HDTV Audio Requiremens

You could get a small AV receiver with a headphone jack.

What is the make and model of TV that you have? You may be able to hook up the headphones to the audio output jack using RCA cables instead of the dedicated headphone jack. Then you should be able to have the speakers active along with the headphones. You may need a different set of headphones that control the volume on their own though.

It's really hard to give you much more without knowing what TV you have.

I looked at the operating instructions, and could not find any reference to a headphone jack.

In any event, the set appears to provide analog audio output from a pair of RCA jacks on the back panel. You must go into the menu and turn the internal speakers off for the analog audio output to be on. As I suggested before, you might be able to use an audio video receiver and a pair of speakers to provide audio for your wife and continue to use the headphones as you are now. This is all subject to testing.

What are your sources and how are they connected to the TV? Where are the headphones connected on the TV?

Yep, looks like this Sony is one of the TVs that only allow the analog audio outputs to work when the internal speakers are off. Since that is the case I don't think there is any way to do what he wants without buying some kind of additional hardware.

Either an AV receiver like you have suggested, or he may also want to consider picking up a different set of wireless headphones that can use the optical audio output on the TV. That should still be active while the TV's speakers are on.

Let me tell you how I handled a similar situation. I'm hard of hearing and prefer cans (headphones) for TV and music where I want it kind of loud, concerts, etc, and others are around. My wife's hearing is perfect, and she doesn't find the 5.1 (with just 3.1 hooked up) any advantage.

Sony TV
Sony BD
Onkyo HTIB, 6+ years old
Charter HD box

TV optical to Onkyo
BD copper to Onkyo
Cans, when used, to Onkyo
"better" speakers to Onkyo

Regular TV, I wear my aids, we're both comfortable

With both listening to a HD movie on TV or BD, good sound, she sets TV speakers to suit her, I use the cans and suit me ... no aids

Just me, TV sound to 0 (not muted, MUTED shows on screen), cans unplugged, 95dB from the speakers.

Rarely she wants the room-filling sound but not loudly enough for me ... I have a 100 ohm dual pot to speakers B on the Onkyo and a headphone jack on its output.

This has worked quite well. She needn't understand my schemes to listen to CDs, watch DVDs, or watch TV, with sound through the TV. If she/we want the better speakers used, I have to do it and "clean up" afterwards.

Sure, but it really won't help much. Let's address by what's there which is more important.

TV with SPDIF optical out and HDMI in ... most all do ... mine is a RP Sony 46E2000
DVD or BD with BOTH HDMI and wire SPDIF, HDMI to TV; Sony S360
HT Receiver with optical and copper SPDIF ... Onkyo HTIB receiver is an R430. I don't remember the HTIB system identification.

The HT receiver and speakers are NOT even mid-grade ... think I paid 300 new ... but are good enough for my need.

You should have no trouble duplicating functionality with various systems from Onkyo, Yamaha, Sony and others with systems in the $300-500 range. The CHEAP ones available from below $100 to $200, which would meet my audio needs, don't seem to have SPDIF of either type.

This old guy will be glad to help in any way I can.