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Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 8:40:26 AM   
CatdeMedici


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Status: offline 		so I got a new flat screen tv, a smaller one as the LR is not big enough for the whole surroundsound experience--love the tv but the sound is puny--so I got a set of small external speakers, but they didn't come with "connectors"-I need something with red ends and something with black ends--connect like the cable wire does--what do I need to get?

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 8:49:30 AM   
GreedyTop


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Status: offline 		Cat.. call Radio Shack or Best buy.. they should be able to tell you  based on the make/model of the TV and speakers

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 8:53:36 AM   
Owner59


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Status: offline 		RCA connectors are the most common and recognizable connector.A male and female plug w/ a shield around them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_and_video_connector

RadioShack or any electronic house has them.

There`s cheap ones that`ll work fine or you can get really high end ones.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 8:58:59 AM   
ThatDamnedPanda


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Status: offline 		Those are probably just RCA cables, but without seeing the connector I could be wrong. I'd check the owner's manual for the TV and see exactly what type of cable it is. If i had a nickel for every time some kid at Best Buy or Radio Shack gave me wrong information, I'd own Best Buy by now. If they're RCA, you can get them at any Target or electronics store. Around ten bucks a set, depending on the manufacturer, the quality, and the length of the cable.

Before i bought the cables, though, I'd take a good look at the owner's manual and make sure your TV can actually power external speakers. Most don't, or at  least didn't a few years ago when I bought my last TV. Typically, what those audio connections on the TV are for is to connect the TV to some sort of external amplifier, like an amp or a receiver, which then delivers the amplified signal to the external speakers. Your owner's manual should have that information in it.




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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 2:07:40 PM   
Termyn8or


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Status: offline 		You are going to need an amp, this can be stand alone or in some cases it is built into the subwoofer on a surround system. In either case you come out of the variable audio out on the TV so you have volume control via remote. Actual speaker outputs are rare on newer TVs and even if they do have them, as an expert on the subject I highly recommend not using them. The extra load could knock the TV out of commision and it would not be the first time in my experience.

Whatever you do, I have a recommendation, get a universal remote and use it. Put the original in a drawer and take that batteries out. You only need it for a couple of things, after you get it set how you like it all you do is pretty much volume and channel. These days many people have a cable or sat box, who knows. The universal is much better though you usually can't get to certain functions, but those are usually functions you may never use or use once a year. When it comes time to service the TV though, you have no idea just how important it is to have that original remote, as such not only do I highly recommend you keep it safe from harm, but further that you not even wear it out under normal daily use.

Also, for better sound,you cna usually set a universal to run the volume on your surround amp and use the "fixed" audio output on the TV. Then you have indepenent control of both volumes. This works alot better if you intend to use other sources going into the amp, like a CD or DVD. Overall the quality will be better but it might take a bit to get it setup just right. A decent universal remote setup right can do alot of things.

However usually it can't get into the service menu or diagnostic mode. That is why it is so important to preserve the original if possible.

Just as important is what exactly you want. Do you want earthquaking sound worthy of a large theater or are you just looking for something a bit better than the schintzy speakers in the TV itself ? It makes a difference.

If your cable or whatever source uses a converter box, a universal remot makes it much easier to run after the initial setup. On the better ones you can usually set it up so that while the power button basically works the TV, and if you're lucky at least basic menu function for picture control etc., the channel buttons can be assigned to access the convertor box, and the volume buttons assigned to access your surround amp. And all this time you are wearing out a ten buck remote, easily replaced rather than a hundred buck remote which may become no longer available at any time, without notice.

Just slip the two cents under the door :-)

T

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 2:10:57 PM   
ThatDamnedPanda


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Status: offline 		Cat, do you already have any kind of stereo system in the living room? Even a small shelf system will probably allow you to connect your television, and it will sound a lot better than the TV does on its own.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 6:35:57 PM   
MasterG2kTR


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From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		The color of the connectors means nothing, but as others have already said they are most like RCA style connectors. These are available at any Radio Shack store or many hardware stores too. If you know anybody handy with electronics, give them a call as you will also likely need to solder the connectors to the speaker wires before connecting to the TV.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 6:53:25 PM   
LookieNoNookie


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quote:

ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici

so I got a new flat screen tv, a smaller one as the LR is not big enough for the whole surroundsound experience--love the tv but the sound is puny--so I got a set of small external speakers, but they didn't come with "connectors"-I need something with red ends and something with black ends--connect like the cable wire does--what do I need to get?


I know this one!!!!

A better TV.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 7:28:41 PM   
ThatDamnedPanda


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Joined: 1/26/2009
Status: offline 		Cat, I had another thought. Do you have cable or satellite? Because if you do, you're better off using the audio output on the back of your satellite receiver or cable box. Run the RCA cables straight to your stereo. The only reason you'd need the outputs on the TV is if you still use an antenna. 

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 7:45:59 PM   
Termyn8or


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Status: offline 		True Panda, but running all the sources through the TV like DVD, VCR and maybe bluray or a PC feed makes switching sources so much easier, that is if it passes the signal with good fidelity, and most of them do.

T

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/17/2009 8:16:47 PM   
ThatDamnedPanda


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

True Panda, but running all the sources through the TV like DVD, VCR and maybe bluray or a PC feed makes switching sources so much easier, that is if it passes the signal with good fidelity, and most of them do.

T


Yeah, that's a good point. I'm such an entertainment-system geek, I never thought of that. I just set everything up for optimum sound and video quality, with no regard for convenience at all. On one side of the TV, I have a vintage Kenwood turntable and a Panasonic DVD/VHS player/recorder, on the other side of the TV an Oppo single-disc universal disc player and an Onkyo 6-disc CD deck. The Panasonic is used only for recording DVDs and watching old VHS tapes, the Oppo is for premium sound quality on CDs and better DVD picture quality than the Panasonic, and the Onkyo is for when I don't care that much about sound quality and just want to load up 5 or 6 discs and let 'em rip.

Below the TV, I have the satellite receiver, a cassette deck, two Carver tuners (one FM only for its premium FM reception, the other AM/FM so I can listen to AM), a Carver pre-amp, and two Carver amps bi-amping the tower speakers on either side. And I have not just one, but two route selectors to route audio signals to the pre; if I want to listen to the Onkyo CD player, I select "A" on one route selector, "Line 1" on the other, and "Aux 1" on the pre. If i want to listen to the Oppo, I switch the first route selector to "B" and leave everything else alone. If I switch to the Panasonic, I leave both route selectors alone and switch the pre to "Aux 2". When I'm watching TV, I have 3 possible video sources and 3 possible audio sources, all with different routings. And so on.

Whenever I have to reconfigure for whatever reason, I have to set aside at least a half day to swim through the snake's nest behind the entertainment center. Nobody else has any chance at all at figuring out how to operate this system, but god damn, when i throw in a Sarah McLaughlin CD or Beethoven's 7th and sit back against the couch with my eyes closed, I hear every single bit of work that went into it. Problem with that is, sometimes I forget that not everybody else wants to spend as much time and energy fooling around with that crap as I do. I guess for sane people, simpler is usually better.


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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/18/2009 12:23:37 AM   
NeedToUseYou


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Joined: 12/24/2005
From: None of your business
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici

so I got a new flat screen tv, a smaller one as the LR is not big enough for the whole surroundsound experience--love the tv but the sound is puny--so I got a set of small external speakers, but they didn't come with "connectors"-I need something with red ends and something with black ends--connect like the cable wire does--what do I need to get?

Take a picture of it and post it.

Don't buy the wires at radio shack or bestbuy. I have probably every type of connector there is, I'd sell you cheap, or buy them on ebay. Radio shack charges like 14.00 dollars for a usb cable for crying out loud, that is a 2.00 dollar item. If you must have your cables immediately Radio Shack is the last place to go, at least around here, highway robbery would be more pleasant.

Anyway, if you post a pic, it'd be easy to tell you the wires.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/18/2009 12:36:47 AM   
MrRodgers


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quote:

ORIGINAL: ThatDamnedPanda

Cat, I had another thought. Do you have cable or satellite? Because if you do, you're better off using the audio output on the back of your satellite receiver or cable box. Run the RCA cables straight to your stereo. The only reason you'd need the outputs on the TV is if you still use an antenna. 

Yes, good idea because this way, when you mute the TV it will not mute your source and sound will be recorded should you wish.

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RE: Need some speaker connection advice - 3/18/2009 12:44:58 AM   
Estring


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Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline 		The black and red connectors on your speakers are the positive and negative connectors that connect to speaker wire. Unless you have an eternal speaker connection on your tv (doubtful), you cannot use the speakers with your tv without an external amplifier.

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