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Topic: Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter (Read 5872 times) previous topic - next topic
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Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Hi all
A friend of mine is a music teacher in a local school.
He asked if I could set up something like 30 sets or so, of headphones  for him and it got me wondering.
Is there something like this available to purchase,  or would i I have to make one.
Or any other suggestions as to connect this amount of headphones to one input is also welcome.



Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #1
you will need a powered headphone amp with multiple outputs, you may even need more then one, my digital music teacher had a class of about 30 and we used something like 6 amps, tho you might be able to find one that has 30 outputs, it will need to be a powered amp, just one big cable splitter wont cut it here
My $.02, may not be in the right currency

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #2
you will need a powered headphone amp with multiple outputs, you may even need more then one, my digital music teacher had a class of about 30 and we used something like 6 amps...

Probably something like this (Rolls RA62c - 6 outputs):


Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #3
If the individual headphones are at least 60 ohms then wiring them all in parallel is still 2 ohms. Most solid state power amplifiers would be able to handle this.

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #4
I've never seen one with 30 outs, though... 


there might not be one, ive never looked


mr soft, what exactly does your music teacher want to accomplish with this setup, since its not entirely clear to me what he wants to do, and what equipment do you/your teacher have to work with at the moment
My $.02, may not be in the right currency

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #5
Thanks for the reply's

esa372    That ROLLS looks ok, is that 12 outputs in total ?

thundat00th  He basically has app. 30 students that needs to hear the same thing at the same time, so no mixer type setup needed .

MP3 player or laptop > amp > multiple headsets.
I saw something set up in a shop once, they had about 20 - 25 all playing the same cd, so you could test the headphones before you purchased  them.
I´m not sure what equipment he has if any yet . From what I can make out it´s going to depend on the schools budget .
Is there any type of bluetooth setup? I imagine 30 or so headsets could be like fishing line when it comes time to collect them. 







Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #6
is a simple speaker setup not an option, it would be much easier, and probably cheaper.

im not really a fan of wireless headphones, so I dont know that much about them.  Since this is a music class, your gonna want something that at least sounds decent, and decent wireless headphones are expensive (im also not sure if you can broadcast to 30 headsets at once on bluetooth, but i might be underestimating how far the protocol has come in recent years)
My $.02, may not be in the right currency

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #7
Quote
is a simple speaker setup not an option, it would be much easier, and probably cheaper.


This is what they have setup at the moment, and it suffers from too much outside interference.

 

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #8
Quote
Is there any type of bluetooth setup? I imagine 30 or so headsets could be like fishing line when it comes time to collect them.
Good point...  Unless you hard-wire each desk (under the floor or from overhead) he's going to have big mess and a trip-hazzard.

With wireless, there will be lots of batteries to replace or re-charge.  I just did a quick Google search, and you can find bluetooth transmitters and headphones.  I don't know enough about bluetooth, but usually each device has its own transmitter and its own channel, and I don't know if you can use it for local "broadcast".  (Your headset doesn't normally pick-up someone else's cell phone conversation.)

I've also seen wireless IR headphones (my mother used to have a pair) and wireless RF headphones.  Of course, you'd only need one transmitter. 

I also found this at Sennheiser[/u]
Quote
Q:  Can I use multiple headphones with one transmitter? 

A:  Yes! Simply order the add on headset for your system, specified below:

RS100 --- > HDR120
RS110 --- > HDR120
RS115 --- > HDR120
RS120 --- > HDR120
RS130 --- > HDR130
RS140 --- > HDR140

A sole transmitter is not available separately.


Besides the initial cost, I'd be a little worried about damage and loss (theft).


Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #9
Outside interference from what?  Interference = airborne noise? 

It would seem that a far simpler solution would be to attack the root of the problem and either move the interfering source away, arrange to have it off during class time, move the class, move the class time, add some isolation / acoustic insulation, etc.

I realize that may not be possible, but I'm reacting to not addressing the root problem.
Was that a 1 or a 0?

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #10
Quote
Outside interference from what? Interference = airborne noise?


This is in relation to all external noises, which in turn create distractions .  The students start talking and miss important sections of the music.
Turning up the volume or soundproofing the room will not solve this problem. I´ve asked if he could take some photo´s of the equipment he has, and a layout of the classroom.

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #11
Discipline would provide a simple and highly effective solution to that problem with no further expense incurred. Gone are the good old days when I'd get beaten senseless at school for not paying attention.

Cheers, Slipstreem. 

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #12
Bluetooth doesn't have a broadcast mode, so this won't work. DVDdoug's Sennheiser solution seems to be the best approach for classrooms: One transmitter, 30 headphones without cable mess. You don't need 30 transmitters for charging the batteries. They are common AAA and chargable within any decent charger.

Multiple (30ish) headphone jack splitter

Reply #13
Discipline would provide a simple and highly effective solution to that problem with no further expense incurred. Gone are the good old days when I'd get beaten senseless at school for not paying attention.

Cheers, Slipstreem. 


I agree.  I guess I fail to see what type of everyday school outside noise would cause students to stop paying attention to music (unless your friend works at an elementary school with recess during all hours of the day).  The important outside noise (such as fire alarms or other bells) should distract them but a simple "pay attention" command should make students sit upright.

I had three music classes during my elementary, mid high, and high school time.  All the classes used speakers and none of them offered headphones.  Each teacher would simply tell me to pay attention if they wanted me to listen to the music.  Loud high quality speaker systems can also be purchased for around $200.  Systems like this produce 1000 watts RMS (about 550 watts normal) and could easily drown out any outside noise influence.  I know that $200 would be cheaper than any multiple headphone solution.  Additionally, outside noise is still going to "interfere" with listening to music unless noise canceling headphones are purchased.  You also have to worry about the students taking proper care of the headphones (something of which they won't do) and them adjusting the volume and hurting their ears.  In fact, a parent could go after the school if the student turned the volume up on headphones and caused hearing damage.

So get a speaker system and tell your friend to be stern with student when he wants them to pay attention.  For the most part, I always listened to my teachers yet I went through every school phase without being spanked/hit (it was when the states outlawed this).