What's the cheapest way to improve volume of my TV?

Badbark · 29-04-2008, 10:38

This is a bit of an unusual request but I hope someone here can help. I have a Sony Wega Trinitron 32” TV about 6 years old. I use SKY + to record movies and watch them back daily while I work out on a rowing machine. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn’t as good on playback (I’ve checked SKY+ forums and this can’t be helped) and due to the rowing machine noise I find it difficult hearing conversations on movies.

I’m having financial difficulties so I don’t have much money to spend. What I’m looking for is the cheapest way to boast my volume by about 10 –20%. The quality doesn’t have to be good just as long as I can hear it.

There are so many speakers available I don’t know were to begin. Would the £30 speakers you find on Ebay be good enough?

broadz · 29-04-2008, 10:52

You'll almost certainly need an amp as well as speakers. Speakers alone don't amplify sound - all they do is produce sound from the source that is sent to them. If your TV allows you to connect external speakers rather than using the ones built into the TV, is there anything to suggest that the audio that these speakers output will be any louder?

Assuming the answer to the above is no, you need to look at buying an amplifier or receiver that allows auxiliary input, plus a couple of speakers (or more) to connect to the amp. At that point, whether you feed the audio from the TV to the amp (stereo only) or whether you feed the audio from the Sky box to the amp (DD5.1 on the movies, stereo on everything else) is down to you.

Cobson · 29-04-2008, 12:08

headphones ?

blueacid · 29-04-2008, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobson

headphones ?

Yes, a decent set of headphones and perhaps an extension cable! Depends how long you're working for though. Also, extension speakers might work, as you could position them either side of you when you're on the machine, giving you clear sound.

soulboy77 · 29-04-2008, 12:53

As per the previous two posts, headphones are the obvious answer. Perhaps a set of wireless ones to avoid having the cable snagging on the rowing machine.

KevIW · 29-04-2008, 13:35

Yep cordless headphones the way to go!

£35

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...&Submit=GO+%3E

Chorley Matt · 29-04-2008, 13:37

You may also want to consider Active Speakers - probably more suitable than headphones as you're constantly moving back and forth on the rowing machine.

Good ones are expensive but take a look at somewhere like Maplins who do some cheaper ones.

29-04-2008, 10:38	#1
Badbark Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2	What's the cheapest way to improve volume of my TV? This is a bit of an unusual request but I hope someone here can help. I have a Sony Wega Trinitron 32” TV about 6 years old. I use SKY + to record movies and watch them back daily while I work out on a rowing machine. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn’t as good on playback (I’ve checked SKY+ forums and this can’t be helped) and due to the rowing machine noise I find it difficult hearing conversations on movies. I’m having financial difficulties so I don’t have much money to spend. What I’m looking for is the cheapest way to boast my volume by about 10 –20%. The quality doesn’t have to be good just as long as I can hear it. There are so many speakers available I don’t know were to begin. Would the £30 speakers you find on Ebay be good enough?

29-04-2008, 10:52	#2
broadz Banned User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,313	You'll almost certainly need an amp as well as speakers. Speakers alone don't amplify sound - all they do is produce sound from the source that is sent to them. If your TV allows you to connect external speakers rather than using the ones built into the TV, is there anything to suggest that the audio that these speakers output will be any louder? Assuming the answer to the above is no, you need to look at buying an amplifier or receiver that allows auxiliary input, plus a couple of speakers (or more) to connect to the amp. At that point, whether you feed the audio from the TV to the amp (stereo only) or whether you feed the audio from the Sky box to the amp (DD5.1 on the movies, stereo on everything else) is down to you.

29-04-2008, 12:08	#3
Cobson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 578	headphones ?

29-04-2008, 12:18	#4
blueacid Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,536	Quote: Originally Posted by Cobson headphones ? Yes, a decent set of headphones and perhaps an extension cable! Depends how long you're working for though. Also, extension speakers might work, as you could position them either side of you when you're on the machine, giving you clear sound.

29-04-2008, 12:53	#5
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	As per the previous two posts, headphones are the obvious answer. Perhaps a set of wireless ones to avoid having the cable snagging on the rowing machine.

29-04-2008, 13:35	#6
KevIW Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Isle Of Wight Posts: 79	Yep cordless headphones the way to go! £35 http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...&Submit=GO+%3E

29-04-2008, 13:37	#7
Chorley Matt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wigan, Lancs. Posts: 265	You may also want to consider Active Speakers - probably more suitable than headphones as you're constantly moving back and forth on the rowing machine. Good ones are expensive but take a look at somewhere like Maplins who do some cheaper ones.

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What's the cheapest way to improve volume of my TV?