Speakers

[Irishman]

Whilst I know that this is not exclusively a question relating to Apple products,I am hoping some of you are well up on sound might be able to help.When I bought Apple TV some weeks ago,I discovered that the television was older technology wise than I thought and I had to buy a new one.Now Murphy's Law being what it is,my speakers from hi fi system are both out dated and indeed huge and am looking to see can I get a system going that will work for both TV and hi fi.Is there a way to link both hi fi (Rotel amp) and TV to the one speakers.Unfortunately because I couldn't buy a huge TV,the one I bought is not bluetooth and so that rules out something worked that way.As I say,just wondering would anyone have suggestions as to how to get it all working together.I ask because specialist hi fi shops are a thing of the past in Dublin and it is all now franchises in department stores with little or no info/advice available.Thanks

 

[Slydude]

Can you tell us a bit more about your gear? The specific model number of the amp/receiver, for example will give us an idea what audio inputs and outputs are available for possible connections.

 

[Irishman]

Thank you Sylverster.The amp is a Rotel RA-01.

 

[bobtomay]

Easiest way is going to be checking the TV audio output and hope it has a stereo RCA output and use that.

Unfortunately, with 5.1 audio being the new standard, most TVs only have optical audio output today, same as the Apple TV.

In the latter case, you will need a digital to analog audio converter to get the sound to your speakers.
Here's just a quick search at Amazon UK - link.
I'd connect it between the Apple TV and the Rotel.

Along with the converter, you'll need an optical (toslink) cable from ATV to converter and a standard old stereo RCA cable (which you probably have plenty of already) from converter to the Rotel.

 

[RadDave]

Thank you Sylverster.The amp is a Rotel RA-01.

Hi Irishman - I'm sure that Bobtomay's post should provide you w/ the information needed to decide on a speaker setup. But, I went through the same decision(s) in the fall of 2011 when I bought a LG 42" HDTV & a Sony Blu-ray player. My previous AV arrangement was a SDTV (CRT) w/ RCA audio outputs which I ran (under the floor) to my NAD receiver which was on the opposite wall, and has a similar appearance to the back of your Rotel machine (attached pic).

My new TV had only 2 audio output options, i.e. Toslink digital optical & headphone jack; no RCA outputs which would have been EASY! With the proper adapter I did get the headphone jack connected but was not happy w/ the sound. I reviewed a bunch of Toslink digital-analog adapters but some of the comments (on Amazon) where negative, so I was not sure if that option would work. SO, at the moment I have a Boston Acoustics sound bar attached to the TV via Toslink - a couple of months ago the BT to the sub-woofer stopped functioning and the unit was out of warranty, so now I must reconsider an alternative although the sound is still quite spectacular.

Thus, another option is to purchase a sound bar for the TV, if a consideration - good luck! Dave

 

[Irishman]

Thank you Slydude,Bobtomay and RadDave.I found a hi fi dealership quite by accident in an industrial estate I was in dealing with something else and they recommended the trial of a headphone jack to rca for now,giving me a loan of one of theirs.Apparently it is the connections on the amp which is preventing me from using the normal cable sold for taking sound from the optical output on the TV to it .Not sure if there are other options but they didn't have them anyway.t brought home the cable an tried it and it's great.The speakers,old pioneer jobs,are far better than the TV speakers.The downside...lazy downside is that the amp doesn't have a remote so it is up and down from the couch for volume change !! I think the next step might have to be consideration of a surround system.Not sure how that will go down.I did listen to some Dali bookshelf speakers in the showroom....very nice.I might have a look at a sound bar Bobtomay seeing that can come from the TV.Would it be possible to get sound to it although the sound to the TV speakers is gone because of the headphone jack? Thanks again everybody.Larry

 

[RadDave]

........brought home the cable an tried it and it's great.The speakers,old pioneer jobs,are far better than the TV speakers.The downside...lazy downside is that the amp doesn't have a remote so it is up and down from the couch for volume change !! I think the next step might have to be consideration of a surround system.Not sure how that will go down.I did listen to some Dali bookshelf speakers in the showroom....very nice.I might have a look at a sound bar Bobtomay seeing that can come from the TV.Would it be possible to get sound to it although the sound to the TV speakers is gone because of the headphone jack? Thanks again everybody.Larry

Hi Larry - well the TV's headphone jack (mini-stereo plug to RCA w/ adapter) has worked for me; have you tried the TV's volume control to adjust the sound levels to your amp?

If you go w/ a soundbar, the Toslink digital audio output from the TV should just plug into the unit - for me I mute the TV's speakers anyway - if you buy a good soundbar then there is no need for the smaller & poorer sounding speakers on the TV. Dave

 

[Irishman]

Thanks Dave.No, unfortunately the volume control on the TV remote can't change the volume and it has to be done from the amp.I must admit to feeling slightly foolish when I got home and realised that of course the TV speakers won't work because the headphone jack is in.A 'duh' moment.But the sound from the speakers is far better than the TV speakers so that's great.Will definitely be thinking sound bar.Thanks again.

 

[bobtomay]

Those old Pioneers through the Rotel are likely better sounding than a $500 sound bar.

Wanting to try a sound bar and your Pioneers, you would need a splitter.
I assume you're using something like this?

Makes it a little hard because you're using that stereo mini-plug on one end.
Perhaps a couple of these along with two more standard RCA cables - link.

 

[Irishman]

That's what I'm using alright bobtomay.Interesting that you reckon the Pioneers would be better than the sound bar.A case of "far away hills being greener" with me maybe.I'll take your advice and stick with the Pioneers for now.The improvement on the TV sound will do for now although those Dali Sensors sure sounded good.I am going to get the Pioneers rewired as through the years,there was 'extensions' and I say that lightly,added on.Copper wire twisted and taped sort of thing..not good.The only thing is the units seemed to be a sealed version so will bring them to this recently discovered hi fi place as they seem very fair.Getting on for midnight here..bed calls.

 

[Slydude]

. . . they recommended the trial of a headphone jack to rca for now,giving me a loan of one of theirs.

When you connect this way what does the result sound like? If it sounds like it might be coming through in mono Check the 3.5 (headphone jack) end of the cable. If it has two black lines at the tip (like this one) it's a stereo cable. If it doesn't have that it's a mono cable.

 

[Irishman]

Yes Slydude.Thankfully it's stereo.Thanks everybody.Much appreciated.