Telly query

[swee'pea99]

This isn't a computer thing but I suppose it is 'electric'...

I have remote speakers attached to my Sony Trinitron. When the remotes are going, the tv speakers go dead. The only way I can get the tv speakers working is to disconnect the remotes. I've tried playing with the avaiolable options on the sound menu, but nothing seems to make any difference. Does anyone out there know how I can get the telly speakers and remotes going simultaneously? Thanks if you can help.

 

[marinyork]

Yes. You need a sound system.

 

[derall]

If you're plugging the speakers into a headphone socket, then generally no, there's no way around the problem. There are one or two TVs around that don't cut the TV speakers when you connect speakers / headphones to the headphone jack - designed to allow hard-of-hearing people to listen through headphones whilst other family members listen to the regular TV speakers. These are few and far between nowadays, and you'll probably as marinyork says, need a sound system connected to the audio out rather than the headphone jack.

 

[swee'pea99]

Hi

Nope, it's not a headphone socket. There are audio-out sockets...the thing came with remote speakers. I just thought it would work on both simultaneously. Maybe not.

 

[sheddy]

If its an older set it may have stereo analog (phono) sockets, which you can plug into any Hi-fi Amp, the TV speakers will still work and you can balance the sound as you wish.

 

[beanzontoast]

If its an older set it may have stereo analog (phono) sockets, which you can plug into any Hi-fi Amp, the TV speakers will still work and you can balance the sound as you wish.

We've tried this, and though it works, it's not brilliant because the sound quality from the tv speakers and that from the hi-fi is quite different. I suppose it depends on exactly what tv and what hi-fi you have though.

 

[swee'pea99]

Because (and this is why the hi-fi connection - tho' doable - doesn't really answer) I'd like to have a kind of sound-surround thing going, especially for movies, where sometimes it's good to get 'immersed'. At the moment I'v got the extension speakers behind the sofa, which is fine, but I just thought it would be good - if I could - to get the telly ones coming from (obviously) in front, as well. It just seemed odd to me that Sony would supply a telly with remote speakers that couldn't have the unit ones going at the same time. I assumed I was overlooking something really obvious, and someone could say 'Oh, just go to x on the sound menu and y'....apparently not.

But thanks for all suggestions - appreciated.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

If the phono outputs a signal leaving the built in TV speakers working you could buy/make a cable twin phono male to 3.5mm socket or 1/4 inch jack socket and plug the speakers into that. I've made lots of stuff like this before but I don't work for the same company anymore and don't have access to these types of connectors otherwise I'd offer a freebie. You might be able to buy something like this from maplin or if you're good with a soldering iron you could buy the bits and make one.

 

[swee'pea99]

Ah - that's an interesting bit of lateral thinking! Hmmm. Not sure even where the phono is - assuming there is one, but I'm sure there would be. Would it have enough grunt to power 2 x 2w speakers?

 

[swee'pea99]

'pennies'? Most of that stuff costs more than I paid for the telly! (Thanks anyway.)

 

[Ghost Donkey]

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/av.jpg[/IMG]

The Yellow one is for video. You do not need to use video and audio together and can use just the video or audio as and when required. If you have phono sockets you could use an adapter like the one here for £2.50. This is presuming the speakers connect to a socket this size (3.5mm stereo (3 pole) jack). I found this by google search and haven't used the company and can't vouch for them but it gives you an example of the adaptor you would need if you have a phono output on your telly. If the speakers connect to a different sized socket, maybe a 1/4" jack, there is most likely an adapter for that too. I can't vouch for any phono sockets on your telly working at the same time as the built in speakers but I haven't come across a telly with phono sockets that don't. Jack plugs by design break a physical circuit when a plug is inserted into the socket. Phono sockets don't. Some AV equipment is wired so that a jack plug does not affect other outputs, some don't. Nice and none committal from me then

 

[Ghost Donkey]

Had another thoguth a bit later. I expect the external speaker output will be manipulated by the volume control thesame way the built in speakers are, especially if they share the same circuit. Any phono output would be at a constant volume. This is usually used as an imput to an external bit of kit, such as an amp. If this worked and there was enough output to power the speakers they would have only one volume, which is a bit pants.