I'm not sure if this is where this would go, so please re direct me if so.
So I know this is not the norm but I decided to have a little project with my son, so we added two small satellite speakers in series with the TV's internal speakers. The TV has 6ohm speakers and the satellite speakers are 4ohm. I did it in series so it wouldn't be too much load on the baby chip amplifier on the TV. The problem I'm having is that the satellite speakers are louder than the TV speakers. I was thinking of adding an inline pot of some sort to the satellite speakers. While rummaging around I found some 6ohm 5w pots from some old CV tower speaker crossovers I had laying around. Could I use those to do so? It's a pretty low watt system obviously so I don't see the TV being too much for them. I know this isn't really all that interesting, but like I said. It's just a project with the kiddo.
So I know this is not the norm but I decided to have a little project with my son, so we added two small satellite speakers in series with the TV's internal speakers. The TV has 6ohm speakers and the satellite speakers are 4ohm. I did it in series so it wouldn't be too much load on the baby chip amplifier on the TV. The problem I'm having is that the satellite speakers are louder than the TV speakers. I was thinking of adding an inline pot of some sort to the satellite speakers. While rummaging around I found some 6ohm 5w pots from some old CV tower speaker crossovers I had laying around. Could I use those to do so? It's a pretty low watt system obviously so I don't see the TV being too much for them. I know this isn't really all that interesting, but like I said. It's just a project with the kiddo.
I would experiment by wiring a 6ohm pot in variable resistor mode in series with each satellite speaker.
If you can achieve the desired volume balance, you could measure the resistance of the variable resistor at this setting then substitute higher power, fixed resistance ceramic resistors.
If you can achieve the desired volume balance, you could measure the resistance of the variable resistor at this setting then substitute higher power, fixed resistance ceramic resistors.
op claims to have wired extension speakers in series with TV speakers. Therefore series pot would alter the level of both.
Assuming the satellite speakers have better sound than the TV speakers the OP should disconnect the original TV speakers. Or wire a switched jack as an external speaker socket.
If the op still wants both speakers then the pot would need to be in parallel with the external speaker. Either way of wiring the pot it is wasteful of the limited power.
If the op is in error and has wired the speakers in parallel then he is subjecting the on-board amp to a damaging 2.4ohm load.
If the speakers are indeed in series then the same current flows through both then the TV speakers are using the most power despite being quieter - ie MUCH less efficient.
Assuming the satellite speakers have better sound than the TV speakers the OP should disconnect the original TV speakers. Or wire a switched jack as an external speaker socket.
If the op still wants both speakers then the pot would need to be in parallel with the external speaker. Either way of wiring the pot it is wasteful of the limited power.
If the op is in error and has wired the speakers in parallel then he is subjecting the on-board amp to a damaging 2.4ohm load.
If the speakers are indeed in series then the same current flows through both then the TV speakers are using the most power despite being quieter - ie MUCH less efficient.
Doh! Basic schoolboy error on my part!
Listen to russc!By mentioning satellite speakers, I think OP wants all four speakers working simultaneously, so connecting the pot as a pot for voltage division to the satellite speaker would be required.
@bagwellbill Please show how you've wired the TV and satellite speaker together - just to make sure they are in series.
They are in series. I am sure of that. I tested the final load to each channel and the final load is 10ohms roughly. Also Russc, the satellites would be using the most power because of the lower impedance. The TV speakers are six ohms and the satellites are four, electricity follows the path of the least resistance.
It does, but in this case they are all in series, so the current has to flow thru all of them equally. That doesn't mean that the external speakers are louder at the same current, of course. But the series circuit means they all see the same current flow.
I've done this mod to a few TVs and liked it. You're on the right path.
The only easy way to make your new external speakers the same level as the internal speakers is to run them in parallel with the internal speakers using the series resistor circuit that Galu has kindly provided. Of course you do risk getting an impedance too low that way, but you should be able to stay out of trouble.
I've done this mod to a few TVs and liked it. You're on the right path.
The only easy way to make your new external speakers the same level as the internal speakers is to run them in parallel with the internal speakers using the series resistor circuit that Galu has kindly provided. Of course you do risk getting an impedance too low that way, but you should be able to stay out of trouble.
Thanks Pano!
Putting a 4ohm satellite in series with the 6ohm variable resistor and connecting the combination in parallel with the 6ohm TV speaker will result in an amplifier load varying from 2.4ohm (minimum attenuation) to 3.75ohm (maximum attenuation). Hope I've got that calculation right! 😉
You'll probably need close to maximum attenuation, when the load will not be too far from the 6ohm the amplifier normally works into.
In fact, you may require more attenuation. In which case substitute a fixed value ceramic resistor of , say, 10ohm or greater.
Putting a 4ohm satellite in series with the 6ohm variable resistor and connecting the combination in parallel with the 6ohm TV speaker will result in an amplifier load varying from 2.4ohm (minimum attenuation) to 3.75ohm (maximum attenuation). Hope I've got that calculation right! 😉
You'll probably need close to maximum attenuation, when the load will not be too far from the 6ohm the amplifier normally works into.
In fact, you may require more attenuation. In which case substitute a fixed value ceramic resistor of , say, 10ohm or greater.
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Why not put the 6 ohm variable resistor in parallel with the satellites, while still in series as op has done? Full short => all sound from tv. Wide open? Maybe sats still louder than TV. Adjust to equal loudness.
I like that idea! Good thinking.
EDIT: You could even put a resistor in series with the internal speakers and the volume shunt around resistor and internal speaker. That would lower the current thru that set of speakers, while allowing variable current to the new speakers.
EDIT: You could even put a resistor in series with the internal speakers and the volume shunt around resistor and internal speaker. That would lower the current thru that set of speakers, while allowing variable current to the new speakers.
Why waste power (which isn´t be too much to begin with?) into resistive attenuators?
Given the impedance values you mention, desiring to attenuate satellites respect to internal speaker and as a bonus, altering less the impedance seen by chipamp I suggest:
* wire satellites in parallel, so *they* show 2 ohm impedance combined.
* wire this 2 ohm combination in series with current 6 ohm speaker.
Total impedance will be 8 ohm, not bad.
No power lost in "deaf" resistors.
Each satellite will drop half the voltage as before, so 6dB attenuation, which is significative.
Given the impedance values you mention, desiring to attenuate satellites respect to internal speaker and as a bonus, altering less the impedance seen by chipamp I suggest:
* wire satellites in parallel, so *they* show 2 ohm impedance combined.
* wire this 2 ohm combination in series with current 6 ohm speaker.
Total impedance will be 8 ohm, not bad.
No power lost in "deaf" resistors.
Each satellite will drop half the voltage as before, so 6dB attenuation, which is significative.
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Requires 4 off satellites which the op may not have (he did say internal speakers - plural).