volcodc

Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

Alright, after reading 30% of the threads on this forum I have concluded that this will be the dumbest question on here. ..

Ok, I just bought a new sony surround sound / home theater receiver. I have it all hooked up and running my xbox 360 on it via optical connection and sounds awesome. I have a not so good TV, 22" insignia flat screen CRT. All I have is video/s-video/audio INPUT, and no OUTPUT. So without any audio outputs, do I need something special to listen to my TV on surround sound?

I have an RF adapter that just has like 3 ports for L,R Audio and 1 Video, with ANT IN and TO TV coaxial cable slots. I bought some new audio cords for L and R inputs but I'm just totally lost on what to do to get ANY sound to come out of my surround sound.

Do I have to buy a lame VCR and change channels with a lame VCR remote?

NOTE- I do not have a cable box, I am in a house with the TV in the living room has a cable box and then its split into the house into 4 rooms with cable splitters so we just get channels 1-100 or so. Am I just totally doomed until I get a cable box? a VCR?

Thanks.
-Chris

Ed Moxley

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

As it sits, a cable box, vcr, or new tv with the output needed, is about it. Not sure if a cable box would cost extra or not. Doesn't hurt to ask though........

Do you get any premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.) on your cable package? If so, I'd definitely ask for a cable box. Digital cable is even better. Without HD or premium channels, the best you'll get from tv, is simulated surround, when using Dolby Pro Logic II setting. Even with digital cable. Pro Logic can sound pretty awesome sometimes.

It boils down to how bad you want the tv hooked up. You can probably get a vcr from the pawn shop for very cheap. Just remember to make sure it's a stereo vcr, so it'll have the output you need.
Good luck!

volcodc

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

Thanks man, I'll just get a cheap vcr for now, just so i can get any kind of sound from the TV instead of trying to read lips

JKL1960

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

I don't suppose there is a headphone jack on that TV?

You could always hack your TV. Sometimes you can pull a line level signal from the volume control. Sometimes you can use a speaker to line level converter at the speakers. Sometimes you can let the magic smoke out in which case you will need a new TV. Be sure to get one with audio out.

I don't recommend hacking your TV if the thought makes you the slightest bit squeamish.

volcodc

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

haha yeah there is a headphone jack and nahhh i wouldn't want to try that ..

all I can find is dvd/vcr combos for like 100 bucks, eh... do regular DVD players work for what im doing? or only VCRS?

Ed Moxley

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

I don't think a reg dvd player will do it. Does it have a Cable Co. (RG6 type) cable input? Is the vcr, a stereo vcr? It needs to be.

JKL1960

Re: Oh dear, some assistance needed :)

The headphone jack will work. Go to Radio Shack and get an adpater, probably 1/8" mini stereo to RCA and patch it to the amp (you'll need an RCA audio cable). It might look ugly but it'll work. Start with the volume on the TV low and your amp at a normal volume then bring up the TV volume until the desired results are achieved.

While a DVD VCR combo probably has a tuner, DVD players do not. No point in a DVD player as they can't record. DVD recorders typically do have a tuner.