Adding Headphones??

> Hi .....On my boat I have a new Kenwood 12volt car stereo, Kenwood
> equalizer, Sony CD player and Amp all connected to two sets of speakers
> inside and out. All works well but would like to add headphones while
> blocking out the other speakers. The stereo is connected to the
> equalizer leaving the speaker connections free, from the equalizer
> stereo cables lead to the amp and speaker wire connections. I've tried
> to install from Radio Shack a headphone plug and even stereo cables
> plugged into the equalizer with a output plug for my headphones.....
> nothing yet.... any suggestions?

Rig up a volume control to the output from the head unit. Then just flip
the breaker, or install one, that cuts power to the amp and equalizer. If
all the speakers are driven from the amp then cutting power should kill the
sound.

You probably *don't* want to try driving those headphones straight off the
head unit without something else between the two cutting back the volume
level. Otherwise you'll just destroy the headphones.

Trying to use the RCA out connections from the head unit (the radio) or the
equalizer won't work as they're just at line level. You have to use
something that's driving speaker level to get a signal the headphone can
use. But you only need a TINY fraction of that so be SURE to put a volume
control in there!

Under what circumstances are you expecting to use these headphones?
 >> Stay informed about: Adding Headphones?? 

> Bill sometimes when the stars are out and the wife is down below Janis
> Joplin or Mozart needs to be heard Loud with disturbing others......
> As for your directions I understand the premis just a bit confused with
> the connections.

You might also consider some wireless headphones. They usually have a base
station of some sort that could be installed below decks with the radio and
controlled via a switch. Most 900mhz or 2.4ghz wireless headphones have
reasonable enough power to carry 20 feet or so. That way you'd avoid having
a plug up on the helm and a wire tangling you. Wireless headphones usually
want to use line-level signals. You'd want to split that out from the head
unit.

As for connections it should be simple enough. But it will depend on how
your stuff is actually wired. If the speaker outputs on the head unit
aren't being used then you'd need to make the wiring. You'll probably have
to make the wiring anyway, so if you're not comfortable with this then just
find a local installer.
 >> Stay informed about: Adding Headphones?? 

Bill Kearney wrote:
>>Bill sometimes when the stars are out and the wife is down below Janis
>>Joplin or Mozart needs to be heard Loud with disturbing others......
>>As for your directions I understand the premis just a bit confused with
>>the connections.
>
>
> You might also consider some wireless headphones. <snip>

Good idea! I use a set of Sony MDRRF960RK at home and they work great.
I can go to the kitchen or bathroom and still follow the plot. These
have a small transmitter/charging base that can plug into the audio out
RCA jacks or the audio mini-jack on any TV or stereo. It gets 9VDC
power from the supplied AC adapter, is on 900MHz, has three user
selectable channels, and claims 150 foot range.

The volume control is built into the full ear cover type headsets. They
will blank a lot of external sounds (not always a good thing). I
probably look for an open ear/more weatherproof model for use on a boat.

These were refurb's and cost about $40 on eBay.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
 >> Stay informed about: Adding Headphones??