Anyone know what I can use for this? Bought a new TV and didn't realize it only has two HDMI outputs (one is the ARC), and no optical digital out.

I have the ARC going to our Vizio soundbar, and the other HDMI going to our BluRay player. Soundbar only has one HDMI input and no outputs.

However, I need to hook up my Sennheiser wireless headphones and it uses an optical digital cable, which the TV doesn't have.

I'm assuming there's some sort of splitter I can buy to take the HDMI ARC from the TV as the input to the splitter, and then the splitter could have HDMI ARC and optical digital outputs. From my quick search, what I could find all say you can't use the TV as the source.

Any suggestions for what might work? I didn't realize the TV had so few outputs until after I threw away all the boxes, hooked up soundbar and BluRay, and then ran into a roadblock with the headphones. I thought for sure it had an optical digital port, but nope.

You're looking for a device called an HDMI audio extractor. They run from $15-$75.

Every one I've seen says you can use TV as the source. Any idea why that would be?

I have been using the the Amazon Basics audio extractor and it works great.

We may need a few more details to help you out fully. --- Based on me making a few assumptions you may be able to use the audio extractor between the TV and the soundbar.

One big assumption I am making is that you are using your internal smart TV features as your source for media (and also the Blue Ray), meaning you do not have a cable box, Apple TV box, Roku or similar.

TV's typically do not have any HDMI outputs, they are all inputs. With modern TV's ARC kind of acts like an output. Its really just two way digital serial communication between devices that talk to each other. its not a traditional output that is one way like an old stereo to a speaker.

The audio extractor is a 'middle man' between devices. Right now you have one HDMI cable going from your TV to your soundbar. When you add an audio extractor, you need two HDMI cables.

One HDMI cable from the TV to the extractor HDMI input and another HDMY from the extractor HDMI output to your soundbar.

I have not used an HDMI extractor in a setup like this, using the ARC channel where the TV is the source. The typical use case I have seen is where there is some kind of source like an Apple TV or Roku Ultra box as the source, then the extractor and then the TV.

(just because I haven't seen it done this wany doesn't mean anything)

My concern for your setup would be this:
You turn down or mute the soundbar and your audio to your headphones is also muted because its in that digital chain.

Another assumption I am making is that you have any internal speakers set to off and all the audio goes out the soundbar. If that's the case, this is why I think muting could also mute the extractor.

One workaround if that happens is to buy something like a ROKU Ultra, then go from there to the audio extractor then to the TV. That will work for sure. You will have to use the Roku or whatever device as your steaming sources versus your TV.

Whatever you get, use a big retailer like Amazon or Best Buy that allows returns because you made need to experiment a bit.

Amazon Basics version:
https://a.co/d/0QaHcke

Yes, I'm using the TVs built in streaming software rather than a firestick, Roku, etc.

I checked the various streaming devices and I can't find any that have an optical digital output, or even just more than one output. A search online says the Roku Ultra has optical digital, but when you actually view the specs it doesn't list it.