How to Wire Two RCA Jacks Into a Single Headphone Jack

RCA jacks provide a common, easy-to-use audio output source on almost all home stereos, televisions and other A/V equipment. Converting a red and white RCA connection into a headphone jack requires an adapter, a few minutes and a pair of headphones.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• RCA to headphone adapter
• RCA jacks on your home A/V equipment
• Headphones

Adding a headphone jack

1. 
    

   Get the proper adapter. Hundreds of A/V adapters are available to meet nearly any need. In this case, buy a RCA-to-stereo mini adapter. It has plugs for both left and right RCA jacks on one end and an input for a 1/8-inch headphone plug on the other end. If your headphone plug is larger, you can also find adapters that are 1/8- to 1/4-inch.

2. Plug the adapter into your audio device. Match the red plug on the adapter to the red RCA output plug on the the device. Now, do the same with the white plug. If the adapter has a black RCA plug, match it with the white plug.

3. Plug your headphones into the opposite end of the adapter.

4. Turn on your audio source and make sure the audio output is directed to the RCA jacks that your are using for the headphones.

5. Test the audio and adjust the volume. Make sure that sound is coming out of both sides of the headphones.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are outputting audio directly from an unamplified source, like a CD player, the volume level may be too low. Feeding this audio through an amplifier will make the source much louder. Audio adapters are easily found on the Internet or at your local audio or electronics store.

Resources

• Audio gear adapters and mini plugs