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What are my best theater options considering my TV's connections and my budget?

Tags:
  • TV
  • Home Theatre
  • Speakers
  • Audio
Last response: in Audio
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June 17, 2014 7:16:35 PM

My TV's speakers aren't great and I'm looking for a marginal upgrade on a budget. I've used computer speakers that connect view 3.5mm or USB, but I don't understand my TV's connectors very well. It looks like my audio-out options are:

1) "Digital Audio Out (Optical)"
2) "Audio Out (Fix) R/L" - analog, looks a bit like two composite ports.

What speakers would use each output? I happen to have two big old speakers with the analog wires that you connect by lifting a latch and putting the frayed ends in. Can they be hooked up somehow? If not, could you point me to a speaker set that could get the job done for under $50? I suppose I'd need a center channel, as well. I'm not an audiophile and my living room is small, but I'd like to do better than the TV speakers.

Thanks.

More about : theater options connections budget

Best solution

a b x TV
June 19, 2014 11:44:31 AM

If you want to use the big old speakers you will need an amplifier of some kind to power them. It can be a old stereo or receiver, integrated amp, or basic amp. Since your TV has analog RCA outputs you can use anything. Here are some examples:
http://www.parts-express.com/cat/amplifiers/106
No center channel needed.
If you want surround sound then you will need a surround sound receiver to use with the speakers (which can connect with either of the two outputs) or an all in one 5.1 speaker setup which will accept the optical digital audio output.

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