Problem with setting up surround sound system with an old AV receiver

J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
I am setting up an surround sound system, but I'm experiencing some problems.
IMG_20221110_214916.jpg

The first problem is that this av receiver still uses R/L/Y/S/Pr/Pb, but my smartTV only has the possibility to connect with HDMI.
I have seen some R/L/Y to HDMI converting cables, but those are missing the 3 other parts (S/Pr/Pb), are those 3 important, and if so, are there other ways to convert those cables to HDMI?
I will add an picture to th
IMG_20221110_215050.jpg
is post that shows all the inputs/outputs on my receiver.

The second problem is that I got an cable from which I'm not sure if it is supposed to go into the subwoofer, or that I might be missing the subwoofer cable. The cable is red + white and goes to a green cable on the other end. A picture of the subwoofer and cables is found on the second picture.

IMG_20221110_202730.jpg

The third problem is that I accidently broke one of the inputs on the AC receiver which is quite important, this one is seen on the third picture. Is it possible to just solder them together. or would that break the connection? Or does anyone maybe know another solution to fix this?

I am sorry for all the questions, maybe some of the stuff sounds really dumb but this is the first time I'm touching an AV receiver so for me it looks quite challenging. I also couldn't find any good solutions on the internet. If anyone could help me it would be much appreciated. :)
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Might be easier to get a modern avr. I don't know how composite to hdmi converters are, never needed/used one, but suspect not the best way to go. What do you want to play/connect thru the avr then on to the tv for video signal? Might be easier to just get audio from the tv to the avr (and plug any video sources into the tv directly).

The green end of the cable looks to be a 1/8" stereo (TRS probably) to stereo rca adapter cable. Maybe this cable can be used on a tv's headphone jack to export sound to your avr, but would first look for an optical/coax digital connection available for sound output from the tv.

That looks to be an amplifier terminal (output) that you broke. Might be able to replace it, feel comfortable about opening up the avr? Maybe you could jerry rig a connection as long as it's secure, not sure soldering would be possible on that.

Always best to list all the makes/models of gear you want to use.
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
Thanks for the answers!
To give a little context, my company is moving to a new building, and this surround sound system was in the stock room. They wanted to throw it away but I told them I would take it (I'm a student so I'll take anything free :p).
I am trying to get it to work with as few expenses as possible, so hoping to not have to buy a new avr.

The gear I'm using are from a company called "Dussun" from which I got the "D9" amplifier, the subwoofer says its model "DW-RSW" and the boxes I can not find any further information about.
It seems to be a chinese brand but I can not find any information about it other then this.
I did get told it was quite an expensive collection that my boss bought back then, he told me it was a few thousand euros (ofcourse like 10 years ago) so I would be super happy if I can get it to work since I'm expecting it to be a big upgrade over my 25 euro box I have right now. :D

About the green cable, I have tried putting the red and white cable inside the "A1", "AV1", "Monitor1" and "Line out 1" inputs, and the green side inside my phone's and laptops headphone jack. All of those combinations did not give me any sounds out of my boxxes. (Although turning around the volume knob on the avr did one time change volume on my phone, but not in a fluid/reproducible way). Does this not work with laptops/phones or does that mean I need another cable?

I do not really feel comfortable with opening up the avr since the amount of inputs seem quite intimidating and I don't think I would know how to fix it after screwing up 1 part. I would already be happy with jerry rigging it just to see that this works. I was thinking soldering the cable directly onto the amplifier output should do the trick (right?), I know that would mean I can not easily remove the cable anymore but atleast I would see if this system actually works.

I am trying to first try a budget solution and maybe if this thing works and will grow on me, I can later on look for some upgrades like a new avr, and get into the world of the audioholics. ;)
 
Last edited:
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
You seem to confuse inputs and outputs, that can be bad if you plug things in inccorrectly. Follow the signal path for inputs/outputs. The various rca AV, AV1, Monitor 1 audio inputs might get you something out of speakers connected to the amp using your phone. Line out 1 is an output, that wouldn't be what you want to test output from your phone (that is more for connecting an external recorder). Do you have speakers connected to the speaker terminals so you might hear any audio output? Is that what you meant by boxxes?

On the green cable can you take a closer photo? Newer phones/laptops maybe using TRRS instead of TRS. This might help https://audiouniversityonline.com/ts-vs-trs-vs-trrs-audio-connectors/

On the broken amp terminal I'd probably try something like an alligator clip before I got too carried away.

Not seeing much on this Dussum brand....
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
Welcome.

I am not sure but in the olden days, component video was analog. HDMI is strictly digital, so it is a different ballgame.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Welcome.

I am not sure but in the olden days, component video was analog. HDMI is strictly digital, so it is a different ballgame.
Yeah that unit only has composite (red/white audio plus yellow video), S-video and some component video connections....no digital at all after I take a closer look at the photo (thinking that might be an option via optical/coax from his tv). Definitely a different ballgame now with modern tvs :)
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
If I understand the video correctly, the green cable is a 3.5mm TRS cable.
IMG_20221110_234102 (1).jpg


Does that mean it does not work on phones that use TRRS? And my laptop is 5 years old, would that then also be using TRRS which is why it might not work?

Also I did indeed get a bit confused with the input and output slots, that is because I expected that input would mean sound input, but then the manual shows that an tv has to be connected with "monitor 1" which is under the outputs group. For that reason I just tried all of them.

The alligator clips are actually way better for a quick fix, I'll give that a try later, thank!

On the Dussun brand. I found a site from them here: http://www.dussun.com/english/products.html
But this site seems to be very outdated, they have a new site but this one is only in chinese: https://shop143766018.world.taobao.com/?spm=2013.1.1000126.d21.2e538ffe1qWxSL

Also, yes I have 5 speakers connected to it and only need to connect the subwoover but need the cable for this. I indeed used the term "Boxxes" for "Speakers". :oops:
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
Welcome.

I am not sure but in the olden days, component video was analog. HDMI is strictly digital, so it is a different ballgame.
Does this mean that a HDMI to tulp converter would not work? Since the one is analog and the other is digital?
Or not necessarily.

I was thinking about ordering the following cable. It only does not have an Pr/Pb cable but if I am right, the most important ones are the R and L sound cables anyway.

1668121386707.png
 
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lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
There might have been written manuals, they might have been useless due bad translation, too :)

Yes mismatches of trs/trrs could be an issue. Hard to know what your specific gear is, tho.

Think of the signal flow....if you're generating playback of an audio file in your phone and you want to send it out via analog connection to your avr, the phone is doing the outputting, the avr doing the input of the signal....then processes the signal and amplifies it for use by the speakers via the speaker terminal outputs. Most people use an avr to connect various sources, optical disc players, tape placers, set top boxes, whatever, to the avr's inputs for processing/switching. Some newer tvs can act as a hub somewhat with modern connectivity and if you have an analog output from your tv you might connect that to an audio input on your avr. Just what do you want to input to the avr, tho?
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
Does this mean that a hdmi to tulp converter would not work? Since the one is analog and the other is digital?
Or not necessarily.
Not sure at all. Better research before just buying things to revive a very old unit.
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
There might have been written manuals, they might have been useless due bad translation, too :)

Yes mismatches of trs/trrs could be an issue. Hard to know what your specific gear is, tho.

Think of the signal flow....if you're generating playback of an audio file in your phone and you want to send it out via analog connection to your avr, the phone is doing the outputting, the avr doing the input of the signal....then processes the signal and amplifies it for use by the speakers via the speaker terminal outputs. Most people use an avr to connect various sources, optical disc players, tape placers, set top boxes, whatever, to the avr's inputs for processing/switching. Some newer tvs can act as a hub somewhat with modern connectivity and if you have an analog output from your tv you might connect that to an audio input on your avr. Just what do you want to input to the avr, tho?
The only thing I really want to input on the AVR is my tv, since I can use it for movies and streaming songs.
The things I want to output are 5 speakers (a center, 2 big front speakers, and 2 for in the back) and a subwoofer.

The speakers are connected by a copper wire which I have to put inside the input and then kind of screw till it won't fall off. (see images for step for step on how I have to connect them)
IMG_20221111_001441.jpg
IMG_20221111_001418.jpg
IMG_20221111_001536.jpg
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
Does this mean that a HDMI to tulp converter would not work? Since the one is analog and the other is digital?
Or not necessarily.

I was thinking about ordering the following cable. It only does not have an Pr/Pb cable but if I am right, the most important ones are the R and L sound cables anyway.

View attachment 58512
Those don't work, and are a fraud. Honestly those old receivers before the analog sunset are pretty much useless and worthless. You can extract HDMI audio, but that is about all legally. You are up against Digital rights management laws. To do any analog to digital or digital to analog, requires an active conversion. That means a unit with electronic components and a source of power.
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
You're not using the speaker terminals quite correctly...try this https://blog.kantoaudio.com/tech-tuesday-how-to-connect-speaker-wire-to-a-binding-post/

What tv is it?
The tv that I'm using is this one:
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
The tv that I'm using is this one:
Your possibilites for that tv to output audio is a 3.5mm audio out (probably just trs) so your green cable should work for that.
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
Those don't work, and are a fraud. Honestly those old receivers before the analog sunset are pretty much useless and worthless. You can extract HDMI audio, but that is about all legally. You are up against Digital rights management laws. To do any analog to digital or digital to analog, requires an active conversion. That means a unit with electronic components and a source of power.
I think that the HDMI audio is all I need, or would that mean the quality of the sound would not be good?

I did look for new avr's, incase I could not get this one to work, but I've seen that for an avr that is compatible with 5 speakers and a subwoover with binding post connections, is quickly over 1000 euros. Which is quite out of budget for a student like me. Are there no other ways?
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
BTW to connect your subwoofer you need an rca (male to male) cable to connect the sub pre-out on the avr to your powered sub. Hopefully your sub has it's own amp and is still working. You'd probably have better luck using the tv's optical out converted to analog using an appropriate converter....shouldn't be very expensive. Might not be the highest quality, but useable....
 
J

JLorenzo

Audioholic Intern
Your possibilites for that tv to output audio is a 3.5mm audio out (probably just trs) so your green cable should work for that.
The outputs on the tv look like this, it has an weird output I have never seen called "Audio Out", but thats not a 3.5 jack. There is however an 3.5 jack called "Service" under the R/L/Video Inputs. Is that the 3.5mm jack I have to use to output the sound? (I wanna be sure before I break something)
1668123991630.png
 

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