You just need to get a 310 headphone stereo plug with a built in cut off switch to disable the main speaker(s). I did experiment with this on one machine. I found cheap multichannel 800MHz wireless headphones though worked better with a toggle switch to select mode. It's great for drowning out the wife and kids If you use the wireless you can get multiple transmitters and use the same pair of headphones for whatever machine you are playing.

Cool idea.

I need a totally sound proof huge room. That way I can play pinball with friends and not bother the ole lady or my son

I put sound insulation in the ceiling of my basement to help isolate the noise. But the biggest problem I have is the my gameroom and TV room will be the same. So if I want to play pins, the wife will have to watch TV upstairs. lol
This is a good idea. Let us know how much it cost you, and how, if you end up doing this, please.

Lowering the noise from the pinball machine is one thing, but its tough to control your own voice playing some of these games.

My friends and I say/shout some outlandish things, draining on Star Trek TNG. Data likes to rubs it in too! Captain Jean-Luc Picard has on many occasions, been the target of a middle finger.

drbond HAHAHA good one with Picard and Data
I always freak out on TZ if the score isnt so good and my mood is down.

You guys are all just so sweet. Pinball is me time, and if the old lady doesn't like it, there are four doors she get behind and close. Actually, me and the pinball machines aren't allowed into the house, so maybe I've already lost that argument.

The most sound my pins normally make is from the sound of the pop bumpers, flippers etc. Headphones can't fix that issue. You can usually turn down the volume a bit, but that ain't going to stop the sounds of the solenoids whacking...

I agree that headphones are only helpfull for the person playing the game who wants a full experience. Although, it must sound weird, to hear the game sound/music much louder and the machine noise much lower.

For 12 years of collecting, I always put my games in a gameroom which is located on an industrial estate. No neighbours, no problems. But recently I have also placed some games at home.. Totally different story, noise levels suddenly became important (if I want to play after 10 in the evening).

I realised that in all those years I have never actually let the amount of noise a game makes alter my buying decision. But since I got that Baywatch pin, which produces an incredible amount of solenoid noise, I'll make sure my next home pin will be a "quieter" one, probably a Bally/Williams game.

Also wondering why Sega/Data East and (somewhat less) Stern pins are so much noisier than Bally/Williams games. Thinner cabinets/glass? Other solenoids mechs? Did Bally/Williams pay attention to noise levels or is it just a coincidence that their games are so much quieter to play?

Yeah, I thought about the solenoid noise issue after I made that statement. That would still be an issue. She can always go upstairs and watch TV.

I think Williams used a harder wood like oak as opposed to pine. My IJ weighs about 40 pounds more than my LOTR. Maybe a thicker ply too. Will have to check on that.

Williams did use thicker plywood than Stern does now.