Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
#1
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
Okay, I'm new to this Home Theater stuff, so forgive my ignorance, please. I've done some Googling and I haven't seen much in the way of my surround sound cables. I'm currently buying a new TV for my room and I was going to ask for some cheap surround sound stuff for Christmas, I just don't know what's going to be compatible.
The TV I'm buying appears to have composite, component, and a green TRS 1/8" input on it. Does this accommodate most surround sound systems? And my second question, would a computer surround sound system (Like amazon.com/Creative-Inspire-Surround-Speaker-System/dp/B000LIDLV6/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248243120&sr=8-10 this) hook up through the TRS inputs or through the component/composite inputs?
Thanks in advance for your help. I really appreciate it.
The TV I'm buying appears to have composite, component, and a green TRS 1/8" input on it. Does this accommodate most surround sound systems? And my second question, would a computer surround sound system (Like amazon.com/Creative-Inspire-Surround-Speaker-System/dp/B000LIDLV6/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248243120&sr=8-10 this) hook up through the TRS inputs or through the component/composite inputs?
Thanks in advance for your help. I really appreciate it.
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
Wiki tells me no [ I had no idea what a TRS connector was].
What TV is it? For the life of me I can't figure out what inputs that speaker set takes. Creatives webpage is useless as well for that. I'll assume 5.1 analog inputs - something your TV will not have. You'd need a a player or receiver that would output and/or process those.
I'm not saying buy these, but for comparison you'll notice how this set how a controller module that accomplishes some of what I described.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/sp...s/224&cl=us,en
What TV is it? For the life of me I can't figure out what inputs that speaker set takes. Creatives webpage is useless as well for that. I'll assume 5.1 analog inputs - something your TV will not have. You'd need a a player or receiver that would output and/or process those.
I'm not saying buy these, but for comparison you'll notice how this set how a controller module that accomplishes some of what I described.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/sp...s/224&cl=us,en
#3
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
Essentially, its a computer screen with television parts (Composite, component, cable, HDMI etc). Would the controller go into the component inputs then? I really hope its that simple, lol.
#4
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bloomington, IN
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
RMakoto you should spend the time to read the FAQ in this section of the forum. You need to understand the basics of TV connections, DVD, and surround sound receivers. You can use computer type speakers, I dont recommend it unless you are sitting close to your tv and speakers. Computer speakers are designed to be "near field" ie sitting 2-3 feet from them. Most surround sound systems are designed to fill a whole room.
If you post the specific model of TV I would be interested in the connections, most digital tv's have analog audio out and digital audio out. You would want to use the digital audio out for the best sound and highest quality surround. The FAQ explains the different surround sound formats but you cant get most of them through stereo analog outputs. The digital connection will come through the HDMI, optical output, or digital coaxial. You would then need a surround sound system typically in a home theater setup it would start with a Receiver, the reciever would then connect to the sub and speakers.
The logitech setup linked above offers optical and coaxial digital inputs as well as 6 channel analog inputs. Typcially computer sound cards will use the analog outputs but some have digital connector or some have both.
To summarize read the FAQ, determine what OUTPUTS the TV has and make sure your surround sound setup has the corresponding INPUTS. You will also want to think about connecting a DVD or Bluray player and its OUTPUTS.
If you post the specific model of TV I would be interested in the connections, most digital tv's have analog audio out and digital audio out. You would want to use the digital audio out for the best sound and highest quality surround. The FAQ explains the different surround sound formats but you cant get most of them through stereo analog outputs. The digital connection will come through the HDMI, optical output, or digital coaxial. You would then need a surround sound system typically in a home theater setup it would start with a Receiver, the reciever would then connect to the sub and speakers.
The logitech setup linked above offers optical and coaxial digital inputs as well as 6 channel analog inputs. Typcially computer sound cards will use the analog outputs but some have digital connector or some have both.
To summarize read the FAQ, determine what OUTPUTS the TV has and make sure your surround sound setup has the corresponding INPUTS. You will also want to think about connecting a DVD or Bluray player and its OUTPUTS.
#5
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
RMakoto you should spend the time to read the FAQ in this section of the forum. You need to understand the basics of TV connections, DVD, and surround sound receivers. You can use computer type speakers, I dont recommend it unless you are sitting close to your tv and speakers. Computer speakers are designed to be "near field" ie sitting 2-3 feet from them. Most surround sound systems are designed to fill a whole room.
Computer speakers are fine for me. Its for my room and since I'm a teenager and have a limited budget, I'm not willing to spend more $75-$100 on sound.
If you post the specific model of TV I would be interested in the connections, most digital tv's have analog audio out and digital audio out. You would want to use the digital audio out for the best sound and highest quality surround. The FAQ explains the different surround sound formats but you cant get most of them through stereo analog outputs. The digital connection will come through the HDMI, optical output, or digital coaxial. You would then need a surround sound system typically in a home theater setup it would start with a Receiver, the reciever would then connect to the sub and speakers.
It appears that there's USB, HDMI, VGA, a blue and green TRS, YPbPr/Component outputs, RCA/Composite outputs, and a cable output.
Anyways, I'm assuming that then the receiver plugs into the Component outputs, and I plug my surround sound speakers into the receiver? If that's true, then I believe my question is answered.
The logitech setup linked above offers optical and coaxial digital inputs as well as 6 channel analog inputs. Typcially computer sound cards will use the analog outputs but some have digital connector or some have both.
To summarize read the FAQ, determine what OUTPUTS the TV has and make sure your surround sound setup has the corresponding INPUTS. You will also want to think about connecting a DVD or Bluray player and its OUTPUTS.
Anyways, thanks for the help.
#6
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bloomington, IN
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
The TV has both analog stereo out and coaxial digital (also called SPDIF). The component YPbPr/ RCA's are VIDEO INPUTS, they would allow connection of a game system, cable box, dvd player, etc. They are NOT used for audio. The Red/White RCA's are analog stereo, I cant tell from the picture if they are in or out, doesnt matter wouldnt use them. For the setup you mention you should try to use the coaxial digital out the orange rca (might be labeled SPDIF Out). The Xbox will send digital videa and audio via the HDMI to the TV, the TV will output the digital audio to the coaxial digital output. You should connect the coaxial digital output to the sound system.
Now on the sound system you wont get anything worth having for $75. I would stick with the TV speakers if thats the budget. The logitech system above is a good system for a bedroom but its about $300.
Now on the sound system you wont get anything worth having for $75. I would stick with the TV speakers if thats the budget. The logitech system above is a good system for a bedroom but its about $300.
#7
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
The TV has both analog stereo out and coaxial digital (also called SPDIF). The component YPbPr/ RCA's are VIDEO INPUTS, they would allow connection of a game system, cable box, dvd player, etc. They are NOT used for audio. The Red/White RCA's are analog stereo, I cant tell from the picture if they are in or out, doesnt matter wouldnt use them. For the setup you mention you should try to use the coaxial digital out the orange rca (might be labeled SPDIF Out). The Xbox will send digital videa and audio via the HDMI to the TV, the TV will output the digital audio to the coaxial digital output. You should connect the coaxial digital output to the sound system.
Now on the sound system you wont get anything worth having for $75. I would stick with the TV speakers if thats the budget. The logitech system above is a good system for a bedroom but its about $300.
#8
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bloomington, IN
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
Yep Im sure. You cannot get surround sound from that speaker system and that TV. That speaker system only has analog surround inputs designed to work with a PC sound card. The TV only has analog stereo outputs, so you could get left/right stereo to that speaker system but that's it no center or surround speaker sound.
#9
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
Yep Im sure. You cannot get surround sound from that speaker system and that TV. That speaker system only has analog surround inputs designed to work with a PC sound card. The TV only has analog stereo outputs, so you could get left/right stereo to that speaker system but that's it no center or surround speaker sound.
#10
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bloomington, IN
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
The cheapest solution that is generally even close to recommended is the Onkyo HTIB (Home theater in a box). Here is one for $324:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3200...8394897&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3200...8394897&sr=8-2
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Surround Sound Cables Inquisition
You could pay that much for a good pair of headphones. I know it sounds lame but cranking up the headphones that have pseudo surround sound in a pitch black room is pretty intense playing certain games or watching movies.




