Seriousness Soundset with a TV

Sweetpea · 02-22-2011, 03:20 AM

We've recently bought our first LCD TV. And the sound is (logically) less than we had on our CRT. So, now we're looking at a sound system.

But I've absolutely no idea where to start! Everybody talks about home cinema sets, but I don't want/need a blue ray player, dvd player, or any player for that matter, or network capabilities... The TV itself can handle most (including internet), and what the TV can't handle, the multimedia PC next to it, can.

So, who can put me on the right track? We just want good sound...

captkjaneway · 02-22-2011, 04:46 AM

You can run it all, including your HTPC through an amp and speaker set - so a digital amplifier and then some speakers and sub-woofer. Look at www.avforum.com.

TGS · 02-22-2011, 05:27 AM

I have been running my TV through a Harmon Kardon powered PC speaker set-up which came with a Dell PC about six years ago - it's just plugged into the headphone socket. It wouldn't do for the purists but could be bought for about less than 50 euros. I would guess that this particular set up is no longer available but Amazon has this, which looks about equivalent.

Wetdogeared · 02-22-2011, 09:03 AM

Sound bar option.

My sister bought a passive 'sound bar' with sub-woofer system for her new LED TV which is attached to her surround sound receiver. She didn't want her new home cluttered with speakers and speaker wires. Self-powered sound bars don't need to be attached to a surround sound amplifier. Non-powered (passive) sound bars need to be attached to a surround sound amplifier.

The sound quality is very good, but not as good as a 5.1 surround system with speakers located around the room.

The price range varies greatly.

Example of a powered sound bar with sub-woofer:

Sweetpea · 02-22-2011, 10:37 AM

So, I'd also need a receiver? Or would that be the TV itself? (We don't have anything in terms of sound, never had, so I have absolutely no idea whatsoever!)

But I like that soundbar idea. The problem with speakers is always were to put them.

HarryT · 02-22-2011, 10:44 AM

No, you don't need an AV Receiver - that's something with a radio in it. You need an AV Amplifier. This has multiple inputs, allowing you to connect the (generally optical) output from your TV, DVD player, etc, to it, and select which input source gets played through the speakers.

Wetdogeared · 02-22-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

So, I'd also need a receiver? Or would that be the TV itself? (We don't have anything in terms of sound, never had, so I have absolutely no idea whatsoever!)

But I like that soundbar idea. The problem with speakers is always were to put them.

Powered sound bars don't require an amplifier and can be connected directly to your TV or satellite/cable box (and other A/V devices), the quality is dependent on the audio-out provided by one of these devices and the cable compatibility between them and the sound bar.

dsvick · 02-22-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, you don't need an AV Receiver - that's something with a radio in it. You need an AV Amplifier. This has multiple inputs, allowing you to connect the (generally optical) output from your TV, DVD player, etc, to it, and select which input source gets played through the speakers.

We have a surround sound system and did it that way for years but our new TV does all of that for us. All we did was tell it to send all the audio to the external jack so now we never need to change the input on the receiver unless we are going to listen to the radio. Otherwise, everything that is connected to the TV has it sound pushed through to the receiver. This made set up simpler since we connected everything to the tv (which was easier to get to) instead of the receiver.

Sweatpea, if you're not worried about having "perfect" sound then WDE's or TGS's idea will work well and be much cheaper and easier to set up than a complete sound system.

Sweetpea · 02-22-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsvick

Sweatpea, if you're not worried about having "perfect" sound then WDE's or TGS's idea will work well and be much cheaper and easier to set up than a complete sound system.

Yes, I went and looked into it. Those things (a powered soundbar) might be a good solution. It would also save a lot of money! And they generally look good as well (very important to me!)

02-22-2011, 03:20 AM	#1
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Soundset with a TV We've recently bought our first LCD TV. And the sound is (logically) less than we had on our CRT. So, now we're looking at a sound system. But I've absolutely no idea where to start! Everybody talks about home cinema sets, but I don't want/need a blue ray player, dvd player, or any player for that matter, or network capabilities... The TV itself can handle most (including internet), and what the TV can't handle, the multimedia PC next to it, can. So, who can put me on the right track? We just want good sound...

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02-22-2011, 04:46 AM	#2
captkjaneway Cockney Sci-Fi Geek! Posts: 472 Karma: 1463094 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Tab S 8.4", Samsung S6 Edge	You can run it all, including your HTPC through an amp and speaker set - so a digital amplifier and then some speakers and sub-woofer. Look at www.avforum.com.

02-22-2011, 05:27 AM	#3
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	I have been running my TV through a Harmon Kardon powered PC speaker set-up which came with a Dell PC about six years ago - it's just plugged into the headphone socket. It wouldn't do for the purists but could be bought for about less than 50 euros. I would guess that this particular set up is no longer available but Amazon has this, which looks about equivalent.

02-22-2011, 09:03 AM	#4
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,781 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	Sound bar option. My sister bought a passive 'sound bar' with sub-woofer system for her new LED TV which is attached to her surround sound receiver. She didn't want her new home cluttered with speakers and speaker wires. Self-powered sound bars don't need to be attached to a surround sound amplifier. Non-powered (passive) sound bars need to be attached to a surround sound amplifier. The sound quality is very good, but not as good as a 5.1 surround system with speakers located around the room. The price range varies greatly. Example of a powered sound bar with sub-woofer:

02-22-2011, 10:37 AM	#5
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	So, I'd also need a receiver? Or would that be the TV itself? (We don't have anything in terms of sound, never had, so I have absolutely no idea whatsoever!) But I like that soundbar idea. The problem with speakers is always were to put them.

02-22-2011, 10:44 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, you don't need an AV Receiver - that's something with a radio in it. You need an AV Amplifier. This has multiple inputs, allowing you to connect the (generally optical) output from your TV, DVD player, etc, to it, and select which input source gets played through the speakers.