extra speakers for tv.

hardpressed

Just ordered an el-cheapo 32" tv, as I've been told that the sound is not that good on some of these cheaper tv's, is it possible to used a pair of speakers from a redundant hifi to get a better sound? If so how would I plug them in?

Johnmcl7

You would need to check the connections on the TV but I think it's unlikely as most TV's don't have direct speaker connections, instead you get a 3.5mm, phono or optical out which would mean you'd need something with an amp of some sort rather than just speakers on their own.

John

paulmapp8306

Most TVs have poor sound - whatever they cost.

For decent sound you need a seperate amplifier and speakers. As Johnmcl7 says it almost certainly needs to have an optical, co-axial or HDMI input (depending on what your TVs output options are - or whether your using an external box of some sort to get you channels). Some TVs have phono outputs, but not many modern ones, and even then they will be unamplified, so youll need a hifi amp at the very least.

penrhyn

I use a Samsung sound bar with a wireless subwoofer, which is fairly neat and sounds good.
Its an older version of this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-HW-E450-Soundbar-Subwoofer-Compatible/dp/B007L3ZO6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354095545&sr=8-1

paulmapp8306

Yeh - soundbars can be a good option. There still not a great sound, but far better than the internal speakers on most TVs. Short of a full blown 5.1 system thre probably the best solution.

I used a Yamaha one for 3 years or so when short of space, before I went back to a 5.1 system.

googler

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Yeh - soundbars can be a good option. There still not a great sound, but far better than the internal speakers on most TVs. Short of a full blown 5.1 system thre probably the best solution.

I used a Yamaha one for 3 years or so when short of space, before I went back to a 5.1 system.

The best option short of 5.1 is surely 2.0, with a proper stereo amp and speakers? Or 2.1. Or 4.0, 4.1, 5.0....

OP, how much of the redundant HiFi do you have? Any other bits apart from the speakers? Model numbers and make of both tv and HiFi would help....

paulmapp8306

Well, yes BUT the costs of a 5.1 system arnt much more than a 2 or 2.1 system if any. The only reason for a 2.0 over a 5.1 is lack of space.

The easiest way, is a soundbar as all the amplification is built in. The next best is is an amp plus speakers. If the OP had a HiFi anp and a pair of stereo speakers, and the TV had suitable outputs then that is a way to go. The big thing the the Outputs on the TV and the inputs on the Hifi.

If the OP needs an amp, then its just as cheap to get a system than a seperate amp in most cases.

almillar

Been a while since I've seen a TV with speaker terminals. OP, you need to find out what sound outputs your new TV has (possibly should have done this before buying it!) - hopefully, as has been said, you've got optical out, or stereo phono out, which you can plug into some sort of amp, whether that be a separates one, or integrated into one of these all in one systems or soundbars.

GlynD

I've heard some of these soundbars recently and I'm very impressed.

googler

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Well, yes BUT the costs of a 5.1 system arnt much more than a 2 or 2.1 system if any. The only reason for a 2.0 over a 5.1 is lack of space.

Not the only reason - a 2.0 at a certain price point is virtually guaranteed to sound better than a 5.1 at the same price point. Why?

Because for the same money, the 5.1 system will need two extra rears, a centre and a subwoofer, and 4 extra channels of amplification plus a DTS/Dolby Digital decoder. All of that included to the same price point as a stereo system with a stereo amp, no decoder, and two speakers will mean cheaper and inferior components throughout, leading to inferior quality.

InsideInsurance

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Well, yes BUT the costs of a 5.1 system arnt much more than a 2 or 2.1 system if any. The only reason for a 2.0 over a 5.1 is lack of space.

:eek:

Surely you aren't serious?

Go and look at a hifi shop and compare the cost of, for example, B&W 685 as a pair of stereo speakers and the B&W 685 5.1 setup (with the 685 as the L & R)... the 5.1 is over 3 times the price!

You can of cause buy ultra budget versions of both stereo and surround sound but to compare a £500 stereo system to a £500 surround system is like comparing a Ferrari with a Smart Coupe and saying they're both sports cars and both gets you from A to B.

Before you get into the real top end prices where taste comes into play then you will have to always spend at least 2.5 times the amount on a 5.1 system to simply get an equal quality of sound than a 2.0 system.