Connecting PC speakers to a TV?

[stadleroux]

I'm trying to connect a set of two small speakers and a subwoofer to a 32" Sinotech. The subwoofer has a headphone-type audio-in port and the TV a similar-looking port called PC/DVI Audio that takes the little light green plug, but it doesn't override the TV's own, tinny audio. I can't find anything in the TV's settings menu about external audio either. Another strange thing is that when the TV is turned off, but the (Openview) decoder is left on, the much better quality audio does carry on playing through the external speakers! :wtf:
The subwoofer is plugged into the Android TV box at the moment and the whole setup is working fine when I'm watching streamed stuff. The difference in audio quality is quite significant, so I would really like to be able to have it all the time, but why won't it work when it's plugged directly into the TV!?

 

[AstroTurf]

I'm trying to connect a set of two small speakers and a subwoofer to a 32" Sinotech. The subwoofer has a headphone-type audio-in port and the TV a similar-looking port called PC/DVI Audio that takes the little light green plug, but it doesn't override the TV's own, tinny audio. I can't find anything in the TV's settings menu about external audio either. Another strange thing is that when the TV is turned off, but the (Openview) decoder is left on, the much better quality audio does carry on playing through the external speakers! :wtf:
The subwoofer is plugged into the Android TV box at the moment and the whole setup is working fine when I'm watching streamed stuff. The difference in audio quality is quite significant, so I would really like to be able to have it all the time, but why won't it work when it's plugged directly into the TV!?

Can you mute/turn the TV volume to zero? That's what I do with external through earphone jack.

 

[stadleroux]

Can you mute/turn the TV volume to zero? That's what I do with external through earphone jack.

Yes, I can mute the TV volume, but then I won't hear anything while the TV is on, although the volume on the subwoofer is turned up all the way. I was wondering if a cable with an earphone plug on the one end and two RCA plugs on the other wouldn't do the job, because just above the PC/DVI Audio port on the TV there are the usual three RCA-out ports, and if it would be available or if I would have to have it made up.

 

[AstroTurf]

I just made a cable this for my soundbar.
Stereo one side and 2x av the other.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yes, I can mute the TV volume, but then I won't hear anything while the TV is on, although the volume on the subwoofer is turned up all the way. I was wondering if a cable with an earphone plug on the one end and two RCA plugs on the other wouldn't do the job, because just above the PC/DVI Audio port on the TV there are the usual three RCA-out ports, and if it would be available or if I would have to have it made up.

Have you tried just turning the TV down, not muting it? My guess is that when you mute the volume then the TV stops processing audio, so there's nothing to share with the subwoofer. If it's turned all the way down so you can't hear its built-in speakers anymore, you might still get audio output through the jack.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Usually should have an option in the Audio menu for something like "internal mute" or some such.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Usually should have an option in the Audio menu for something like "internal mute" or some such.

Or you could always open up the back and cut the wires leading to the internal speakers Old school, baby.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Or you could always open up the back and cut the wires leading to the internal speakers Old school, baby.

Ha ha ha.

But these Sinotec warranties are too long for such antics.

 

[stadleroux]

I just made a cable this for my soundbar.
Stereo one side and 2x av the other.

Guess that's what I'll be looking for then!

Have you tried just turning the TV down, not muting it? My guess is that when you mute the volume then the TV stops processing audio, so there's nothing to share with the subwoofer. If it's turned all the way down so you can't hear its built-in speakers anymore, you might still get audio output through the jack.

No, when I turn the volume down all the way on the TV's remote the decoder's volume control doesn't even have an effect, so there's no sound.

Usually should have an option in the Audio menu for something like "internal mute" or some such.

This isn't actually my TV, it's a new one I bought my mom for Christmas so she, and I when I'm here, of course, can watch streamed stuff - mainly Filmon for now - but I'm sure my own TV, a Sony, has a setting somewhere for external audio. I have a whole home theatre set at home that I'd bought more than two years ago, but haven't set up yet, because I didn't have enough room amongst all my clutter, but frankly, my TV's audio quality isn't that bad. It's not good by any means, but it's tolerable. This Sinotech's audio quality really is as bad as everyone says in the reviews! Everything else is pretty damn OK for the price though. The difference between the internal audio and this cheap little set of speakers is the final straw though; my home theatre is going up this month before I go back to work! :twisted:

Or you could always open up the back and cut the wires leading to the internal speakers Old school, baby.

HUHUUUH, no, not me baby!!