I often see posts here where people have bought a TV Connector to improve their TV listening experience. I’ve never used one but I have connected my HAs to my SMART TV Bluetooth before and found it quite good.
The problem has been that it was either I hear the TV and no one else does, or everyone else hears it and I don’t hear well.
I recently bought a new SMART TV. It isn’t a particularly expensive or premium one, but it has a new feature! It allows for Bluetooth AND TV Speaker at the same time. It’s a miracle!
Cool. My setup uses a dedicated Bluetooth transmitter fed by my TV, and a Bluetooth receiver splitting its output to a small amp with speakers for the household, and another output feeding a Phonak TV streamer (for me), each with their own volume controls. Cumbersome, but functional without echo.
I didn’t invest in any accessories for my old TV as on the rare occasion I watched with others we would just use the speakers and put on subtitles.
I think this might be a great innovation for people with HAs though. I had no idea the TV had this built in when I bought it. They should advertise!
Having said that, this is a Google TV so perhaps the software may be available on other TV makes and models. Worth checking out if you are in the market for a new TV.
It looks like your TV uses Bluetooth 5.2. As such, it should have LE Audio which should allow for an Auracast broadcast if it has the software to access it.
I think we will start to see more and more new models of TVs include Auracast by the end of the year.
Also I think Google will include LE Audio with an Auracast assistant in their cell phone operating system by the end of the year for new cell phones.
So for folks getting new hearing aids, you will want LE Audio with Auracast capability in your new hearing aid if you are planning to upgrade your phone, TV and so on.
I’d love to find same tech in UK. Only this morning was explaining the issue to my son who was visiting. It would be great to have both so I don’t damage my grandchildren’s hearing
I use a TOSLINK splitter cable and route one side to my TV sound bar and the other side to a Digital Analog Converter that feeds my HA hearing aid streamer. That way, both my wife and I have our own volume controls and digital quality audio. I got the DAC on Amazon:
Yes, its a Phonak converter. The DAC gives me a separate volume control and better quality sound than what I get if I connect the Phonak converter to an analog audio source, like the headphone jack on the TV. You can’t control the volume of the TOSLINK connection conveniently without it.
My 4 year old low end LG 4K TV allows Optical + internal speaker, and the streamer connects to the TV via optical cable. I listen to the streamer, and my W listens to the internal speakers. If I want BT, it’s BT or other devices.
BT 5.2 is a prereq for Auracast, but it is not Auracast.
As far as I can tell, the only Auracast-enabled TVs are Samsung and at least some of Hisense’s models. Some products claim to enable Auracast for TVs; some have even proven to work, at least in some systems.
I bet CaptainTrips gets a sound that’s a lot better than any TV’s internal speakers, but my W thinks the TV’s speakers are fine.
5.3 and onwards will be the “future” of LE Audio with Auracast, all devices now and onwards in the “future” will release Bluetooth version 5.3 and above, some will be clever are incorporate BLE, nice
I may not be the best judge of speakers but for me the sound of the new TV internal speaker is better (crisper) than the old TV and/or soundbar. My son has normal hearing and found it very good.
I’m chalking up a big win because the technology is embedded in the TV so I didn’t have to design or buy a work around. Any improvements from here in TV sound and connectivity will be even better
I mean, conveniently. Phonak TV streamer is by the TV. I needed a remote to control the volume from where I’m sitting. And mute button is handy if my wife comes into the room and wants to tell me something.
