I am thinking about replacing our ancient CRT television to go for one of those new-fangled thin ones to hand on the wall. Noticing that the sound is pretty much crap on these I would have to buy a sound bar what would add to the cost. I can't see how something so skinny can be that good so I came up with an alternative idea.
I have a pair of very nice B&W bookshelf speakers (8ohm) that are never used now that I have finished building my Paul Carmody Tarkus floorstanders. All I need is a two channel amp to drive them and I could use this setup (plugged into the headphone socket) of the TV to get better sound. I'm not keen to spend a huge amount on an amplifier and have been looking at secondhand Sony amps online but they are not only silly expensive but I'm thinking something much more compact might make sense. A see lots of tiny amps from China but although they are cheap they usually don't come with a power supply and many are mono only so the price just goes up and up.
Any recommendations?
I have a pair of very nice B&W bookshelf speakers (8ohm) that are never used now that I have finished building my Paul Carmody Tarkus floorstanders. All I need is a two channel amp to drive them and I could use this setup (plugged into the headphone socket) of the TV to get better sound. I'm not keen to spend a huge amount on an amplifier and have been looking at secondhand Sony amps online but they are not only silly expensive but I'm thinking something much more compact might make sense. A see lots of tiny amps from China but although they are cheap they usually don't come with a power supply and many are mono only so the price just goes up and up.
Any recommendations?
I added a set of jacks rigged off of the internal speakers (watch polarity!) and fed the signal to a small subwoofer on the floor below the tv.
Works fine to enhance the lack of bass from the tv speakers.
Works fine to enhance the lack of bass from the tv speakers.
I used a DAC to get RCA out from optical - 10$ and I didn't void the warranty (or butcher the television)!
If you want cheap and compact, nothing beats those 2 channel class D boards... Run it from an old laptop PSU...
A more elegant solution -->
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003224348084.html
It's only about 10WPC but for television sound it's good enough.
Also you might just try the built in speakers first - the ones in my television are passable.
If you want cheap and compact, nothing beats those 2 channel class D boards... Run it from an old laptop PSU...
A more elegant solution -->
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003224348084.html
It's only about 10WPC but for television sound it's good enough.
Also you might just try the built in speakers first - the ones in my television are passable.
I was hoping to make use of my bookshelf speakers. Adding a sub would certainly be an improvement but I'm not really trying for a home cinema type improvement so maybe a little overkill. Thanks.
Yes that sort of thing does look like an economical solution but I'd be a little more enthusiastic if it was maybe 20-30 wpc. Thanks for the link.
The class-d stereo bridge amplifier on the television mainboard is usually good enough for decent sound quality; the small and poorly fitted drivers are the weak link. The cheapest option is to open the tv-set and connect the bookshelf speakers to the internal amplifier. Tv-set drivers are usually 4 ohm, but efficiency is very low and your 8 ohm B&W may even sound louder.
I would NOT recommend opening up a NEW television and voiding the warranty for such endeavours! Just saying...
Here's a board that would work... Just add a PSU and case... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002035947551.html
Here's a board that would work... Just add a PSU and case... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002035947551.html
That might well be my first option. Cost nothing to try. If its not good enough then I can try an external amp.
I would wait for a "burn in" period of time before opening the TV to mess about inside. After that I'm happy to void the waranty. Waranties are a waste of paper here in France. Almost impossible to get satisfaction claiming under waranty so I don't consider them when buying.
And thankyou for the link. I'm currently having trouble logging in to the aliexpress website. It sends a security code but the code doesn't work. Bummer!
A really excellent measuring amp in the new Topping PS5. Probably more than you want to spend.
Most TVs have a toslink out which is stereo, so may a nice little all-in-one DAC/phones/Amp. Several on the market. Again Topping seems to be pretty good. Might check places like ASR for measurements of what is out there. Probably half a dozen decent little guys. Keck even my antique SMSL SAD -01 Tripath is darn good.
Personally, I won't deal with Ali-whatever. Had too many credit cards stolen.
Most TVs have a toslink out which is stereo, so may a nice little all-in-one DAC/phones/Amp. Several on the market. Again Topping seems to be pretty good. Might check places like ASR for measurements of what is out there. Probably half a dozen decent little guys. Keck even my antique SMSL SAD -01 Tripath is darn good.
Personally, I won't deal with Ali-whatever. Had too many credit cards stolen.
Pay with Paypal? Every time I've had a credit card number stolen it was at a POS terminal in a store, surprisingly.
32" TV sound is vile. My Samsung that lasted only 16 months sounded like **** and this LG is worse.
A toslink-analog line level converter is about $12 on ebay. You have to buy the optical cable separately, about $6. I'm using a monaural Peavey MMA-875t amp I picked up for ~$40 on ebay. Make sure you get the 2 RCA jack mixer accessory in the back) to mix from stereo to mono. Has a transformer output on 8 ohms to protect the speaker. MMA-875t has a silence input to kill the commercial sound with a switch. Crown 180M is equivalent product. Stereo M-2600 Peavey amp with no fan and no protection are about $120. Watch the freight; I bought from <200 miles to make it minimum. Ebay tells you how much freight will be. Amazon charges $12 for one day delivery; I don't buy from amazon because I don't need anything in one day.
I'm using a speaker I bought for $5 the pair at Salvation Army resale with an 8" woofer, 3" "mid" and 1.5" tweeter. Not too bad. I've never had a debit card problem on ebay in 5 years.
Or you can go class D amp from Parts-express for about $50. No debit card risk.
A toslink-analog line level converter is about $12 on ebay. You have to buy the optical cable separately, about $6. I'm using a monaural Peavey MMA-875t amp I picked up for ~$40 on ebay. Make sure you get the 2 RCA jack mixer accessory in the back) to mix from stereo to mono. Has a transformer output on 8 ohms to protect the speaker. MMA-875t has a silence input to kill the commercial sound with a switch. Crown 180M is equivalent product. Stereo M-2600 Peavey amp with no fan and no protection are about $120. Watch the freight; I bought from <200 miles to make it minimum. Ebay tells you how much freight will be. Amazon charges $12 for one day delivery; I don't buy from amazon because I don't need anything in one day.
I'm using a speaker I bought for $5 the pair at Salvation Army resale with an 8" woofer, 3" "mid" and 1.5" tweeter. Not too bad. I've never had a debit card problem on ebay in 5 years.
Or you can go class D amp from Parts-express for about $50. No debit card risk.
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I have used Aliexpress before but never trust them with my credit card info. If the seller doesn't offer Paypal, I don't buy.
I've just pulled the trigger on a 80+80watt stereo amp with built in AC power supply. €35 euros. Fingers crossed. If it doesn't work for the TV I'll use it in my workshop. Thanks for all the suggestions guysl 👍
I've just pulled the trigger on a 80+80watt stereo amp with built in AC power supply. €35 euros. Fingers crossed. If it doesn't work for the TV I'll use it in my workshop. Thanks for all the suggestions guysl 👍
Most flat screen TVs have a worse sound than older models, because the sound bar is almost a given. It can even be sold as a bundle with the TV. But there are still a few TVs with passable sound: Hotel-TVs and some big screen models geared to public venues. They are usually never on display on retail stores because they are bulky and have less features compared to mainstream models, but the internal power supply is usually sturdier. There are also a few Sony TVs that have a exciter speaker coupled to the display panel.
I bet there are tons of ready to use 30/40 Wpc amps on EBay ... or get an old but working "home use" amplifier at Goodwill for peanuts.
Just set it on the floor or on a shelf near the TV set and forget about it.
Just set it on the floor or on a shelf near the TV set and forget about it.
I am guessing you are in the states. Ebay in europe is a marketplace for tatty secondhand junk that should be on its way to the dump. Put a well-known badge on it and double or triple the value. Lots of mid to top end vintage gear can be had from Germany but at eye watering prices. Your thrift shop bargains are the "stuff of dreams" here in France. Anyway, after searching here, even for non-working amps I decided that a more compact unit would better suit my needs. WAF is already stretched to accommodate the new floorstanders.
I'm not into that "home cinema" stuff either.
The sub is just to help the low end of things.
However, if I'm playing a DVD or watching a particularly good show on tv, sometimes I'll use the optical output fed thru an adapter to my stereo system.
Soundbar is often not much better, considering how lean it is most of the time, not to mention the you can not place speakers further appart.
I hacked few cheap soundbars, and inside the metal casing was even smaller plastic enslosure with tiny 2" speakers, likely identical to those built in flat tv.
There are better soundbars for sure, but in any case i would consider soundar/subwoofer combo. Tends to be better quality.
Real diy approach is to take headphones output and feed it to proper amp and hifi speakers. If it does not have headphones out, it likely has bluetooth, so bluetooth amp with proper hifi speakers.
I do this upgrades to my work colleagues all the time.
Built in speakers are last resort.
I hacked few cheap soundbars, and inside the metal casing was even smaller plastic enslosure with tiny 2" speakers, likely identical to those built in flat tv.
There are better soundbars for sure, but in any case i would consider soundar/subwoofer combo. Tends to be better quality.
Real diy approach is to take headphones output and feed it to proper amp and hifi speakers. If it does not have headphones out, it likely has bluetooth, so bluetooth amp with proper hifi speakers.
I do this upgrades to my work colleagues all the time.
Built in speakers are last resort.
Most of soundbars are also cr..ap. I tried.
What I ended up doing is to open the TV, disconnect internal speakers, and add output jack, and then connect
external, bigger speakers (JBL in my case), also hanging on the wall.
The internal amp in the tv is not that bad, even though is not very powerful. Bad sound is due to cra..ppy internal speakers.
With good external speakers it sounds pretty good.
What I ended up doing is to open the TV, disconnect internal speakers, and add output jack, and then connect
external, bigger speakers (JBL in my case), also hanging on the wall.
The internal amp in the tv is not that bad, even though is not very powerful. Bad sound is due to cra..ppy internal speakers.
With good external speakers it sounds pretty good.