Please excuse my ignorance

[sgl1]

I'm a newbie both here and in the audio arena. Just wanted some input. I own a pair of Vintage BIC Venturi Formula 2 speakers powered by a Onkyo TX-SV313 Pro receiver and some Sonics AS-447S speakers powered by a Pioneer SX-434 receiver. Old stuff I know. I also have some relatively new Technics speakers (1999) in storage. Not sure of the make. But the older stuff with the exception of the Onkyo were gifts. The Sonics sound distorted but they do blast.

My question was I recently hooked up the Onkyo to the Venturi's to run through my tv. Piece of crap Phillips 32" tv that barely makes a sound especially when watching a dvd. Now I have some kickin' surround sound but when nothing is playing there is a hiss from speakers at the half mark or above. I am using cheap wires. Could that be it?

 

[markw]

It isn't the wires.

 

[sgl1]

It isn't the wires.

Care to elaborate?

 

[markw]

Well, you did only ask one question there.

That's a joke. Smile.

Plug another source into the receiver, say a DVD or CD player, and see if the hiss is minimized. It might be the receiver itself.

 

[highfigh]

I'm a newbie both here and in the audio arena. Just wanted some input. I own a pair of Vintage BIC Venturi Formula 2 speakers powered by a Onkyo TX-SV313 Pro receiver and some Sonics AS-447S speakers powered by a Pioneer SX-434 receiver. Old stuff I know. I also have some relatively new Technics speakers (1999) in storage. Not sure of the make. But the older stuff with the exception of the Onkyo were gifts. The Sonics sound distorted but they do blast.

My question was I recently hooked up the Onkyo to the Venturi's to run through my tv. Piece of crap Phillips 32" tv that barely makes a sound especially when watching a dvd. Now I have some kickin' surround sound but when nothing is playing there is a hiss from speakers at the half mark or above. I am using cheap wires. Could that be it?

If you used the TV's line out to send the signal to the receiver, that's probably where the noise is coming from. I had hte same thing when I used my Sony TV to send audio to my integrated amp and use the TV's remote to control the level. If you have cable or satellite TV and can use the line out from that, it'll be less noisy but you won't have remove controllability.

 

[highfigh]

Care to elaborate?

Wires don't cause hiss, the electronic circuits do, especially when a mismatch in a source's output and/or an amp's sensitivity requires that the volume be turned up too high.

 

[sgl1]

That's a joke. Smile.

Plug another source into the receiver, say a DVD or CD player, and see if the hiss is minimized. It might be the receiver itself.

I'm not sure if it's really a hiss or a hum. I know when I turn on Dolby it cuts out altogether but then the sound isn't as loud either.

 

[sgl1]

If you used the TV's line out to send the signal to the receiver, that's probably where the noise is coming from. I had hte same thing when I used my Sony TV to send audio to my integrated amp and use the TV's remote to control the level. If you have cable or satellite TV and can use the line out from that, it'll be less noisy but you won't have remove controllability.

This Phillips is only 3 years old. It offers 2 audio jacks that I have dual RCA's plugged into from tv to receiver. Unfortunately I have no receiver remote and the tv remote seems to do nothing to control sound I assume because of the jacks. Using Comcast cable and tuner. It's really not that big a deal I just wondered if I was doing something wrong or if I could maybe get better cables to increase fidelity. Would love to figure out how to enable cable tuner or tv tuner to enable volume control but is that possible?

 

[sgl1]

Wires don't cause hiss, the electronic circuits do, especially when a mismatch in a source's output and/or an amp's sensitivity requires that the volume be turned up too high.

Yeah well no telling how old these wires are haha. Cheap, thin wires I doubt I could put two tin cans on 'em and hear anything. But I suppose they work well enough. These old speakers thump I was quite suprised. I had them hooked up to the Pioneer before.

 

[sawzalot]

This Phillips is only 3 years old. It offers 2 audio jacks that I have dual RCA's plugged into from tv to receiver. Unfortunately I have no receiver remote and the tv remote seems to do nothing to control sound I assume because of the jacks. Using Comcast cable and tuner. It's really not that big a deal I just wondered if I was doing something wrong or if I could maybe get better cables to increase fidelity. Would love to figure out how to enable cable tuner or tv tuner to enable volume control but is that possible?

you could just run the audio connections straight from the cable box and skip the tv (for sound) altogether just lower the volume on the tv and you would be all set.

 

[lsiberian]

Yeah well no telling how old these wires are haha. Cheap, thin wires I doubt I could put two tin cans on 'em and hear anything. But I suppose they work well enough. These old speakers thump I was quite suprised. I had them hooked up to the Pioneer before.

Try using your cable box remote on your audio receiver. I bet it can be programmed to work. I've done it before and it might save you some trouble.

I do suggest some good 16 gauge speaker wire. I've had issues with old wire before(not hissing)

 

[KEW]

You should at least try out the Technics speakers to see how they compare. They've made some pretty decent speakers (and some crap).

 

[KEW]

The Sonics sound distorted but they do blast.

Since you are driving these speakers with a 15 Watt receiver, you may be hearing the receiver clipping which is not good. You need to pair this receiver with efficient speakers. Again, try the Technics because that is free! also you may want to consider swapping receivers between your speakers, the BIC's are pretty efficient.
I know those BIC's well (many hours of wasted youth at my best friend's house), they sure have nice bass!