one of the reasons I bought this TV that it is possible to use headphones simultaneously.   (https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00049501)  

I really do think that in these days of rightly high thoughts to people with disabilities that this relativily simple option should be included. 

Thank you once again.

[LightFoot]

Hi @Stevenwb 

Unfortunately the page you looked at is generic, and not specific to your TV. If you have a look at the link I provided for your TV model, you will see that it clearly states "The TV cannot output sound from both the headphones or Bluetooth audio device and the TV speakers at the same time". I have to agree, I don't understand why Sony would not include this function.

What I don't understand is why you are complicating things by trying to connect your headphones to the soundbar? I would personally keep the soundbar connected using HDMI ARC. That way it outputs Dolby Atmos etc. and provides the best speaker audio.

I would recommend that you use the TV's own Optical output connected to a Headphone adaptor. That way, you have dual audio to TV (or soundbar) speakers and also to your headphones with independent volume levels. I have my Audio output set to TV speakers and Digital audio out (Optical) volume set to Max. That is because my Phonak TV Connector has its own volume control plus I can adjust the volume in the Phonak App on my iPhone.

I know a completely personal choice, but I actually got rid of my soundbar completely, as my ZR-55A95K TV speakers were just as good.