Stereo Outputs Combined

[dcmchenry]

With headphones you only hear one channel of the stereo mix.
I have made adaptors that combine the right and left channel by cutting a 1/8" stereo extension cord apart and splicing the right and left together.  This seems to work but electronics experts tell me that there are problems with doing this and it may distort the sound.
Most devices no longer have a switch to set to mono.
Does anyone know what type of circuit is required to get proper mono output from a headphone output?
Dave McHenry Atlanta

[Lizard]

Not sure Dave, but I do know that you can purchase a one headphone "set".  I'd take a peek on Amazon before you go playing with electricity again (well unless you are MacGyver or an electrician).
Liz

[iluuvpups]

I understand that Radio Shack makes a mono adapter.  There's a thread on it here:  http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=1697.0.  I purchased it along with a single earbud, but haven't yet tried to use them on my iPod.  --Carol Ann

[hearncl]

This Radio Shack adapter may be what you want: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102690. As stated, Amazon seems to have similar products.

[saralynn143]

I have one of these: http://www.scansound.com/1-Bud.htm and like it a lot.

Sara

[Funnydream]

This thread is helping myself, also. I hope others will benefit too.

Thank you all. 

[Funnydream]

Walked in to my local Radioshack. Bought the female stereo 1/8" to male mono 1/8" and it seams to work great.

My first medical assistance device and it only cost $2.65.

[badbadbrain67]

I walked into my local Radio Shack and clearly explained my problem (SSD) and the solution I was looking for (an adapter for my headphones that would turn stereo to mono).
I might as well have been asking for a martian meat sandwich. He had the most puzzled and vacant look. After he suggested things like wireless headphones I
realized that he didn't grasp the concept of stereo vs mono.  I explained to him that many recordings separate instruments and sometimes vocals between left and right channels and so I needed an adapter that would combine both channels into one. I think he almost grasped the concept and he did suggest an adapter (which didn't work by the way). I went to a different Radio Shack and got pretty much the same results. I went to a Guitar Center and asked if they had either headphones or adapters
that would help me out. I got a flat out "no, we don't have anything like that." Barely a tenth of a second passed between my query and his response.
Either the guy really knew his stuff, or he just didn't want to deal with me. I did get a Scansound but found the sound quality lacking. Also, it fell apart after
a few weeks.
I will be going back to Radio Shack but this time I will tell them exactly what I need (thank you Funnydream). I hope it works for me.
Has anyone tried to listen to Beatles music with regular headphones? You're missing half the the music there.
If anyone has any other suggestions or advice I'll gladly take it.

Victor

[leapyrtwins]

Victor -

I've had the mono plug adapter that Funnydream described for a little over 3 years now.  I purchased it at Radio Shack along with a single ear bud.  The entire purchase cost me less than $10.

It works great and gives wonderful stereo sound.  I don't listen to the Beatles, but there are numerous songs that you're currently only hearing "one side" of 

Good luck at Radio Shack.  If you go back and they still are clueless, search on this Forum for "mono plug adapter".  Somewhere there is a thread with a link to a similar product, at www.Amazon.com I believe.

I also have an amazing MP3 adapter that attaches directly to my BAHA (look ma, no hands  ) that I'm thrilled with.  But you'd need a hole drilled in your skull and an implant to be able to use one of those.

Jan

[HeadCase2]

  I  tried one of the SoundScan Bud Pro devices, and I also  found the sound quality to be low (compared to the standard Apple IPhone earbuds).  After using the SoundScan ear bud twice, I haven't used it again.
Regards,
  Rob

[saralynn143]

Maybe it would help to have a model number for the Radio Shack clerks to look up. I think this is what you need: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102690

It has mixed reviews but apparently so does the Sound Scan. I've had mine since Christmas and it's worked great for me. I bought my daughter one at the same time, hers fell apart but so does every other set of ear buds she uses.

Sara

[saralynn143]

Here is a similar item at amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Cables-40634-Stereo-Adapter-Metallic/dp/B000O7AW98/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1283454421&sr=1-1 but it's more expensive there.

Sara

[badbadbrain67]

Thanks everyone. This forum is a dream come true.

[CHD63]

I ordered my 1-Bud-Pro ScanSound online and it has excellent quality.  They have several models, maybe that is the difference.  I bought:  http://www.scansound.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16188

Of course it is not going to be equal to two normally working ears with a channel in each ear, but it is certainly far superior to hearing only one channel.

Employees in several Radio Shack stores I checked first about adapters, looked at me like I had rocks in my head (OK, I didn't explain what I had in my head!   ).

Clarice

[saralynn143]

That is the same one I have, Clarice. I have to use the smallest tips or it pops out of my ear. I can't use Apple buds for that reason.

Sara