How to hook up Wireless Headphones to an LCD TV

This post was originally written on November 8, 2012.

Most LCD and Plasma TVs only have a digital audio output, instead of the analog audio output that is required to hook up wireless headphones. Fortunately, digital audio to analog audio converter boxes exist for this purpose and are very easy to install.

Headphones that accept a digital audio input are prohibitively expensive – a digital audio to analog audio converter box is a cost-effective way to put your wireless headphones back to use. You should follow this guide if your TV does not have the "Red/White RCA Stereo Audio Output" or a "3.5mm Headphone Jack Audio Output". Check your TV manual if you have questions, or feel free to send us a close-up picture of the back of your television. Our staff can usually determine what cables and accessories will be required.

Here are the items from Vetco that are needed:

1. Digital Audio to Analog Audio Converter Box (Amazon.com)
2. 3' "Toslink" Digital Optical Audio Cable
3. 3' Left/Right 2 RCA Audio Cable

Here are the steps for hooking it all up:

1. Step 1: Plug in the Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable to the “Digital Out” or “Audio Out” jack on the back of the LCD or Plasma TV.
2. Step 2:  Connect the Toslink Cable to the input jack on the Digital Audio to Analog Audio converter box.
3. Step 3: Connect your wireless headphones to the Red and White RCA Analog Audio output jacks on the Digital Audio Converter box.
4. Step 4: Plug the Converter Box power supply in, and press the power button on the converter (if it has one) to turn it on.
5. Step 5: Turn on your TV. You should hear sound out of the headphones. If you don’t hear sound, or hear sound out of the speakers and the headphones, see step 6.
6. Step 6: Use the configuration menu on your TV to adjust the TV audio output settings. You will need the TV manual and your remote control for this. Most TV’s let you select between the built-in speakers and the digital audio output jack, or both at the same time.

Here is a diagram of how the Digital Audio Converter is setup:

The Digital Audio to Analog Audio Converter also work if you need to hook up your new LCD TV to an older home-theater receiver that does not have a digital audio input.