Qantas IFE headphone jack?
 

I'm trying to discover if I can use my regular headphones to listen to the in flight entertainment in economy class on a Qantas 747 from LAX to Sydney.

The gentleman on the phone suggested that not only was such a thing technically impossible, but attempting to do it would result in my carcass being flung out an open door over the Pacific.

But I don't believe him. The giveaway phones on airplanes suck; mine are a very nice pair of Shure earbuds, which work both as noise reduction headphones and as simple earplugs when I don't want to listen to anything at all.

What I'm wondering is, will I need an adapter to make them work? Does a single 1/8" minijack plug in directly, or will I need one of those one-into-two connector jobbies?

Does anyone know? Thanks so much.

I think I know the answer on this one... wait a minute.... no, I forget. :(

Post this on the Qantas board at flyertalk.com and you'll get instant answers. (I THINK Qantas' uses the 1-into-2 jack. But I could be wrong.)

Right you are. I registered there and posted my question, and I had my answer in fewer than ten minutes. Yes, for future reference, you need the single-stereo F to dual-mono M adapter on Qantas 747-400 jets. A common item online and at Radio Shack (if you can stomach them).

fnarf999 - I don't know if your Shure is the "c" or "consumer" version or not, but if it is, it should come with an attenuator. Bring it.

Recently I flew on Air France's new 777-300. The level is so high on the output, and the Shures have such a high sensitivity that even the lowest volume setting seems too loud for me. I wish I had brought the attenuator but I didn't.

No, it didn't come with one. Yikes. I wonder what my third-party options are? I really don't want to fly with an electronics shop in my bag....

Radio Shack has your answers:

Attenuator 42-2559 $6.99

Airline adapter 42-2495 $5.99

Awesome, thank you.

Do I get extra Nerd Reward Points if I cut and paste all my cords and connectors together with lots of electrical tape, or am I just going to hold up the line while they take my MP3 player out onto the tarmac and detonate it?

Qantas earphones in coach use a two-prong--not a one prong. The earphones in Business Class were much nicer and eliminated all noise in the cabin.