budget 2.0 or 2.1 speakers for TV

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › budget 2.0 or 2.1 speakers for TV

farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#109882 28-Sep-2012 12:39

Hi,

After a decent pair of speakers for brother's Panny ST30 plasma.
I know nothing about this stuff, want something semi-musical (ie better than TV speakers) and with a bit of bass oomf when required for explosions and tv music and a couple of music DVDs etc.

We have a good ear for music, so will appreciate the difference, just clueless about tech etc

To give an idea, my AV40s are good enough, good fidelity, plenty of volume and enough bass ( a little muddy but good enough bass). However I cant make the ST30 tv mute them so thats no good. Their inputs are RCA and headphone/aux and TRS

Not into spending much on TV speakers as hes hardly ever in NZ but another option is replace his home stereo with digital and wifi Onkyo or similar, as long as it will run the TV speakers in seperate room.

Only want one remote control for TV as his kids use it and hes not into tech and gadgets, I can get a harmony but rather just use the Panny TV remote for TV volume and mute as it already controls the panny blu-ray.

TV Outputs are as follows:

http://www.panasonic.co.nz/products/home-entertainment/viera-tvs/st30-series-plasma/?gclid=CIHBoq6B17ICFeZMpgodmgQAKA

Digital Audio Output (Optical), RCA red/white, headphone 3.5mm

Dont want a surround system as it gets in the way, dont even want a sub unless a 2.0 system lacks compared to AV-40s.

SO TL:DR

How do I control 2.0 speakers with the Panny ST30 remote and which ones do you recommend as I cant seem to make the AV40s mute with this?

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#692888 28-Sep-2012 13:29

If you want to use the panny remote, you have to use the built-in "amp" in the TV, which to be honest will be a Piece of $hit,

If you want decent sound, you will need a better amp, and probably need to go down the harmony remote way of controlling them all from one handset.

It a trade off

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#692892 28-Sep-2012 13:34

Brutal option may be to use a headphone output into some computer speakers. May allow you to use the volume control on the remote.

Long term though, ditch the factory remote or get used to using two, one for the TV and another one for the amplifier.

A micro/mini system is an easy/cheap option initially, using the AUX input on the rear of it for the TV.

farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#692902 28-Sep-2012 13:46

Thanks , Ive tried the TV with AV40 2.0 computer speakers/monitors, I would like equivalent quality to these but that I can mute using TV remote. Volume is controllable but not mute.
The AV40s mute fine on a Samsung LCD using headphone out but not on this Panny plasma.

I noticed also it sounded better on RCA than headphone out but anyway RCA isnt an option for TV remote.

Are there any fairly inexpensive active 2.0/2.1 speakers with digital optical input? I might be able to mute them then with the Panny remote.
The harmony isnt kid-proof, I tried that before :/

Otherwise I guess I will be browsing the many excellent "budget hifi setup" threads here for a suitable receiver + separate 2.0 speakers.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#692904 28-Sep-2012 13:48

Sound bars can be an alternative...

farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#692909 28-Sep-2012 13:54

Soundbars seem quite expensive for how tinny they must sound, given their dimensions and plasticness etc, but I guess its better than just the TV

There is also this Sony HTIB for $499 at Noel Leeming clearance centre this wkend

http://www.sony.co.nz/product/bdv-e980w?tabName=specifications

Probably inferior SQ to a pair of decent bookshelf speakers and I guess I still cant unify the remotes as Panny TV + Panny bluray vs Sony blu-ray/speakers

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#693155 28-Sep-2012 20:56

NuForce iCon2.
Efficient bookshelf speakers (Klipsch? or similar)
An optical out of the TV.
It's still two remotes, but frankly it's the worlds EASIEST / most basic credit card remote.
You should be able to pick the combo up for around $800... maybe add a sub later to get a bit more bottom end? Plus the 24 watt amp is tiny...

The other option is a basic Panasonic soundbar as the Viera Link will make using it an absolute piece of cake. Musicality is going to be lacking, as will all basic home theatre systems / soundbars - but it really is a piece of cake to use.

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farns

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#693333 29-Sep-2012 10:19

Thanks all of you, do you know if Viera Link will control the Sony HTIB I linked (or the DAC Dunnersfella mentioned) or does it have to be Panasonic? All I know is that Viera Link only works via HDMI
If so Ill grab that HTIB probably, costs about the same as a Panny soundbar but has a blu-ray player

Assuming I cant use the panasonic TV remote for speakers then what about Audioengine 5+ 2.0 speakers with their own remote (that Harmony can learn hopefully)
Less than $400 and probably plenty good enough soundwise for a lounge although I dont really know speakers, Im more of an efficient google-meister lol
The Harmony would probably be able to learn the Audioengine remote and brother would just have to shoo the kids away from the remote so they cant stuff it up (help button on Harmony is too complicated apparently)

Active speakers would probably sound better than the soundbar but if I see a Panny soundbar heavily specialled Im grabbing it, definitely easy option.