Pimp My TV

An-D

I guess that title is appropriate.

Anyway, I have an older TV that I have gotten somewhat attached to - found it in a dumpster in Asheville, probably the coolest find ever. Its a pretty big and makes a great party TV...the only problem is the sound.

I use a PS2 as a DVD player. Sound works great in video-games and when I'm just using it to watch cable, but when I plug actual DVD movies into it, the sound is somewhat below average. You *can* hear it, but if there is any background noise at all (fans, people moving around/whispering)...well, you can't hear it so much.

Being a college student, I don't have a lot of money but have collected a lot of random speakers over my years...I have a *really* good set of computer speakers, and I guess as my first question, is there an adapter of some sort that will allow me to use computer speakers to enhance my DVD-video audio experience?

Rough pictures of television, if it helps at all. Oldie, but works pretty great

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007016.jpg (front)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007019.jpg (plugs on back)



Any ideas, tricks and help would be greatly appreciated!

Hewn

There are indeed adapters that will let you take your RCA cables (the white and red ones) and use it with your speakers.

The question is, how do your speakers plug into the source? One 3.5 minijack? Or several? Here's probably what you're looking for:
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/cables-adapters/m/13939442/

If you have good speakers, you'll notice a huge difference in sound. I also use computer speakers for my television and it's such a huge improvement.

Sir Red of the Manti

Get a female RCA to female 3.5mm (headphone) adapter and connect your PS2's audio leads through that to your computer speakers. You should be able to pick those up at an electronics store for fairly cheap, but if all they have are adapters with male ends, you might have to spend more getting male to female converters for whatever ends happen to be male. Also, a clearer shot of the back of your TV and/or your TV brand and model would be useful in determining if the stuff back there happens to be an audio out, as if you have the option, you may be able to use a male RCA to female 3.5mm adapter to bypass your TV's audio directly to the computer speakers.

An-D

Sir Red of the Manti wrote:

Also, a clearer shot of the back of your TV and/or your TV brand and model

Ask and you shall receive!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007021.jpg (back of TV, only plugs there)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007022.jpg (speakers I think I want to use)

Its an MGA television, but I can't find an actual model number anywhere on it.


And this RCA adapter seems promising, and from the link, the price seems well within my means. Am I likely to find one of those at a Wal-Mart or Radio Shack (only stores that carry electronics around where I am...otherwise I may have to sojourn 40 miles to Best Buy)?

tracertong

Im actually trying to do the same thing, bypass the tv speakers and use the 2.1 speakers that are attached to the pc. I cannot get it to work and Ive been trying all day. Im using vista ultimate.

Sir Red of the Manti

An-D wrote: »

Sir Red of the Manti wrote:

Also, a clearer shot of the back of your TV and/or your TV brand and model

Ask and you shall receive!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007021.jpg (back of TV, only plugs there)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/royalpred/LASTDAYOFFINALS12-12-2007022.jpg (speakers I think I want to use)

Its an MGA television, but I can't find an actual model number anywhere on it.


And this RCA adapter seems promising, and from the link, the price seems well within my means. Am I likely to find one of those at a Wal-Mart or Radio Shack (only stores that carry electronics around where I am...otherwise I may have to sojourn 40 miles to Best Buy)?

It looks like you can get away with a male RCA to female 3.5mm Y adapter. Just throw the male RCA ends directly into the "Out" connections and press the speaker button. It should allow you to bypass your TV's speakers and let you use the computer speakers for any sound, PS2 or regular TV watching.
You can likely find the adapter in Radio Shack, though if it's just male to male, you may have to get a male to female 3.5mm adapter to plug your speakers into the connection.

tracertong wrote: »

Im actually trying to do the same thing, bypass the tv speakers and use the 2.1 speakers that are attached to the pc. I cannot get it to work and Ive been trying all day. Im using vista ultimate.

Are you trying to route sound from your TV, through your computer and into the computer speakers? If so, describe how you're trying to accomplish this in further detail, preferably with pics/a diagram.

tracertong

I got it to work by updating the Realtek drivers. The only problem now is that it sounds distorted...like the signal is too hot.

Sir Red of the Manti

tracertong wrote: »

I got it to work by updating the Realtek drivers. The only problem now is that it sounds distorted...like the signal is too hot.

If you've got an AUX input, use that over a MIC input, as MIC inputs aren't normally set up to receive a direct audio signal from something. Otherwise, not much I can recommend without seeing exactly how you're set up.

Hewn

Sir Red of the Manti wrote: »

It looks like you can get away with a male RCA to female 3.5mm Y adapter. Just throw the male RCA ends directly into the "Out" connections and press the speaker button. It should allow you to bypass your TV's speakers and let you use the computer speakers for any sound, PS2 or regular TV watching.
You can likely find the adapter in Radio Shack, though if it's just male to male, you may have to get a male to female 3.5mm adapter to plug your speakers into the connection.

There's the right answer. Here's the 2 things you'll need, and they are quite cheap:
3.5mm Stereo Plug/2 RCA Plug cable - 6ft $1.76
3.5mm Stereo Coupler Jack to Jack (Female-Female) $1.50

Shipping should only be a couple bucks. Enjoy!

An-D

Awesomesauce. I'm gonna bring this little shopping list into town tomorrow and see if Radio Shack can hook me up. Many thanks!! I'll let you all know how it turns out.