Connecting Speakers to Panasonic 46U20Z TV

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snonoz

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Master Geek

#82775 5-May-2011 13:29

Hi

I am NOT an audiophile so I need some help on what I should do to get better sound from my shiny new TV...

The sound from this TV is not up to par and I don't want to go as far as a full home theatre at this stage (renting, and can't be bothered with all the surround wires). I only want to attach a couple of reasonable speakers (able to stand on floor as no shelf space) - can I attach something like Genius SP-HF1800A speakers via the Monitor out AV ports on the TV?? I don't know whether I would need an amp in between or if I can just attach any large PC speakers etc...

Already connected to it are:
MySky HDi (input via AV)
DVD Recorder (Panasonic DMR-EH57) (input via HDMI)
PC (input via HDMI with sound via AV)
Wii (input via AV)

Thanks in advance for any info...

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#465722 5-May-2011 13:39

I think you'll find that will work well.
Those speakers appear to have a built in amp.

timmmay

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#465758 5-May-2011 14:15

Any external speakers will be better than the ones build into a TV. With 4" drivers those won't even close to measure up to a proper home theater system, but at that price you can't expect them to.

snonoz

80 posts

Master Geek

#465772 5-May-2011 14:42

timmmay: Any external speakers will be better than the ones build into a TV. With 4" drivers those won't even close to measure up to a proper home theater system, but at that price you can't expect them to.

Thanks - Got any other speaker suggestions then for under $150? I wanted Microlab SOLO5 but they seem to be hard to get...

timmmay

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#465775 5-May-2011 14:44

Most cheaper speakers are small, I don't think I can help with floor standing sorry. I'd wander into J B Hifi and see what they have.

Jaxson

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#465782 5-May-2011 15:02

Perhaps you would be slightly better off going for some computer speakers with a dedicated subwoofer, like a 2.1 setup. Still would be stereo but you'd probably get a better sound than two speakers with just 4" drivers as Timmay says above.

Just an idea, but something like:
http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/XH9905/logitech-z523-speaker-system
or
http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/XH9975/divoom-xforce-2-2-1-computer-speaker

Either way, yes you can just mute the TV and use the audio output to get a stereo line feed to your new speakers.

snonoz

80 posts

Master Geek

#465800 5-May-2011 15:30

Jaxson: Perhaps you would be slightly better off going for some computer speakers with a dedicated subwoofer, like a 2.1 setup. Still would be stereo but you'd probably get a better sound than two speakers with just 4" drivers as Timmay says above.

Just an idea, but something like:
http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/XH9905/logitech-z523-speaker-system
or
http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/XH9975/divoom-xforce-2-2-1-computer-speaker

Either way, yes you can just mute the TV and use the audio output to get a stereo line feed to your new speakers.

Funnily enough I was JUST NOW looking at those Divoom speakers (and the xforce1's). We have an old set of Creative Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 on the kids bedroom TV (with stuffed speakers) so I think that might the way I'll go...

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snonoz

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Master Geek

#465813 5-May-2011 15:54

Afterthought.... setting it up this way I'm going to lose use of the TV remote for volume right?? That doesn't work for me - I pride myself on not having to move while watching TV (and I loath those sudden noisy ads...)

Jaxson

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#465821 5-May-2011 16:03

You'd have to check.

There may be some audio outputs that mimick the TV volume but really this wont help I guess.

Yeah, have a look, there may be a setting that can help but otherwise you'd need to invest in either a receiver etc or speakers that come with a IR remote volume adjust function.

Actually a good way to do this is to buy a 2nd hand mini system or re use a stereo from around the house. Any CD player type thing with an AUX in will work. That can be the cheapest/easiest way to get a unit that allows for remote volume adjust, with the added benefit of having a CD player etc right there for that purpose as well.

Batman

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#465826 5-May-2011 16:16

sorry to spoil the party but with computer speakers you are sitting 50cm from the thing. try sitting 500-1000cm from the thing in a room full babies babbling and the ccomputer speakers start to babble too ... you got a computer speaker so just try that and confirm

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#465828 5-May-2011 16:17

(sound like any other energy has an exponential decay curve in relation to distance)

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#465829 5-May-2011 16:20

you could say crank it right up - well you get distortion, clipping, and at some point those unwanted noise generated with drown usable sounds like speech - might have to turn on the captions and subtitles...

how big is your room? if largish buy a cheap 'mini hifi' ($100-300) system (NOT MICRO hhifi but what some others would call a stereo system) off trademe or at a sale

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snonoz

80 posts

Master Geek

#465830 5-May-2011 16:22

joker97: sorry to spoil the party but with computer speakers you are sitting 50cm from the thing. try sitting 500-1000cm from the thing in a room full babies babbling and the ccomputer speakers start to babble too ... you got a computer speaker so just try that and confirm

Makes sense - can't test it though, both my sets of PC speakers are 3.5mm plugs and I have no RCA plug adapter.

snonoz

80 posts

Master Geek

#465832 5-May-2011 16:28

joker97: you could say crank it right up - well you get distortion, clipping, and at some point those unwanted noise generated with drown usable sounds like speech - might have to turn on the captions and subtitles...

how big is your room? if largish buy a cheap 'mini hifi' ($100-300) system (NOT MICRO hhifi but what some others would call a stereo system) off trademe or at a sale

Heh heh not planning on cranking it way up (yet) - just getting it a bit better than the standard TV speakers. Only a medium room nothing big, and the systems I've looked at on TM have been too old and I don't want someone else's blown speakers/broken tape decks - and the bulk of a CD player, tuner etc that I don't need. I run most stuff from my PC (music/movies) so don't need anything more than speakers. We had a big powerful Aiwa system with Dolby surround speakers but TM'ed it for more space - should have kept it huh!

Dunnersfella

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#465996 5-May-2011 23:06

The best solution...?
Wireless FM headphones running out of the audio out RCA ports.

snonoz

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Master Geek

#466001 5-May-2011 23:50

Dunnersfella: The best solution...?
Wireless FM headphones running out of the audio out RCA ports.

Worst solution - family of 5... It's not all about me...

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