You may not need a new audio receiver to go with your new TV!

I just bought a new 65 inch LCD 3D tv.

I then thought I needed to upgrade my 10-year old Sony receiver, since it doesn't have any HDMI inputs.

I hooked my tv up with all new high-speed HDMI cables to the PS3, cable, and 3D blu-ray player, and used component cables to hook up the Wii, and everything worked great, except the sound was no longer going to my reciever, just the TV. I assume the HDMIs took over and turned off the basic audio out on each device.

So, I began my search for a new receiver with 3D capability, at least 4 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, and a few regular video inputs. The prices ranged from $250 - $500. I looked around on my lunchbreak a few times and had one narrowed down, and was about to plunk down at least $275.

Then it hit me!!! I do NOT need a new reveiver!!!

I remembered seeing "audio out" inputs on the back of my tv... could I just put whatever sound was coming from the TV out into my receiver? It was worth a try! and it worked!!

I just saved close to $300!

The TV works just fine on it's own, and I do not need the receiver to be on to watch and listen to anything. But when I want real surround sound, I lower the volume on the TV and turn on the receiver, and I no longer have to change inputs on the receiver, since I'm only using one input.

This is way better than purchasing a new receiver, because if everthing went thru the receiver, then it would probably have to be on all the time, and that would just make things complicated, especially for the wife and kids.

Bill

Many times this TV audio out is not the full bandwidth / not DTS / DD5.1 etc. I'd be concerned about that. Glad to hear you saved yourself $300 though!

I came to the same conclusion a couple years ago with my old Onkyo receiver.

My tv, a Samsung, had an optical out (TOSlink)... It supported 5.1 for broadcast TV, but only stereo (2 ch) for all other sources. It turns out that for my case it didn't matter -- all I had to route this way was the wii anyway, and it's 2 channel already. The PS3 I have hooked up to the TV with HDMI, and the receiver with, again, optical out. I could run into trouble if I had any more digital sources I wanted to keep digital, but for now I'm just fine.

BTW, a Harmony remote made the configuration much more usable to my family, who would probably have really struggled otherwise.

Quote from billd : I just bought a new 65 inch LCD 3D tv. I then thought I needed to upgrade my 10-year old Sony receiver, since it doesn't have any HDMI inputs. I hooked my tv up with all new high-speed HDMI cables to the PS3, cable, and 3D blu-ray player, and used component cables to hook up the Wii, and everything worked great, except the sound was no longer going to my reciever, just the TV. I assume the HDMIs took over and turned off the basic audio out on each device. So, I began my search for a new receiver with 3D capability, at least 4 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, and a few regular video inputs. The prices ranged from $250 - $500. I looked around on my lunchbreak a few times and had one narrowed down, and was about to plunk down at least $275. Then it hit me!!! I do NOT need a new reveiver!!! I remembered seeing "audio out" inputs on the back of my tv... could I just put whatever sound was coming from the TV out into my receiver? It was worth a try! and it worked!! I just saved close to $300! The TV works just fine on it's own, and I do not need the receiver to be on to watch and listen to anything. But when I want real surround sound, I lower the volume on the TV and turn on the receiver, and I no longer have to change inputs on the receiver, since I'm only using one input. This is way better than purchasing a new receiver, because if everthing went thru the receiver, then it would probably have to be on all the time, and that would just make things complicated, especially for the wife and kids. Bill

This is a great solution if you want to lose all Dolby Digital, DTS, and HD-audio recordings.

Hook all your devices up as directly to your receiver as possible. Then, hook up your receiver to the TV using the video out ports (you may need one for HDMI connections and another for component/composite). Then, enjoy sound that's WAAAAY better than what you're currently getting.

Quote from bonkman : This is a great solution if you want to lose all Dolby Digital, DTS, and HD-audio recordings. Hook all your devices up as directly to your receiver as possible. Then, hook up your receiver to the TV using the video out ports (you may need one for HDMI connections and another for component/composite). Then, enjoy sound that's WAAAAY better than what you're currently getting.

Or, with an old receiver with no HDMI, hook up the video connections to the TV and the audio connections to the receiver. Use a Logitech Harmony remote to keep everything simple as far as switching inputs, etc, as mentioned.

Quote from mmathis : Or, with an old receiver with no HDMI, hook up the video connections to the TV and the audio connections to the receiver. Use a Logitech Harmony remote to keep everything simple as far as switching inputs, etc, as mentioned.

absolutely. though he then misses out on hd-audio.

but dd/dts is a huge step up from remixed stereo.

this woks sometimes. On my new LG, when i hook it up like that, the audio isn't synced up just right.

I run two Altec wireless speaker systems from the audio out on my Samsung TV and it works like a charm.
I'm more than satisfied with the regular stereo sound. As it is, playing a movie with more dynamic sound, can scare the pants off me when a loud thing happens, like a bomb exploding, or whatever.
Surround sound would leave me looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.
I like a bit of distance between my reality and the stuff on my TV.
I may be part of a minority and y'all might even laugh at me for not wanting the full surround experience, but that's just the way it is for me.
I'm much happier with $800 of good quality American made speakers than I would be with a full surround sound Asian made system with a bunch of white noise speakers.
Sometimes, quality is better than quantity.

Quote from RockySosua : I run two Altec wireless speaker systems from the audio out on my Samsung TV and it works like a charm. I'm more than satisfied with the regular stereo sound. As it is, playing a movie with more dynamic sound, can scare the pants off me when a loud thing happens, like a bomb exploding, or whatever. Surround sound would leave me looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I like a bit of distance between my reality and the stuff on my TV. I may be part of a minority and y'all might even laugh at me for not wanting the full surround experience, but that's just the way it is for me. I'm much happier with $800 of good quality American made speakers than I would be with a full surround sound Asian made system with a bunch of white noise speakers. Sometimes, quality is better than quantity.

My sentiments exactly...I hate Surround...

Quote from billd : This is way better than purchasing a new receiver, because if everthing went thru the receiver, then it would probably have to be on all the time, and that would just make things complicated, especially for the wife and kids.

This is why people buy those expensive logitech remote control for. It simplify everything, turns on the correct devices and switch to the proper input for you. It's extremely simple once you set it up correctly

Using audio out from TV to receiver will most likely only give you 2.1 audio. If you don't care about surround sound then sure ... go with that option. But for people like me with a 7.1 speakers setup, can't cheap out on a receiver

Quote from fenderman : My sentiments exactly...I hate Surround...

then why would you buy a surround sound system or receiver like the OP?

I don't know how anyone can "hate" surround sound. If you have just the TV speakers on the sound is coming from one spot, turn the surround on and it fills the room, what's not to like? If you don't like sound coming from behind you, don't use rear speakers, or place them more to the front.

My setup sounds very good, I would never know if it's Dolby Digital, DTS, or HD-audio anyway. If something moves across the screen, and the sound follows with it, I'm good.

Bill

yes sound will come out, but not anywhere near what the device is capable of delivering.

Quote from billd : I don't know how anyone can "hate" surround sound. If you have just the TV speakers on the sound is coming from one spot, turn the surround on and it fills the room, what's not to like? If you don't like sound coming from behind you, don't use rear speakers, or place them more to the front. My setup sounds very good, I would never know if it's Dolby Digital, DTS, or HD-audio anyway. If something moves across the screen, and the sound follows with it, I'm good. Bill

Believe me -- you'll be able to tell the difference.

However, it just dawned on me that your receiver may have only stereo connections anyway. Does it have digital coax (orange RCA) or TOSLINK (optical) plugs on it? If not, the best you could get would be analog surround sound which would require an external decoder (like a sound card). However, if it does have digital inputs, do yourself a favor and use them. The difference between "real" surround sound and a matrix mode is gigantic. At the most, it'll cost you a few bucks for a couple cables from monoprice. And if you want to make things even easier, 20-50 for some type of Harmony remote.

Using a surround sound receiver for matrixed stereo sound is like using a ferrari to pick up your mail at the end of the driveway.