AVR, headphone jack ext doesn't shut off speakers?

I put my AVR in an old stereo console cabinet. I modified the front of the cabinet so it lifts out, giving access to the electronics I have in there (AVR, PS2, PS3, PC, etc). But it's tight and not easy to remove.

Most of the time I have my headphones on, which plug into the front of the AVR. When I plug them in, naturally it shuts of sound to the speakers. My problem is I'd like to not have to lift the front of the cabinet off every time to switch back and forth from headphones to speakers.

I'm looking for an extension that I can plug into the receiver jack that does not turn the speakers off. The other end of the extension would function the same as the AVR jack; when I plug headphones into that end it would then shut off the speakers. I can run this extension to a location that wouldn't require lifting the front off. The regular extensions you can get shut the speakers off when you plug it in.

I've been searching and searching but my Google-Fu either sucks, I'm not using the correct terminology or it doesn't exist. Anybody got any ideas?

 

What's an AVR?

Most headphone jacks in Audio Visual equipment physically disconnect the speakers when the headphone jack is plugged in. The way around this open the AVR case and bodge the jack or run the headphone jack output through a separate device that sends the signal to where you want it.

Oh and way cool way to use an old cabinet.

 

Thanks. AVR = audio visual receiver. I thought about opening the case and trying to see if I could find wires going to the jack, then cutting them and adding in a longer length between the cut and the jack. I could move the jack somewhere else with the extra length of wire. But that seems extreme and I wanted to see if I could find find a plug in extension that didn't cause a disconnect.

 

Because of the design of the typical female headphone jack, I don't think that plug exists. They make it that way so you don't send the full power for the external speakers into the headphones potentially damaging them or the users eardrums.

 

Thanks for the diagram. It appears the plug physically changes the circuit. So it seems it's not possible for a different male plug to work in this setup that would bypass that change and let the other female end make the change when headphones are plugged in.

I can buy a replacement jack on line (pic isn't my model number, just an example)... I may try that and extend the wires, relocate it somewhere else. If it doesn't work then I'll still have the unmolested original to go back to.

 

That sound like a good plan. Are the speakers powered by the AVR or is that done by an external amp?

 

I was looking to solve a similar problem. What I came up with is not using the headphone jack on the AVR, but instead an HDMI audio extractor. Since I won’t be using the audio channel on the HDMI out on my AVR to the TV, the plan is to connect one of the extractors inline for headphone use. I plan to put a small amp on it. Then just “unselect” the surround sound speakers when I want to use headphones only. If I mute, I’m thinking it would mute the HDMI audio output also. On my AVR, I have surround sound speakers “A” and another pair “B” each of which can be selected on or off at anytime. Disclaimer, still working on the remodel of this room, but that’s the plan I’m moving forward with.

 

Everything goes through the receiver and most are HDMI. The speakers are driven by the AVR. The TV has an ARC HDMI (audio return channel) so no need to run separate audio cable to it. I also have ethernet run in the wall to a plate behind the TV. I use the TV as a second monitor - this is my office - so my laptop is also running through my AVR (HDMI).

I did read somewhere a setup using the "B" speaker connections for headphones. I was just hoping it would be a simple plug in cable! Doesn't seem likely though...

I had planned on doing a lot more with configuration and making it all look tidy when I put everything in the cabinet, but had too many projects and not enough time, so I did a rough "first draft". I've used it for a few months and now it's time to move things around as I have a better idea what works and what doesn't. This won't be the last change, but it's getting there. Big mess of wires now while I wait for a Componet to HDMI conversion cable to come in.