Interesting question for the home-theater gurus...

[WilsonTC]

Part of my business includes installing flat-panel TV's. Typically commercial settings such as bank lobbies, etc. I'm not an audio-visual guy, so I really don't know much about anything other than hang the TV and plug it in. I do not get involved in sound, home theater, etc.

Over the last few years I've had several clients TV's lose their sound. As typical, it cost more to repair than the set is worth, which got me to thinking...

Is there a device/box/tuner that will produce a signal, including sound, that can be plugged in to the TV's AUX or HDMI feed? This would enable the TV to be used as a monitor (e.g. - Ch. 3) while the "tuner" and speakers produce the audio from the clients cable or satellite signal.

[bell]

if the rca audio outputs on the tv still work you could use some quality computer speakers since they have an amp built in, that would be the easiest, and there are some nice ones on the market......anything more may get too complicated and would involve more equipment and wiring....
most tvs have a menu feature which will let you switch from the onboard speakers to the rca outputs if they don't work when you plug in....

[masraum]

If they have a cable/satellite box, usually those have audio out. I think lots of Amps these days may as well. I'm not sure if there's a pure audio/video separator for a raw cable feed.

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by bell

if the rca audio outputs on the tv still work you could use some quality computer speakers since they have an amp built in, that would be the easiest, and there are some nice ones on the market......anything more may get too complicated and would involve more equipment and wiring....

Yeah, I was thinking about that, but haven't tried it yet. I'm assuming that if the sound card in the TV is dead, it's dead and won't be producing sound for any output on the TV. If it is only the on-board amp, then this should work. Not sure without trying, though...

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by masraum

If they have a cable/satellite box, usually those have audio out. I think lots of Amps these days may as well. I'm not sure if there's a pure audio/video separator for a raw cable feed.

Well, to be honest, I brought one of the TV's home and I'm trying to get it to work here...but I don't have a cable box. Cable comes straight from the wall to the TV.

If I can figure out how to remedy the problem on my "test bench" (i.e. living room), then I can help clients when this issue arises again in the future.

There are PC-based devices which will work, but you need to have your PC running to do so. You'd basically be using the TV as an overgrown PC monitor.

[Z-man]

There are many ways to do this. If you have a VCR / DVR / Cable box, you can 'split' the signal - cable goes into the VCR/DVR/Cable box, then the video out from this device goes to the TV, and the audio out goes to a audio receiver. Whether it is HDMI, optical, component, or plain old RCA, it shouldn't be a problem to do this. Many modern TV's even have an 'audio out' capability.

For your application, you can use any radio which has "audio in" ability - like a Bose Wave radio or any mid-range bookshelf system. Connect it to the TV and/or cable box, and you should be good to go.

Post up either the model number of the TV you're working on, or a picture/diagram of the connections available in the back of the set.

BTW: Home theature setup 101: when connecting a 5.1 or 7.1 audio system to a home theature system, it is best to turn off the speakers built into the TV - otherwise it distorts the full 5.1 or 7.1 dolby digital audio.

-Z-man.

[WilsonTC]

I do not have a cable box nor a DVR (I do have a TIVO unit, but it does not have a built-in tuner). I'm guessing an "old fashioned" VCR with built-in tuner would work.

The TV I'm testing is a Sharp Aquos which has an HDMI input, plus three other inputs including component, S-video and "standard" audio/video. There is also a digital audio output port.

[rick-l]

How about this?

DTB_H260

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by rick-l

How about this?

DTB_H260

I believe that only works with "air/terrestial" stations, not cable. But, something like that with cable-tuning abilities would be the ticket (I think).

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by WilsonTC

I believe that only works with "air/terrestial" stations, not cable. But, something like that with cable-tuning abilities would be the ticket (I think).

From the manual

The Set-Top Box can receive DTV signals in the event that a local cable provider is passing 8VSB and QAM through on their system. (8VSB is the RF modulation format utilized to transmit digital bits over the airwaves to the home consumer. QAM conveys data by modulating the amplitude of two carrier waves.)
• When receiving Digital Cable Signal: If your cable service signal does not comply with the ATSC requirement, this product may not operate properly.

[WilsonTC]

Finally found the full spec sheet which does refer to cable channels. I think that'll work!

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by WilsonTC

The TV I'm testing is a Sharp Aquos which has an HDMI input, plus three other inputs including component, S-video and "standard" audio/video. There is also a digital audio output port.

Cable goes into the TV.
Digital audio ouutput is then connected to the digital audio input port on a receiver / audio device which accepts such input.
And you should be all set. There should be no need for an additional cable box - just an audio receiver which accepts the same type of digital audio.

IIRC, there are two types of digital audio - coaxial cable and fiber optic.

-Z-man.

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Cable goes into the TV.
Digital audio ouutput is then connected to the digital audio input port on a receiver / audio device which accepts such input.
And you should be all set. There should be no need for an additional cable box - just an audio receiver which accepts the same type of digital audio.

IIRC, there are two types of digital audio - coaxial cable and fiber optic.

So the digital audio port isn't fed/supported by the TV's internal "sound card" or amp?

This port is fiber optic, it appears...there's a red glowing eye coming out of it.

[m21sniper]

just plug that cable into a fiber optic socket in a reciever and youre all set.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by WilsonTC

So the digital audio port isn't fed/supported by the TV's internal "sound card" or amp?

This port is fiber optic, it appears...there's a red glowing eye coming out of it.

Please don't stare into that red glowing eye. It is a laser and can fry your retina.

Simply plug a fiber optic cable from that to an audio receiver which has fiber optic in, select the proper input on the receiver, and you should hear sound.

-Z

[rick-l]

This is the audio block inside my antque TV but I bet yours is similar. That thing called a VSB NIM is the tuner.

Where do you think yours is broke? If that big ASIC in the center is broke or the sound processor on the bottom you're pretty much screwed. I guess if it was only the bottom one you could use the Sony/Phillips Digital Interface optical.

[porsche4life]

Rick your TV isn't very antique if it has HDMI inputs...

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by rick-l

This is the audio block inside my antque TV but I bet yours is similar. That thing called a VSB NIM is the tuner.

Where do you think yours is broke? If that big ASIC in the center is broke or the sound processor on the bottom you're pretty much screwed. I guess if it was only the bottom one you could use the Sony/Phillips Digital Interface optical.

I don't know yet. Haven't tested any of the other outputs...need a receiver or amp to do so.

If I let the TV warm up, then click it on/off over & over, the sound eventually comes on (and stays on until the set is turned off). I'm guessing a bad solder connection somewhere downstream of the on-board sound card.