Odd Sub

[Bearcats31]

Very new to the board here so forgive me if I haven't searched through other topics but can't find anything quite like this sub and crappy speaker system I have. Anways I am trying to hook up this systme to my tv and I think everything would hook up to a receiver alright but can anyone tell me how the sub would hook up as it doesn't seem to have typical receiver connections. Thanks! wanted to post a link to the system but since new member says I have to make 5 posts or great to post a link anways here are the subs stats. System is midiland MLI-760

SubWoofer Rear Panel:
DVD/5.1 Input Connectors
Stereo Input Connectors
AUX1 Input Connectors
AUX2 Input Connectors
5.1 9-pin DIN Input Connector
Front/Right Channel Output Connectors
Center Channel Output Connectors
Rear/Left Channel Output Connectors
Rear/Right Channel Output Connectors
Front/Left Channel Output Connectors
AC Power Cord
Fuse
Main Power Switch

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

What sorts of audio outputs does your TV have? If you're unsure, just let us know the model number and we can try to look it up for you.

 

[Bearcats31]

I have an LG 42LH40 and I don't have a receiver yet but if that is necessary just trying to figure out the best way to hook the sub to a receiver if I were to buy one. Thanks!

 

[pzaur]

Midiland pic.


Interesting system. It looks like it's designed to run as the amplifier with every device connecting to it through RCA connections. I'm guessing the only outputs that will work for your TV are the red/white connections which will give you stereo sound only (front left and front right with sub).

Run the red/white from the sound out on your TV to the Stereo input connections. The speakers that came with it connect to the speaker outputs.
All the necessary cables appear to have come with the setup.

-pat

 

[pzaur]

You're going to hear voices coming out of your sub...check the specs. Subs should end their sound output around 80hz. This thing does so at 300hz.

Specs.

-pat

 

[Bearcats31]

That is pretty much how I have it connected although I have red white to my cable box to aux on the sub. Now when I hit 5.1 on I get sound from all the speakers except that is only stereo not actually surround sound right? I guess it's not possible to get true surround sound from these!

 

[Adam]

A couple of questions for you:

• You keep saying "sub." Is that the only part of that 5.1 speaker set that you want to use, or do you want to use all of the speakers?
• Do you have a cable box or satellite receiver that you use for TV?

Unfortunately, I don't think that you can connect your TV directly to that system, but I might have missed something. Does your TV have a headphone output jack? It looks like it doesn't have any analog audio outputs, but rather has an optical digital audio output. That speaker system only has analog inputs.

BTW, that is a powered speaker package, so you don't need external amplification (e.g. a receiver) to use it. Also, you could use the sub portion of it by itself as a powered subwoofer, if you wanted to do that - but you'd need to connect it to something with a subwoofer output (such as a receiver).

EDIT: I see the discussions above now. It seems like you already have this connected up for TV watching. What is the question then, exactly?

 

[Bearcats31]

I have a cable box and want to use the entire system. I guess I'm just wondering if I'm actually getting surround sound from this system or is it just the same sound coming from each speaker?

 

[Adam]

I have a cable box and want to use the entire system. I guess I'm just wondering if I'm actually getting surround sound from this system or is it just the same sound coming from each speaker?

Gotcha. I haven't found really good into on that system, yet. Does it have any internal decoders? If not, then you aren't going to get true surround sound from a two-channel audio connection.

Do you have a disc player with multi-channel (e.g. 5.1) analog audio outputs? If so, you could connect that to those speakers and get true surround sound.

 

[Bearcats31]

Thats why I'm wondering does a 5.1 receiver allow me to get that out of these speakers and then could I connect this sub to that receiver as well because it doesn't have a sub-in or LFE connection and get surround from it?

 

[pzaur]

My impression is this system is designed to be the center hub for sound and for use without a receiver. It is not able to do any decoding on it's own (no internal decoders) so there is no need for a coaxial or optical input jack. When the write-up says "ready for Dolby / DTS" it simply means it can play surround sound when connected with the 5.1 jacks.

You're correct when you say that you're only getting stereo sound out of all 5 speakers in "surround mode." It's still stereo. The same signal is being pushed into the rear speakers and the center channel is reproducing the left and right signals. You've never had true surround and never will without it being connected via 5.1 connections.

The only way to use this system with a receiver for surround is to find a receiver that has 5.1 pre-outs on the back (Examples are the Yamaha 663 & 661). The receiver would have to be connected to the cable box and dvd player through an optical or coaxial connection for each and then to the sub(hub) by 6 RCA cables using the pre-outs.

-pat

 

[Bearcats31]

awesome! thanks for the help everybody. I mid as well just buy a better speaker system then get a receiver!

 

[adwilk]

Yeah, new speakers aren't a bad idea, but you could use a receiver with the system. Just hook up the speakers directly to the receiver, and then use the sub preouts to the stereo input on the sub. Let the receiver do the xover duties. Any cheap receiver would work just fine.