When on long flights such as crossing the pond you get some entertainment which requires ear buds.
The ones supplied by airlines are not what you would call quality. On my flights the plug in holes are for 2 prongs not 1. So, I recommend getting an adapter that his 2 prongs and one hole for you to plug into with your better quality single jack head set. Not expensive and definitely worth it.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5571 posts
Hmm. I guess Ive been doing it wrong. I just plug my single prong into one of the armrest holes. Is an adapter really necessary?
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
Two prong headphones? I've never run across this - what airline? My standard headphones work fine on the flights I've been on (usually Iberia or British Air, occasionally Alitalia)
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8952 posts
There were two holes on my BA flight recently. I plugged my single prong headphones into one of the holes and it worked fine
Posted by
NYC
380 posts
The two prongs are outdated technology. It used to be that you could only use the headphones supplied by the plane, but they cost a couple of dollars and used a two-prong plug. You could plug your own set in, but you'd only get tinny mono sound.
I guess it's also possible that the two-prongs are just two plugs with the same feed so you can watch a movie with your seatmate...
I also remember when the in-flight movie was actually projected on a screen on the bulkhead. If you were sitting very far back you couldn't see at all.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12000 posts
If the airline seat ha a 2 prong plug and you use a single prong earphone, it is quite likely you are getting only one channel, i.e not stereo.
That may be the explanation for the comment about "tinny" sound
Posted by
Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
546 posts
I don't use the airline system at all really.
iPad + Bose noise reducing headphones + Pink Floyd + 9 hour flight + a small amount of fermented grape juice or juniper berries = Paradise
Posted by
Florida
1454 posts
iPad + Bose noise reducing headphones + Pink Floyd + 9 hour flight + a
small amount of fermented grape juice or juniper berries = Paradise
I see. It must therefore hold that....
Paradise - ipad - 9 hour flight - Pink Floyd - a small amount of fermented grape juice or juniper berries = Bose noise reducing headphones.
QED.
Posted by
OP
Madison, Wi, USA
107 posts
This was on Aer Lingus 3 weeks ago. Going and Coming. 2 holes. The plane was pretty modern to my eyes. Nice selection of movies I could not hear very well using their ear buds. After we got home I did a search on the cost of an adapter. $2 and shipping is free.
P.S. When leaving Dublin you go thru security a 2nd time for American Destinations which includes U.S. Customs right there in Ireland. Which turned out nice, no congested lines in Chicago.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4091 posts
My Sony headphone set has a conventional single jack but also a second jack that flips down for these older connections. Worth considering when shopping. But it has been awhile since I saw a two-prong connection.
Posted by
North Georgia, USA
1165 posts
Two prongs in Delta business class in both directions this month, and they supplied noise-cancelling over-ear headphones with two prongs. DH's plug didn't work on the flight home so they credited me 15,000 SkyMiles for the trouble. :D
It's been ages since I've seen two prongs for the seat-back entertainment systems in coach/priority, though, and usually on the smaller, older planes.