Connecting TV to stereo amp

[admin_exported]

I am trying to connect my Samsung LE37C650 HDTV to an oldish HiFi amp that has only
red and white RCA inputs. I prefer not to use the headphone output jack as it
is fiddly to access and I sometimes want to use the TV's own speakers which are
then muted.



Can I use a SCART plug adaptor with 2 channel RCA audio
output as these appear to be available very cheaply?



Alternatively should I use a digital audio convertor plugged
into the optical digital audio socket? I know this can be used with 5.1
soundbars (my son has this set-up) but will it support 2 channel audio?







I have seen DAC convertors on sale for about £30 -35 but
would prefer not to spend much more than this as by the time I have added
cables (HiFi other side of room) it would probably be better to go the soundbar
route.

 

[Sizzers]

Go the optical route.

You can get a DAC from Maplin, for example, which does the job just fine for £40 plus £7 for a 1m TOS lead (there are longer lengths available).

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for your advice Sizzers, however, as you may gather from my user name I am confused by the jargon and technology.

Maplin's help line tells me that the SCART adaptor would do the job - are you saying that the optical route would give some advantages - better quality sound perhaps?

Also the Maplin website quotes for their DAC: "Connects most audio devices with a digital output (only 2-channel digital audio is supported)"

Does this mean that it cannot be used with the 5.1 optical output on my TV? I've seen some DACs on Ebay that have a switch to change from 2 to 5 channel but the Maplin one doesn't seem to mention this.

 

[Sizzers]

On page 16 of your manual in “Sound Menu” if you look at Additional Setting>SPDIF Output>Audio Format, in the latter you can set it to PCM for two channel stereo.

Apart from giving superior SQ you will also have a far neater connection using a TOS (optical) lead than a thick unwieldly SCART one, although you do gain a very small extra box. Just a note on the Maplin DAC if you did go for that (which I previously did), it’s USB powered so you would need to connect it to a USB port on the TV with the supplied lead.

 

[Anonymous]

Again, many thanks for such a complete reply. Couldn't drag this out of Samsung's help-line despite two attempts. As you say it's all there in the manual but it meant nothing to me.

Looks like I'll go for the Maplin DAC - USB power supply neater anyway.