[Nigel Goodwin]

There's been a lot recently about the poor sound on modern TV's, so I've been having a play

I've had an active sub-woofer come in for repair, which appears to work no problem - so I thought I'd test it on a modern TV.

I've got a Sony KDL40EX403 on test, so connected a 3.5mm jack to two phonos lead from the headphone socket to the sub. I then set the TV to use the headphone socket as a variable line output (this means it doesn't mute the internal speakers.

As you would expect - it sounds great

If your TV has a variable audio output that doesn't mute the internal speakers, and you have a spare active sub, it's a simple and effective solution.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

With more and more people turning to watching HD content then I think most people tend to go for 5.1/7.1 SS but as you say, adding a bass makes all the difference to the sound. It's my thinking (and some others) that perhaps in the future, manufacturers will do away with internal speakers on new large screen slim tv's and perhaps include a sound bar with more expensive models. I use a home cinema while viewing as I cant stand the rubbish sound that comes from the tv's internal speakers. I turned them off in settings.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

perhaps in the future, manufacturers will do away with internal speakers on new large screen slim tv's and perhaps include a sound bar with more expensive models.

I can't see it happening - such types of monitors have always failed in the past.

But essentially it's already done now, just that the sets include speakers - but too small to be of any real use.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

Fair enough Nigel but I suppose what I'm getting at is why include something that (as you say) are pretty useless.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

Fair enough Nigel but I suppose what I'm getting at is why include something that (as you say) are pretty useless.

Because we posting here are not representative of the mythical "man in the street". We do care about how stuff sounds but personal experience suggests that this "man in the street" couldn't give a monkeys about how his flashy new telly sounds.

As long as it has a massive screen and more buttons on the remote than the flight deck of Concorde he is happy. The fact it has a pair of 1in speakers that sound as if they are made from the cardboard Kelloggs rejected for their Corn Flakes boxes is neither her nor there.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

Fair enough Nigel but I suppose what I'm getting at is why include something that (as you say) are pretty useless.

Because with internal speakers it's a 'Television', without them it's a 'Monitor' - the general public buy TV's, they don't buy Monitors.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

ok point taken from both

[TheVoid]

Just buy some PC speakers, put them into the headphone jack on the TV, and you have yourself a 2.1 system.

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

which probs sounds pants but which, I guess is better than the tv's internal speakers

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

which probs sounds pants but which, I guess is better than the tv's internal speakers

Actually they usually sound pretty good - better than most CRT sets ever did.

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

which probs sounds pants but which, I guess is better than the tv's internal speakers

There are some really high quality speakers around for PC's, you have to pay a bit more but they can be very good.

Not all tinny toys

http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...-tested-965804

[TheVoid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

which probs sounds pants but which, I guess is better than the tv's internal speakers

Not if you invest some money in some good ones like I did. I spent £50 on a pair and they are really good.

[Deacon1972]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxBlaKOuTZxX

which probs sounds pants but which, I guess is better than the tv's internal speakers

I'm very particular whan it comes to AV quality, so when I paid £22 for a budget 2.1 system at Morrisons to go with the 32" LCD in the conservatory I wasn't confident it was going to sound any good, but I tell you what, it's a lovely little system, in fact I'd say it sounded better than any onboard audio system of any flat TV.

[TheVoid]

I recently bought these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hercules-XPS...7114299&sr=8-2

These go with my main HDTV in the lounge and they sound great, especially with games and music. They just plug into the headphone socket.

[soulboy22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVoid

I recently bought these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hercules-XPS...7114299&sr=8-2

These go with my main HDTV in the lounge and they sound great, especially with games and music. They just plug into the headphone socket.

Hi There,

these look great, thinking about them for my new plasma, out of interest do you have any idea how tall the satellite speakers are? I would like to find out if I could fit them into my set up.
Many Thanks

[TheVoid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy22

Hi There,

these look great, thinking about them for my new plasma, out of interest do you have any idea how tall the satellite speakers are? I would like to find out if I could fit them into my set up.
Many Thanks

Satellite dimensions: 19.5 (H) x 10.5 (W) x 9.5 (D) cm

Subwoofer dimensions : 22.5 (H) x 21.5 (W) x 23 (D) cm

Here's a link to the product:

http://www.hercules.com/uk/Speakers/...uct_tech_carac

I had a pair of Hercules before these but one of them broke. Got over 3 years constant use out of them though.

These Bassboost ones for £50 are a bargain. Just be warned there's only an on/off switch on the back of the sub though.

They go really loud with heavy bass too, brilliant. But you can of course have them low volume with no bass if you wanted. The right speaker has volume and bass control on there which I was pleased about as usually the bass volume is on the back of the sub.

These go great with my TV anyway.

[soulboy22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVoid

Satellite dimensions: 19.5 (H) x 10.5 (W) x 9.5 (D) cm

Subwoofer dimensions : 22.5 (H) x 21.5 (W) x 23 (D) cm

Here's a link to the product:

http://www.hercules.com/uk/Speakers/...uct_tech_carac

I had a pair of Hercules before these but one of them broke. Got over 3 years constant use out of them though.

These Bassboost ones for £50 are a bargain. Just be warned there's only an on/off switch on the back of the sub though.

They go really loud with heavy bass too, brilliant. But you can of course have them low volume with no bass if you wanted. The right speaker has volume and bass control on there which I was pleased about as usually the bass volume is on the back of the sub.

These go great with my TV anyway.

Many Thanks for the info

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

I stand corrected then

[skinj]

I don't think it's too far fetched to see TVs coming without integrated speakers in the near future.
However there is the likelihood that Panasonic, Samsung, Sony or whoever will revert back selling screens with separate tuners that also incorporate the receiver/amp section of a Home-Cinema.
It's the next logical step as they try to make the screens thinner & thinner, as it already almost impossible to connect things to the current flat panel TV's.
To the average customer it makes no difference if the tuner & a/v inputs are on the screen or in a tuner. To those that it does matter too the, chances are the majority would prefer less cables to run to the screen.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinj

I don't think it's too far fetched to see TVs coming without integrated speakers in the near future.

I do, it's been a complete and utter failure every time it's been tried previously - I see no reason to imagine it would be any different now?.

Quote:

However there is the likelihood that Panasonic, Samsung, Sony or whoever will revert back selling screens with separate tuners that also incorporate the receiver/amp section of a Home-Cinema.

Even less likely - it's the old 'old your eggs in one basket' problem again.

There were a few sets with wirelessly connected tuners/inputs - but EU Legislation now prevents their sale

Great shame, as they were excellent for wall mounting.

[thms]

you might be interested in this tv with a separate tuner

http://www.trustedreviews.com/sharp-...-tvs_TV_review

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thms

you might be interested in this tv with a separate tuner

http://www.trustedreviews.com/sharp-...-tvs_TV_review

Notice there's no suggestion of a UK (or EU) launch date - just a vague suggestion that it 'might be in the future'.

Previous wireless sets were discontinued because they don't meet EU energy requirements, this may fall foul of the same legislation?.

[webbie]

I'd rather they discontinued the EU energy requirements.

[alan1302]

Quote:

Originally Posted by webbie

I'd rather they discontinued the EU energy requirements.

Why? Stops manufactueres selling inefficient goods and sets a standard

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan1302

Why? Stops manufactueres selling inefficient goods and sets a standard

Probably because the standards are excessive?.

It's not particularly a question of 'efficient' it's a question of making certain useful features (such as wireless TV's) impossible.