Best way to improve sound to your TV?

[HappyHippyDad]

I have just fitted a TV in my gym. This will be to use spotify and youtube.

The sound quality isn't great and I want to improve it.

My main objective is to keep it VERY simple and easy to use. I just want to switch the TV on and whatever sound source is involved to instantly be on as well. This excludes a separately plugged in bluetooth speaker as i would need to switch that on as well (maybe I'm being picky).

I bought a JBL 2.0 soundbar which was awful. It was ridiculously quiet. This was a £100 sound bar, are the more expensive ones worth it?

I have read that I could use 'active' or 'self powered' speakers. Again, I just want these to plug into the TV and play. Any recommendations?

Any other ideas?

Technology does gobble up your life!

 

[pc1966]

If you want mucho cheapness then look at some of the PC speakers if your TV has a headphone socket. Advantage is single volume control for the lot and often really simple to use. But don't expect HiFi magic, though mostly they are better than built-in crap.

The external speakers/soundbar that power off really annoy me, just how hard would it be to power back on using the audio signal returning? Also had far too much trouble with stupid systems where you need two controls, or it forgets the correct input if power cycled, etc, etc.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

If you want mucho cheapness then look at some of the PC speakers if your TV has a headphone socket. Advantage is single volume control for the lot and often really simple to use. But don't expect HiFi magic, though mostly they are better than built-in crap.

The external speakers/soundbar that power off really annoy me, just how hard would it be to power back on using the audio signal returning? Also had far too much trouble with stupid systems where you need two controls, or it forgets the correct input if power cycled, etc, etc.

I'm sure the TV will have a headphone socket (is that also called a 3.5mm jack?).

Is it then just as simple as plugging in the 3.5mm jack to the back of the TV? If for instance I buy this one 5.1 channel PC speakers - Cheap 5.1 channel PC speaker Deals | Currys - https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/5.1-channel-pc-speakers/computer-accessories/pc-speakers/318_3062_30081_xx_ba00011110-bv00311348/xx-criteria.html

how do all the other speakers get wired up if there is only one headphone socket? Does one of the speakers have the 3.5mm jack then the others plug in to each other? Never had a sound system before!

If these are PC speakers then I guessing they get there power from the TV and do not need to be plugged in?

 

[DPG]

I'm sure the TV will have a headphone socket (is that also called a 3.5mm jack?).

Is it then just as simple as plugging in the 3.5mm jack to the back of the TV? If for instance I buy this one 5.1 channel PC speakers - Cheap 5.1 channel PC speaker Deals | Currys - https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/5.1-channel-pc-speakers/computer-accessories/pc-speakers/318_3062_30081_xx_ba00011110-bv00311348/xx-criteria.html

how do all the other speakers get wired up if there is only one headphone socket? Does one of the speakers have the 3.5mm jack then the others plug in to each other? Never had a sound system before!

Exactly how mine is set up. There will be an audio in (analogue) on the subwoofer. and the speaker outputs will be on the sub also

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Exactly how mine is set up. There will be an audio in (analogue) on the subwoofer. and the speaker outputs will be on the sub also

oo... this is now looking quite exciting!
So I literally just plug the sub into the TV, using the headphone socket, then all the other speakers plug into the sub?

Then... whenever you switch on the TV, the sound automatically just plays through them?

 

[DPG]

oo... this is now looking quite exciting!
So I literally just plug the sub into the TV, using the headphone socket, then all the other speakers plug into the sub?

Then... whenever you switch on the TV, the sound automatically just plays through them?

Yes, that's it.
You only get 2+1 sound obviously (stereo+sub) since you only have the stereo output of the TV. But get a reasonable quality sub and you will be very happy with the sound.

 

[brianmoooore]

Many modern TVs only have an optical output signal for sound.

 

[DPG]

Many modern TVs only have an optical output signal for sound.

Possibly so, I'm assuming he is going to check he has one.

 

[kropaske]

I'm sure the TV will have a headphone socket (is that also called a 3.5mm jack?).

Is it then just as simple as plugging in the 3.5mm jack to the back of the TV? If for instance I buy this one 5.1 channel PC speakers - Cheap 5.1 channel PC speaker Deals | Currys - https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/5.1-channel-pc-speakers/computer-accessories/pc-speakers/318_3062_30081_xx_ba00011110-bv00311348/xx-criteria.html

how do all the other speakers get wired up if there is only one headphone socket? Does one of the speakers have the 3.5mm jack then the others plug in to each other? Never had a sound system before!

If these are PC speakers then I guessing they get there power from the TV and do not need to be plugged in?

All speakers will plug in to sub, from sub you will have few cables to PC to carry 5.1 signal, in your case you can only use 3.5 jack which will carry 2.0 signal to your sub and I assume this will be spread across all speakers as 2.0 and finally sub will need to be connected to wall socket.

Is it not better to buy dedicated good 2.0 or 2.1 system for Spotify/YouTube (stereo source) instead average 5.1 system which you won't even used it as 5.1?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Possibly so, I'm assuming he is going to check he has one.

I've checked. I have one

 

[HappyHippyDad]

All speakers will plug in to sub, from sub you will have few cables to PC to carry 5.1 signal, in your case you can only use 3.5 jack which will carry 2.0 signal to your sub and I assume this will be spread across all speakers as 2.0 and finally sub will need to be connected to wall socket.

Is it not better to buy dedicated good 2.0 or 2.1 system for Spotify/YouTube (stereo source) instead average 5.1 system which you won't even used it as 5.1?

It probably is, but because I have no idea what you just said, the former idea is still the best.
In the world of stereos and TV's I would say I'm approximately a 5 year old. i was going to say 10, then realised that would be silly.

 

[DPG]

It probably is, but because I have no idea what you just said, the former idea is still the best.
In the world of stereos and TV's I would say I'm approximately a 5 year old. i was going to say 10, then realised that would be silly.

Just ignore the rear outputs. It is not compulsory to use them.

 

[pc1966]

It probably is, but because I have no idea what you just said, the former idea is still the best.
In the world of stereos and TV's I would say I'm approximately a 5 year old. i was going to say 10, then realised that would be silly.

The 2+1 means stereo (2) and a separate sub-woofer (1) while the 5+1 has 3 front (left/centre/right) and 2 rear speakers (L/R) for surround effects, plus the sub-woofer again for low bass (that is not perceived as directional).

For most things like music, etc, 2+1 is perfectly good.

 

[littlespark]

I’m not so up on getting hifi quality from a tv…. Hifi is designed for music….
All I really need is a tv that doesn’t make talking very quiet and explosions very loud when watching tv.

 

[DPG]

I’m not so up on getting hifi quality from a tv…. Hifi is designed for music….
All I really need is a tv that doesn’t make talking very quiet and explosions very loud when watching tv.

I use mine to stream music to from my phone. Either stream from my network drive or from youtube. So need decent sound. Admittedly not strictly hifi, but very good.

 

[Zerax]

A slight aside, so apologies... but I took a smart phone apart a couple of years ago (it was totally knackered anyway)... and was amazed to see that in the speaker section they'd used real wood ! In this modern era of advanced plastics, composites and carbon fibre etc. etc.. the best material is still wood !