How to use headphones on your PS3 - For cheap

A couple of things first off.  This is about getting the game sound through headphones, NOT about using a headSET which is normally something that has a mic attached so you can voice chat with other players.  This method is cheap, and does NOT facilitate voice chat in any way.

For anyone in a rush, I will get straight to the point and say you just need a PS3 component cable, and a 3.5mm male to two RCA female plugs adapter, and a set of headphones with a standard 3.5mm plug on the end (that's the standard little one, not the huge one your dad has on the end of his massive set of over the ear classical easy listening CD ones).  Plug the component cable into your PS3, and then the adapter onto the two (of the five) ends, and your headphones into that.  Done.  So if you have a bit of spare time, or were just wondering... read on.

 Recently I started to playing Darksiders on the PS3, and that game has the epic demonic vibe in full effect.  Usual things like naughty hell-dwelling types telling you important curse related things, impressive guardians stomping around, and not forgetting a good amount of rock crashing around amidst heavy steel doors and chains clanking up and down.  I think you get the idea so I'll not say how much I am enjoying the Zelda-with-blood style of gameplay, WHICH I TOTALLY AM!

Being a very busy person flitting from TV interview to movie premiere all over the world, I couldn't get to this game until very late at night.  Many of you will know that most OTHER people don't like video games, and so waking up to see their alarm clock jiggling along a bed side shelf at 02:00 because of some STOOPID video game, blasting throughout the house, is not going to exactly earn you breakfast in bed.  Yes you can turn it down, but if you have it connected to a surround sound unit, that bass speaker is still going to thunder unquietly through the house.

So headphones would be good eh?  But it's trying to find somewhere to plug them in.  Your surround sound unit may have a headphone socket.  If so, congratulations you win, goodbye.  Your TV may have a headphone socket, and you too are a winner, good day to you sir!  Now if you have the cash, there are surround sound headphones, which really do apparently work.  Other than that, I've found myself in the position of having not seen a headphone socket on a TV or surround sound unit in a long time, so.....

This solution is WAY cheaper.  You basically set the audio of the PS3 to use the component cable, and plug your headphones directly into the audio outputs of that cable.

1. Start up your PS3 and navigate to SETTINGS and then, SOUND SETTINGS

2. Then to AUDIO OUTPUT SETTINGS

3. Select AUDIO INPUT CONNECTOR/SCART/AV MULTI

4.  You is done, press X

You have to plug your component cable into the back of the PS3 (it can only go in one socket and will only fit one way around).

I was using a VERY old cable, which was originally for an Xbox 1 (that's the larger square connector in the lower left), and PS2.  But it appears that any PS2 component cable you might have lying around will work with the PS3.

 

You also need an adapter like this.  This one I found in my heap of random audio connecting cables.

Then plug the adapter into the white and red audio cables of the component cable coming from the back of the PS3.  Your headphones will then plug into that socket.

I found that I didn't have an issue with the audio level, it was fine with a set of large over the ear headphones as well as a little in-ear iPod style set.

With my headphones plugged in I didn't wake up the large pile of recently satisfied supermodel babes that discovered my mansion hideaway in the countryside.  You of course don't get a surround sound experience when using the headphones this way, but if you value a quiet night without the need to fend off knife attacks from anyone who might happen to be sleeping nearby because you jarred them into a semi-conscious state of "I HAVE WORK IN THE MORNING AND YOU SHOULD FIX THE LEAKY BATHROOM SINK INSTEAD OF WASTING YOUR LIFE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES!!", then this method could be useful.

You can still output to the TV using the HDMI port so you get the full 1080p resolution.  This method just routes the sound differently, so the image isn't affected.

So it's really simple.  PS3 to COMPONENT CABLE to ADAPTER to HEADPHONES.  There is no need to alter your image settings at all.  Good luck!

Surround sound headphones $130.
Component cable + adapter - Less than $10.
You decide.