Want to create an audio out port on my TV

[TheAlchemist]

I have an old TV (cheap stuff from walmart for college student), of which speaker can not produce a clear sound. So I would like to connect the TV to an external speaker to improve the sound, but it doesn't have an audio out jack. My idea to solve this problem is to open the back of my TV, cut the wire connecting to TV's speaker, and then reconnect the wire ends to a female jack to make an audio out port. Is it possible to do that? or anything else should I concern?

 

[nav]

I have an old TV (cheap stuff from walmart for college student), of which speaker can not produce a clear sound. So I would like to connect the TV to an external speaker to improve the sound, but it doesn't have an audio out jack. My idea to solve this problem is to open the back of my TV, cut the wire connecting to TV's speaker, and then reconnect the wire ends to a female jack to make an audio out port. Is it possible to do that? or anything else should I concern?

It is possible, but horribly hackish. Remember that the speaker lines would be speaker-level rather than line-level, so you couldn't directly attach them to an RCA jack or anything of that sort. Also, your TV's amplifier is likely on the weak side and I wouldn't count on it being able to power any real external speakers properly.

It's a better idea to utilize an external tuner (either a cheap VCR, cable box, or maybe something more sophisticated) and run its audio outputs to an inexpensive amplifier or receiver and then from there to your speakers.

 

[Hi Ho]

Does the TV have a headphone jack? The TV in my bedroom has no audio outputs and the speaker is broken so I connected it to a stereo via the headphone jack and it works fine.

 

[TheAlchemist]

Does the TV have a headphone jack? The TV in my bedroom has no audio outputs and the speaker is broken so I connected it to a stereo via the headphone jack and it works fine.

My TV doesn't have a headphone jack, but it's a good idea. I'll try to open my friend's TV ( when they're out to school) to see how headphone jack connected to the audio lines inside the TV so that I can do the same thing to my TV. Great! I really love this idea although I don't have much knowledge in electronic.

 

[100r1]

Simple headphone jacks act like a switch when the headphone "plug" is pushed into the jack.

Basically, think of a piece pf metal that makes contact all the time between 2 contacts. When the plug is pushed into the jack, the plug pushes away the contact metal to break the circut to the speaker.

Radio shack should sell the jack and I'm sure google / wikipedia would have more details wiring diagram if you need it. I remember I did it to a Zenith Console TV back in the early 70's and the jack came from one of the first "transistor" radios I got as a b-day gift when I was a kid. "made in Japan" and everyone was talking about cheap junk from Japan when the "transistor" technology came to life...........If we only knew then what we know now!

Oh, don't piss off your Dorm Lizards...... Never know what reprisals they have for you. Been there done that.

 

[Adam]

It's a better idea to utilize an external tuner (either a cheap VCR, cable box, or maybe something more sophisticated) and run its audio outputs to an inexpensive amplifier or receiver and then from there to your speakers.

If you really want to experiment, then try putting in a jack. Might be a fun experience. Otherwise, I second nav's suggestion. You can get a VCR for almost nothing these days.

 

[Hi Ho]

If you're goint to open up a CRT, just make sure you DO NOT touch the red wire. In fact, don't touch anything other than the speaker leads. There is very high voltage inside a CRT based TV.

 

[Haoleb]

If you're goint to open up a CRT, just make sure you DO NOT touch the red wire. In fact, don't touch anything other than the speaker leads. There is very high voltage inside a CRT based TV.

Yeah, if you dont know what your looking at in there and what your doing its best just to keep the cover on period. Its not something you can look at knowing nothing about and go "oh, theres what i need to be pluggging into" or whatever.

 

[TheAlchemist]

Thank you very much everybody! I would go out and find an external tuner.