# New Headphone Adaptor Unit

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2012-05-07  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/headphones.html

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## Analysis

Pinnovators.com has released the PinPAC 1, a $150 audio adapter kit that adds a headphone jack and audio mute button to Williams, Bally, and Stern pinball machines from 1990 onwards. The device installs on the coin door bill acceptor plate and allows players to use headphones while independently controlling internal speaker output. The product is currently unavailable for European games and export models without bill acceptor plates, though a compatible alternative is in development.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] PinPAC 1 works with all Williams, Bally and Stern games from 1990 onwards — _Direct statement from Pinnovators.com manufacturer claim_
- [HIGH] The device costs $150 per game — _Explicitly stated pricing in article_
- [HIGH] PinPAC 1 is unsuitable for European games and games destined for export outside North America due to lack of bill acceptor plates — _Article notes this design limitation_
- [MEDIUM] Pinnovators.com is developing a similar system for games without bill acceptor plates — _Stated as company plans, not yet confirmed as available_

### Notable Quotes

> "A new audio device for pinball machines promises to make it easy to add a headphone jack and an audio mute button to your game, with one easy-to-install kit."
> — **Article author**
> _Core value proposition of the PinPAC 1 product_

> "This means players can listen to the game's audio without distractions if they use the headphones, while deciding whether or not to play the same sounds through the game's speakers."
> — **Article author**
> _Explains the independent control feature enabling flexible audio use cases_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Pinnovators.com | company | Manufacturer of the PinPAC 1 audio adapter device |
| PinPAC 1 | product | Headphone adapter and audio control device for pinball machines, priced at $150 |
| Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; PinPAC 1 compatible with post-1990 Williams games |
| Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; PinPAC 1 compatible with post-1990 Bally games |
| Stern | company | Contemporary pinball manufacturer; PinPAC 1 compatible with Stern games from 1990 onwards |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Aftermarket audio modification and upgrade, Pinball machine customization accessories
- **Secondary:** Hardware compatibility across manufacturers, Regional product limitations (North America vs. Europe)

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Article presents the product as a straightforward solution to a user need (adding headphones and mute functionality). Tone is factual and promotional without excessive hype. Design limitation for European models is noted neutrally.

### Signals

- **[product_strategy]** Aftermarket kit addressing user demand for headphone compatibility and independent audio muting on post-1990 pinball machines (confidence: high) — PinPAC 1 design explicitly enables headphone use while maintaining separate speaker control
- **[technology_signal]** Emergence of aftermarket audio control solutions for pinball machines, enabling independent headphone and speaker management (confidence: medium) — PinPAC 1 represents a new category of user-facing audio customization hardware designed to retrofit existing machines

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## Transcript

Date: 7th May, 2012

A new audio device for pinball machines promises to make it easy to add a headphone jack and an audio mute button to your game, with one easy-to-install kit.

The PinPAC 1 hardware comes from a company called Pinnovators.com and they say the kit works with all Williams, Bally and Stern games from 1990 onwards.

It fits on any coin door with a blank bill acceptor plate, which unfortunately makes it unsuitable for European games and many others destined for export outside North America.  Nevertheless, Pinnovators.com say they are working on a similar system which will work on games without bill acceptor plates on the door.

The control panel

For now though, the blank bill acceptor plate is removed, the PinPAC 1's control panel is bolted in its place and the connections made on the audio board.

The control panel features a 3.5mm audio jack, a volume control and a switch to mute or enable the game's internal speakers.  This means players can listen to the game's audio without distractions if they use the headphones, while deciding whether or not to play the same sounds through the game's speakers.

The PinPAC 1 brochure

The PinPAC 1 costs $150 per game and is currently only available by e-mailing Pinnovators.com at the e-mail address shown on the brochure above.

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_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: ba63ca95-ced1-4e46-b357-64b83992fe26*