How to connect headphones to home theater system without audio jack?

Your TV has probably a pair (stereo) of RCA jacks (analog out). If you have a stereo integrated amp or similar to that, you can connect those outputs from your TV set to the analog inputs of that amp, and hopefully that integrated amp has a headphone jack. Another solution is to buy a headphone preamp, and use the same type o connections as in above. A third option is from a CD walkman that have an analog input where you can use an adaptor from RCA to mini-plug. A fourth option is get a cheap boombox that also have a stereo pair of analog inputs (and a headphone jack of course). A fifth option is to get a cheap integrated amp or stereo (or multichannel) receiver from the thrift store (about $5 to $10 max). A sixth option is to use a portable DVD player, and again use the adaptor that comes with it.

Ok, I believe there are two practical ways to do this. The first one less expensive than the second. The second offers more room to grow and expand and has a remote control. First option: Have you thought about splitting the optical audio off the tv output and sending one to the Sony and one to the headphones? Use a gizmo like this for about $6. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=2946&seq=1&format=1#largeimage Then you will need an adapter to go from optical to RCA stereo to hook up headphones. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&seq=1&format=2 Option 2: Just for kicks I thought I'd mention one other thing. No optical to AV converter needed, and no splitter. It gives flexibility, and a way to plug in a friends PS3 or a videocamera, or add on to your system. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011008&p_id=8146&seq=1&format=1#largeimage It's a few bucks at $88.00 , but it is feature packed. It supports simultaneous output from all audio outs if needed. Remote control is nice. Two HDMI, two component, 1 DVI for computers with dedicated audio. So basically unplug everything from the tv and plug it into the switcher. Then you run an HDMI cable to an input on the tv. Next, run an optical cable from switcher to input on tv. Then run optical from tv to the Sony. Then take the red and white audio outs on the switcher and hook up the headpones. By the way component or what ever you put in is converted to HDMI. The tv will always be on the same input, and you will use the remote to toggle between sources. Enjoy!

I would have said go to radio shack you get a cable that goes from rca to stereo 3.5 mm but dude I looked at the specs on this and It does not have any Audio Output except for the speaker level outs, so aside from you rigging something, you do not have a A/V reciever, you have a all in one and those offer limited options, IF YO WANTED TO RIG SOMETHING YOU COULD SAY OUTPUT THE SPEAKERS TO AN ( sorry caps ) anyway output to an A/B speaker selector, ( get those at Biglots for cheap) or Online at Monoprice, and one othe outs goes to your speakers, and the other would feed like a wireless headphone transmitter, or you could buy the parts on line again at monoprice to make a headphone jack if you were good with soldering. That way you could switch it to play either or, but not sound from the speakers when you are listening to headphones.