Help needed playing Samsung tablet through Tivoli aux in jack

[Tony Mantell]

Hi Guys, I am new here so please go easy. We like to stream music from a tablet through an older Tivoli one radio. When out old tablet gave up the ghost we used a newer Samsung. I soon realized the samsung needed to sense resistance at the headphone jack in order to play.
I used a 'Y' adapter and an old set of ear buds which seemed to trick the tablet to play. All was well.....But! Sometimes the sound on the Tivoli would be very reduced and sound very scratchy. On these occasions playing with the 'Y' and cable connections would often clear things. I bought a new 'Y' connector and better cables, but the problem persists. Strangely, by mistake, the input into the Tivoli was accidentally connected 'loosely' to the Tivoli headphones socket, and the sound came loud and clear ?? In these troubled times we very much enjoy taking a break and listening to streamed music. Any help with this matter is appreciated.

 

[imral3]

Are you normally connected to the AUX in on the back of the Tivoli?

 

[Tony Mantell]

Yes, it was only when I was making and breaking jack plug connections in both the set and at the 'Y' connector that I accidentally plugged into the Tivoli's headphone jack and momentarily got clear sound. But NOT when the 3.5 mm plug was fully inserted.

I am now less inclined to think that the problem is less likely a plug connection problem but something internal with the Tivoli.
As the ear buds (or any other headphones ) always play clear.

 

[imral3]

Definitely sounds strange. Do you keep the tablet's volume at maximum and control volume with the Tivoli?


EDIT: this all worked normally with the old tablet, correct? What kind/brand tablet was that?

 

[century tek]

Sounds like the new tablet doesn't like to be summed to mono with the Y. Use either left or right only into the Tivoli and see what it sound like.

Have you looked into the possibility that Samsung might have some audio adapter options available?

 

[Natertots]

It’s Probably not the solution you are looking for, but have you thought about getting a Bluetooth adapter for the Trivoli and connecting the tablet that way? A dongle can be had for not too much ($25) but you would also need to buy an rca to 3.5mm cable if you don’t have one.

I am curious to see if you figure out what the issue is.

 

[Tony Mantell]

Thanks for your interest.
Yes the tablet volume is at max (I even have ot OK a loud volume level warning)

The old tablet was a very early Ipad that was on constant charge, and even so,would keep shutting down . The headphones jack on that did not need to be tricked into playing into the Tivoli's Aux.

A bluetooth adapter has been suggested, but if the problem is with the Tivoli's Aux input I would not be any further ahead.

I am mystified how the Tivoli can receive an input through it's headphones 'out' jack ??

 

[Natertots]

I am mystified how the Tivoli can receive an input through it's headphones 'out' jack ??

Can’t help you there. My understanding of electronic circuitry is essentially zero. However, the other day I turned my stereo on (Pioneer sx750) and the volume was very low. It turned out, my daughter had set the I out to phono. Somehow, even though the signal coming in was through the Aux input and the receiver was set to Phono, I still got some sound.

Maybe when connected to the headphone jack it someone forced the signal back through the stereo signal path?

 

[imral3]

And your using something like this from the tablet to the Tivoli?

 

[Tony Mantell]

And your using something like this from the tablet to the Tivoli?

Yes, and several others that work fine in other applications.

 

[imral3]

This is unfortunate. Know anyone who could open it up and look for a loose connection, and repair accordingly?

 

[KentTeffeteller]

It’s Probably not the solution you are looking for, but have you thought about getting a Bluetooth adapter for the Trivoli and connecting the tablet that way? A dongle can be had for not too much ($25) but you would also need to buy an rca to 3.5mm cable if you don’t have one.

I am curious to see if you figure out what the issue is.

This would be a better solution, and I agree with this method being superior.

 

[swechsler]

I am mystified how the Tivoli can receive an input through it's headphones 'out' jack ??

I'll take a stab at this. It seems as if the output of the preamp section of the Tivoli is high enough to be used as a headphone output as well. When you plug in a set of headphones, it disconnects the power amp (there's a switch built into the headphone jack) so you don't hear output through the speaker. When you plug something loosely into the headphone output, it doesn't trigger the switch, so the signal gets sent to the power amp.

I agree that you have a loose connection inside the Tivoli, and it would probably be fairly easy to fix (most likely just resolder the jack's connection to the circuit board).