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How to split audio/video to use Roku or HDMI outlet device to stream TV

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Edited

NOTE: I finally badgered my dear hubs into figuring out true ROCKET SCIENCE: how to get around Roku’s audio streaming limitation (i.e., only ONE person in the room can use Roku phone app and stream audio). Here is his morning’s work to come up with the answer:

  1. Type the following into https://gemini.google.com/10

Is there an app that allows streaming Roku audio to HDMI and a cell phone?

2. Answer returned:

This is a very common request, often coming from people who are hard of hearing or watching with others who want quiet audio.

The short answer is No, the official Roku app does not allow simultaneous audio output to both your HDMI/TV speakers AND the mobile phone’s headphones/speakers.

Here is a breakdown of how the Roku app works and the limitation you face:

:prohibited: Roku’s Private Listening Limitation

Roku’s feature for streaming audio to your cell phone is called Private Listening and is available in the free Roku Mobile App.

  • How Private Listening Works: When you start Private Listening in the app (by tapping the headphone icon), the Roku device sends the audio stream over your Wi-Fi network to your phone.

  • The Limitation: When Private Listening is activated, the Roku system mutes or disables the primary audio output, which is the signal going over the HDMI cable to your TV/Soundbar.

This design choice has been a long-standing point of frustration for many users, especially those needing separate volume controls for a hard-of-hearing family member. Roku has stated that the device only allows sound output through one primary audio source at a time.

:white_check_mark: Workarounds to Get Simultaneous Audio

Since the Roku device itself won’t do this simultaneously, you have to find a solution that splits the audio outside of the Roku player.

1. The TV’s Feature (Easiest, If Available)

Your best solution depends on your TV model, as some TVs do support multiple simultaneous audio outputs:

  • Look for Dual Audio or Multi-Output Audio: Check your TV’s sound settings for features like “Simultaneous Sound Out,” “Dual Audio Output,” or “TV Speaker + Optical/Bluetooth.”

  • TV Speaker + Bluetooth Headphone: Many modern smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony) can output sound to their internal speakers and a Bluetooth device (like a pair of headphones) at the same time. If your TV supports this, connect your headphones directly to the TV (not the Roku app).

Folks here without a video receiver will need:

  • HDMI Audio Extractor, something like J-Tech Digital5

  • JTech 2

  • Bluetooth wireless transmitter, like Twel1ve South AirFly Pro 3
    connect this to the L/R Out in the picture above. Note has a battery, which can be charged by Type C USB (or you can leave the charger plugged in all the time).

  • Pair your hearing aid Bluetooth to the transmitter above

NOTE: We have not yet tested this at home because we have a more robust solution that works for our setup.

EDIT: to clarify the workaround above with the diagram photo of HDMI audio extractor as shown

10 people in this conversation6 min readJump to latest

I like the idea of the splitter. You could also split to two hdmi out, and then convert one of the HDMIs to toslink for the tv connector or Roger dock.

WH

Just be aware that when you use a HDMI splitter device it will only work if the original source is sending PCM or Dolby Digital (multi channel up to 5.1). If you have a sound system that produces Dolby Atmos or other object-based audio the splitter will not work while in that mode. I’ve tried.

The solution to this problem seems to be either a TV that offers dual audio out as your suggested and/or a TV that offers broadcasting. Although I have not yet tested that both these methods work while the sound system is playing in Dolby Atmos.

Our solution works, but entails a complicated Savant video switch that can take video from many Media Sources (e.g., Apple TV1, Apple TV2, …, Roku, BluRay, etc.) and forward each to any and all Room Outputs ( e.g., to “1Bluejay”, Media TV, Kitchen TV, Patio TV, Master Bed TV, Guest 1 TV, and Guest 2 TV).

The diagram below shows how we use the Savant app to watch Apple TV1 on 1Bluejay and Media TV. That way, both me and hubs can listen to the TV - me, via Roger V2, hubs via the speakers hooked up to our TV. (NOTE: We could ALSO send Apple TV1 to the kitchen, master bedroom, and other Room Outputs shown below.)

Each Room Output (row ) can have at most one check mark. But each Media Source can be output to any and all rooms - using our iPad via the Savant app.

Note the room “1Bluejay” does not have video - it has been set up in Savant as an audio output only connected to my Roger V2!

Screenshot 2025-12-02 at 9.56.03 AM

Does that make sense? YE gods we had to have a home theatre consultant here to set it all up cuz there is NO WAY to connect my Roger (or older TV Connector) to the back of the TV screen in our TV room. The consultant learned how to make it work in our home “laboratory” and later told us he had other hearing impaired customers who needed similar assistance. We. Are. Not. Alone!

He was so happy to be able to provide that solution, as he does a lot of configuring with Savant & Apple.

Thanks for taking the time to put this together and share it here. Somebody will likely be saved a lot of work.

Edited

That’s an interesting workaround. I hadn’t realized the Roku app has that kind of audio-output limitation.1 Using Gemini to clarify the available options is a clever approach, especially for situations where one person wants to listen privately while others use the TV speakers.

The HDMI audio extractor approach makes a lot of sense, especially when two people need different volume levels. The PCM/Dolby Digital limitation is an important detail too, since checking the TV and source audio settings first could save a lot of trial and error. It’s interesting how much easier these setups become once the audio is split before it reaches the TV.

I have an older ROKU, Model 4640X, circa 2016, which includes an optical out. Just last night, I connected an Avantree Audikast 4 to it with an optical cable, power via USB to a wall wart adapter. With the Audikast 4 set to PUBLIC broadcast and optimized for , we were able to watch TV and listen through our enabled hearing aids (Philips 9050) by simply selecting the Auracast channel on the Philips android app. I did have to set the Roku digital out to stereo as the Audikast 4 needs PCM audio format to rebroadcast it over Auracast. I kept the movie going while I wandered around the house and never missed a word.

If no optical out is available, the Audikast 4 also works with an 1/8" stereo cable. I've never tried it, but the Audikast 4 also does bluetooth headphones - 1 at a time. Theorhetically it'll do 1 headphone and multiple Auracast devices in public mode.

I haven't tried it, but our ROKU remote has a 1/8" stereo output jack for use with wired headphones / buds.

The problem I had with the splitter was that I had to use both the TV's remote and the AV receiver's remote to get the volume right and to turn off the TV and receiver. Luckily my W made it simple - she's good with the TV speakers, and my last 2 TVs would simultaneously send sound to internal speakers and the optical output.

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m new here and happy to be part of this community. I’m looking forward to learning new things, sharing ideas, and connecting with people who have similar interests.

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