(Un)sound problem
 

I need some advice and opinion, please.

I have decided to run my TV sound through my KEF speakers via a Pioneer
amplifier. I've used standard RCA phono cables from the Line Out (L &
R) on the TV into the (now redundant) tapedeck inputs on the amp. Note
that there is no AUX input on the amplifier.

The sound quality is poor - muffled and muted, compared with say, the
sound quality from the CD or FM radio. What am I doing wrong, anybody?

(Un)sound problem
 

In article . com, Bruce
writes
I need some advice and opinion, please.

I have decided to run my TV sound through my KEF speakers via a Pioneer
amplifier. I've used standard RCA phono cables from the Line Out (L &
R) on the TV into the (now redundant) tapedeck inputs on the amp. Note
that there is no AUX input on the amplifier.

The sound quality is poor - muffled and muted, compared with say, the
sound quality from the CD or FM radio. What am I doing wrong, anybody?


Are you using analogue TV with NICAM or DTV ?....
--
Tony Sayer

(Un)sound problem
 

In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
The sound quality is poor - muffled and muted, compared with say, the
sound quality from the CD or FM radio. What am I doing wrong, anybody?


Are you using analogue TV with NICAM or DTV ?....

Makes no difference in the 'muffled or muted' way. While there are
differences they are subtle ones - apart from analogue being mono only.

--
*I like cats, too. Let's exchange recipes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article . com,
Bruce wrote:
The sound quality is poor - muffled and muted, compared with say, the
sound quality from the CD or FM radio. What am I doing wrong, anybody?

I've come across some TVs where the phono outputs are after the tone and
volume controls on the set. Try altering these with the set speakers muted?

--
*If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

Hi Tony,

The TV is a flat screen LCDTV with Nicam stereo speakers with
integrated digital circuitry.

The reason why I want to run the sound through the hifi system is that
the TV speakers are tinny and harsh, presumably because they are so
small. The sound through the KEFs, even though it's muffled, tends to
give a bass tinge which counteracts the treble sound of the TV
speakers.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
writes
In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
The sound quality is poor - muffled and muted, compared with say, the
sound quality from the CD or FM radio. What am I doing wrong, anybody?


Are you using analogue TV with NICAM or DTV ?....

Makes no difference in the 'muffled or muted' way. While there are
differences they are subtle ones - apart from analogue being mono only.

No it shouldn't make that much difference but It would be interesting to
find out that and then see where its going wrong as TV sound is quite
good when the broadcasters send it, that is.

As I'm certain you'd know Dave;))...
--
Tony Sayer

(Un)sound problem
 

Bruce wiffled:
Hi Tony,

The TV is a flat screen LCDTV with Nicam stereo speakers with
integrated digital circuitry.

The reason why I want to run the sound through the hifi system is that
the TV speakers are tinny and harsh, presumably because they are so
small. The sound through the KEFs, even though it's muffled, tends to
give a bass tinge which counteracts the treble sound of the TV
speakers.

Can you take a feed off a scart socket, and if so is it different?
Alternatively, try taking it to the CD input in case its a cruddy switch or
something. Or try connecting to the Play instead of Rec i/p's, in case they
don't mean what you think (I can never work that one out!). If you've got
satellite, use that instead. HTH

--
Despite appearances, it is still legal to put sugar on cornflakes.

(Un)sound problem
 

Hello Dave,

At the risk of you thinking me totally thick (and if you do, that's OK
by me) what do you mean exactly by " where the phono outputs are after
the tone and volume controls on the set."? I can use the hifi speakers
only, the TV speakers only, or a combination of both. (See my reply to
Tony).

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce wrote:
At the risk of you thinking me totally thick (and if you do, that's OK
by me) what do you mean exactly by " where the phono outputs are after
the tone and volume controls on the set."? I can use the hifi speakers
only, the TV speakers only, or a combination of both. (See my reply to
Tony).

I've come across some sets where the remote control alters the volume,
balance and 'tone' of the phonos as well as the set's own speakers. Early
Philips Matchline was one. I doubt it's common, though, as later Philips
models don't do this.

Have you tried using a different input on the amp - say CD? This would
help to prove where the fault is.

--
*Hang in there, retirement is only thirty years away! *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce writes
Hello Dave,

At the risk of you thinking me totally thick (and if you do, that's OK
by me) what do you mean exactly by " where the phono outputs are after
the tone and volume controls on the set."? I can use the hifi speakers
only, the TV speakers only, or a combination of both. (See my reply to
Tony).


TV sound in general is quite good, and you I wouldn't be that
dissatisfied with it, after all on some programs I switch on the
Audiolabs and ELS63's and they show up what's good and bad. Sometimes
the sound on DTV isn't quite the same as NICAM, but this is a bit of nit
picking. Dave is quite correct in that some sets can have the audio
outputs routed through onboard tone controls and suchlike. I don't know
the TV you have but as long as your taking the TV outputs via Phono or
other similar sockets or on SCART's and most every TV has one of they
and you are taking this to a Line or CD or AUX input then its quite
difficult to see what or where the problem should be, unless you somehow
have them connected to a DISC or as separate to a "PHONO" meaning a
gramophone disc input where strange sounds will result!..

It might be interesting to take to audio direct of a Freeview box if you
have one and some these days have audio outputs on, or a DVD player or a
digibox if you have one and see what that shows up.

All in all worth doing as the implementation of a better audio replay
system does improve the enjoyment of most all TV programmes.....
--
Tony Sayer

(Un)sound problem
 

In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
All in all worth doing as the implementation of a better audio replay
system does improve the enjoyment of most all TV programmes.....

It certainly does. I've not come across *any* TV with half decent internal
speakers. Especially since you'll be listening to speech a great deal, and
you need perhaps better speakers for this if you appreciate realism than
with some types of music.

So saying, TV sound is often so heavily compressed that realism doesn't
matter. :-(

--
*If a thing is worth doing, wouldn't it have been done already?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

Yes, I've tried the leads in all the amp inputs - CD, both tape inputs,
tuner and even the phono inputs, which I understand is not a good idea.
Result? The same in every one...

(Un)sound problem
 

Bruce wrote:

Yes, I've tried the leads in all the amp inputs - CD, both tape inputs,
tuner and even the phono inputs, which I understand is not a good idea.
Result? The same in every one...

Are you sure the sockets on the TV are outputs rather than inputs?

I only use my TV as a monitor. The audio comes from the satellite
receiver or VCR via the amp.

--
Eiron.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce wrote:
Yes, I've tried the leads in all the amp inputs - CD, both tape inputs,
tuner and even the phono inputs, which I understand is not a good idea.
Result? The same in every one...

It sounds the same in the phono input? You've got a very strange amp
there. It should be very loud and distorted, since they are a high gain
input. They also have a tailored frequency response to suit the curve used
on LP, ie bass boost and treble cut.

The SCART sockets on your TV should also output line level audio (and
composite video) If they're already in use, it might be possible to tag on
a couple of short phono leads with phono sockets to the plug on the SCART
lead. But you'll need to be able to solder to do this.


The pin numbers a-

3 Left out
1 Right out
4 Ground

--
*If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce
wrote:
Yes, I've tried the leads in all the amp inputs - CD, both tape inputs,
tuner and even the phono inputs, which I understand is not a good idea.
Result? The same in every one...


I find is a bit surprising that the results when you tried the 'phono'
inputs (by which I assume you mean those for replay of LPs) sounded the
same as all the other inputs. I would have expected that to be somewhat
different.

Can you tell us the model number and 'vintage' of your Pioneer amp as I
don't think you have said that as yet.

Also, have you tried the leads which you are using from the TV-amp to
connect some other source (CD or tuner) and establish that they are OK?

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

(Un)sound problem
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


The SCART sockets on your TV should also output line level audio (and
composite video) If they're already in use, it might be possible to tag on
a couple of short phono leads with phono sockets to the plug on the SCART
lead. But you'll need to be able to solder to do this.


The pin numbers a-

3 Left out
1 Right out
4 Ground

Why not visit Argos and buy one of these:

1m Gold SCART to 2 Phono Lead. 534/2828
Was £6.75 - now £1.68
* For use with audio/video/DVD. Switchable signal direction.

--
Eiron.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article ,
Eiron wrote:
it might be possible to tag on
a couple of short phono leads with phono sockets to the plug on the
SCART lead. But you'll need to be able to solder to do this.


The pin numbers a-

3 Left out 1 Right out 4 Ground

Why not visit Argos and buy one of these:

1m Gold SCART to 2 Phono Lead. 534/2828 Was £6.75 - now £1.68 * For use
with audio/video/DVD. Switchable signal direction.

Does it allow the SCART to be used for, say, inputting a STB at the same
time?

--
*Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Why not visit Argos and buy one of these:


1m Gold SCART to 2 Phono Lead. 534/2828 Was £6.75 - now £1.68 * For use
with audio/video/DVD. Switchable signal direction.


Does it allow the SCART to be used for, say, inputting a STB at the same
time?

What do you expect for £1.68?
You can open it up and solder whatever you want but the Argos special
just gives scart to two gold phono plugs.

--
Eiron.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article ,
Eiron wrote:
Why not visit Argos and buy one of these:


1m Gold SCART to 2 Phono Lead. 534/2828 Was £6.75 - now £1.68 * For
use with audio/video/DVD. Switchable signal direction.


Does it allow the SCART to be used for, say, inputting a STB at the
same time?

What do you expect for £1.68? You can open it up and solder whatever you
want but the Argos special just gives scart to two gold phono plugs.

Well, yes, but my suggestion was to add a couple of phono tails to a SCART
lead so you don't loose a SCART input. Which also involves opening up the
plug and soldering, but is rather easier than adding an RGB SCART lead to
your idea...

--
*Born free...Taxed to death.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

Yes, Eiron they are marked "Line Out (L)" and "Line Out (R)" both on
the TV manual diagram and on the TV itself

(Un)sound problem
 

Hi Dave,

Yes, tried them all - that is, tape inputs, tuner inputs, CD inputs and
Phono (record deck) inputs.

(Un)sound problem
 

Bothg Scart sockets occupied. (VCR and DVD). Tried all the other
inputs....

(Un)sound problem
 

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your comments. Re "phono", see my comments to others. there
was definitely no discernible sound difference using the phono (record
deck) amp inputs as opposed to any of the others (CD, Tuner, Tape
Deck). As I said right at the beginning of all this, the sound quality
was muted, muffled and required the amp volume control to be set at
just under half way to be able to hear anything at all...

The Pioneer Amplifier is model A-221, late eighties vintage.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce writes
Hi Jim,

Thanks for your comments. Re "phono", see my comments to others. there
was definitely no discernible sound difference using the phono (record
deck) amp inputs as opposed to any of the others (CD, Tuner, Tape
Deck). As I said right at the beginning of all this, the sound quality
was muted, muffled and required the amp volume control to be set at
just under half way to be able to hear anything at all...

The Pioneer Amplifier is model A-221, late eighties vintage.


You have deffo got something wrong there;(. Have you tried anything like
a Freeview, assuming you can get reception in your area, or a DVD player
as yet?....
--
Tony Sayer

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce wrote:
As I said right at the beginning of all this, the sound quality
was muted, muffled and required the amp volume control to be set at
just under half way to be able to hear anything at all...

If you unplug one phono from the TV and touch the centre pin with a
finger, do you get a buzz on the speakers with the amp set at normal?

If so, I'd say there's a fault on the TV.

--
*No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver,purple

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

(Un)sound problem
 

"Bruce" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hi Dave,

Yes, tried them all - that is, tape inputs, tuner inputs, CD inputs and
Phono (record deck) inputs.


Do you have a setting for the headphone volume in the TVs menu? If so, try
adjusting that.

(Un)sound problem
 

Digital built-in to the Toshiba TV. DVD player works fine and (when
playing an audio CD) at normal volume setting...

(Un)sound problem
 

Yes, Toshiba TV manual recommends setting the headphone/line out volume
to max. Have done that. No difference.

(Un)sound problem
 

In article .com,
Bruce writes
Digital built-in to the Toshiba TV. DVD player works fine and (when
playing an audio CD) at normal volume setting...


So it seems something may well be up with the outputs on the TV
somewhere.

Be "interesting" to try another TV so as to indicate a fault with the TV
which now seems very likely, or perhaps you don't like the TV sound,
very unlikely.

Preserve me thinks:)
--
Tony Sayer