audiophiles, please help!

[purplehaze]

I've just bought a DVD home theatre system and believe it or not, it doesn't have a headphone socket. Seriously.

The amp has a two-pronged audio-out socket (red and white) - is there some kind of converter I can buy to enable me to listen to my music and dvds in headphones?

I know nothing about audio. Can someone help?

[Blue Velvet]

That audio out is line-level... similar to the output from a stand-alone CD player/tape deck etc.

You'll need to amplify it to get a signal for headphones.
You can do one of two things:

1) Attach/buy a cheap std. amplifier with a headphone socket, perhaps a mini or midi sized one or...
2) Get a dedicated headphone amplifier.

[dvdh]

3) look for a set of wireless headphones that use the line out jack for their input as opposed to a standard head phone jack. I think these:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MDRRF920RK&Dept=hav&CategoryName=hav_HAVDepartmentAccessories_Headphones_Wireless
would give that option. (lots of other options for other manufacturers for more or less $$) Then you not only have headphones that work with your amp, but you can wander around listening to them. Going this route is probably going to be comparable to buying resonable sounding headphone amp.

[StarbucksSam]

4) Make your life less complicated and return it for a system that has what you need so you don't have to worry about a multitude of additional components. LOL. Just a suggestion.

[RandomDeadHead]

Here, get this set. They will work.http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/S-sys2E.html

[purplehaze]

I'm thinking of returning it. SS has got it right, I don't want to spend time and money mucking about trying to sort it out. This thing is, it had everything I needed at a decent price, so it's going to be difficult finding a similar product.

For the record, here it is:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=107083&clickfrom=name

[Blue Velvet]

Is that not a headphone socket to the left of the CD drawer?

[MattG]

Is that not a headphone socket to the left of the CD drawer?
Sure does look like it...maybe all he needs is a mini-jack to 1/4" converter...

[purplehaze]

I thought it was the headphone socket on the box too, but it's actually the infra-red bit for the remote.

I found a headphone pre-amp for about £30 - will there be any loss of sound quality by using this?

thanks for the replies, btw - I appreciate it.

[Blue Velvet]

will there be any loss of sound quality by using this?

Yes -- but only probably measurable by equipment or heard by bats & dogs :)

[dvdh]

Here, get this set. They will work.http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/S-sys2E.html

Ouch, don't even want to ask what those might cost . . .

[garybUK]

You need something along the lines of this: http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/stoneaudio/products/details.asp?product=41