Connecting TV to an amp . . . ?

[CJSF]

Confused again . . . I have nothing set up on the TV for hifi, all my music is old fashoned 2 channel and I want to keep it that way.

However the TV sound is not the best, and I thought I might be able toinprove it some what with an amp and a couple of speakers??? The TV is an 'Evotel Digital LCD', nothing fancy, fed by 'Virgin', I also have freeview that we dnt use.

Looking in the destruction book, I have audio coax output and what looks like a L/R audio phono output intended for DVD/VCR.

Wondering if I might be able to plug the L/R phono into an old Rotel amp I have, obviously driving a pair of speakers. Turning the TV volume down, would the volume control on the Rotel amp operate as normal?

Second option, newish? amp with remote and a coax input??? Any sugestions on used amp? Idea is to keep costs down. I have no intention of producing suround sound, just decent 2 channel audio.

CJSF

 

[The_Lhc]

Looking in the destruction book, I have audio coax output and what looks like a L/R audio phono output intended for DVD/VCR. Wondering if I might be able to plug the L/R phono into an old Rotel amp I have, obviously driving a pair of speakers. Turning the TV volume down, would the volume control on the Rotel amp operate as normal?

I can't see any reason why that wouldn't work, you'd need to check if turning the TV down also turns down the volume on the TV's L/R outputs (some TVs do, some don't), if it does you'll have to find a suitable level where you can use the amp volume sensibly without still hearing the TV speakers.

Second option, newish? amp with remote and a coax input??? Any sugestions on used amp? Idea is to keep costs down. I have no intention of producing suround sound, just decent 2 channel audio. CJSF

You'd need an integrated amp with onboard DAC, you might find that the digital processing in the amp adds a delay, causing the sound to be out of sync with the pictures, which you won't be able to do anything about. I'd try the Rotel first and see how you get on, no need to make things complicated unless you really have to.

 

[chebby]

Or - if you are in a spending mood - Audioengine A2 (black or white) £167 from Bartletts Hi-fi.

They are compact, powered speakers with RCA phono L/R inputs and 3.5mm mini jack input.

This gives you an idea of their size...

 

[Captain Duff]

I haven't got any linked in TV to HIFi either, but as I'm lucky to watch anything other than Cbeebies in my house then I wasn't particularly bothered. I was going to get a soundbar though, and considered the very smart looking Tibo PP100 (£70 Richersounds) which gets some good write ups for boosting the quality of most flat screens, then I realised that my cheapo Logik (which has a surprising good picture considering it cost buttons) didn't actually have a headphone jack socket which the Tibo (and most other soundbars) need - so if you do look at soundbars rather than a seperate amp double check your inputs!

 

[bigboss]

Or - if you are in a spending mood - Audioengine A2 (black or white) £167 from Bartletts Hi-fi.

They are compact, powered speakers with RCA phono L/R inputs and 3.5mm mini jack input.

This gives you an idea of their size...

Far cheaper here:

http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/Speakers.16/Audioengine.311/AUDIOENGINE2/Audioengine_2_Speaker_System.3131.html

I've got the white version connected to my 32-inch Samsung in the bedroom. Excellent quality (see my bedroom pics).

 

[chebby]

Yeah, sorry, that link included stands.

Bartletts do them for £142...

http://www.bartlettshifi.com/product_detail.asp?sku=1498

 

[nopiano]

The L and R output on the telly will be just like another fixed line source to the Rotel. Now all you need (maybe) is a longer than standard cable with RCA phonos on each end. I got a 2 meter Monster one that was nicely made for under a tenner off an ebay retailer.

It is possible that deep in the TV menu you could still control the outputs from the TV remote, but the default is likely to be fixed IME.

However, re-reading the OP, you said for DVD in which case it will be an input, because TVs do not send an output to a DVD, so maybe that won't work after all.

 

[CJSF]

The L and R output on the telly will be just like another fixed line source to the Rotel. Now all you need (maybe) is a longer than standard cable with RCA phonos on each end. I got a 2 meter Monster one that was nicely made for under a tenner off an ebay retailer.

It is possible that deep in the TV menu you could still control the outputs from the TV remote, but the default is likely to be fixed IME.

However, re-reading the OP, you said for DVD in which case it will be an input, because TVs do not send an output to a DVD, so maybe that won't work after all.

error CJSF

 

[CJSF]

I'm wondering if there is a spare audio output in the Virgin set top box. A bit late to go grovelling about tonight, have a look tomorrow????

Or, how to connect a modern amp to the TV . . . Pop in to Hughes Electrical tomorrow?

CJSF

 

[GeoffreyW]

Wth my Panny tv, the phono outputs have a fixed output, independent of the tv sound, so you'll need to adjust your hifi amp volume to a suitable level, depending on your preferences. Muting the tv won't affect the phono output, and using the phono outputs on the telly will mean that, unlike using digital outputs, whatever your telly is showing won't have voice synch problems. I tend to use my main system as you would a subwoofer, in a support role for lower frequencies.