TV with no audio output, options for playing over the air tv through receiver

[thephanatik]

We bought a 46" Samsung LCD from Wal-Mart on black Friday, but it doesn't have any outputs on it. We have a 7.1 receiver with our Blu-Ray player hooked up to it.

We usually only watch movies, except for football games, but I was wondering what options I have to run OTA TV audio through the receiver. Obviously I'm going to need a digital TV tuner, but I need one that has digital output. HDMI with SPDIF audio would be ideal, since our receiver is HDMI passthrough only. The receiver has optical and Coax (RCA) audio input, but I'd like to leave the optical for an AppleTV.

Thanks!

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

I don't think that I've ever seen a TV without any audio output. Sometimes it's a headphone jack. What model did you get?

 

[thephanatik]

Its the Samsung LN46D503. I was surprised it didn't have any audio outputs too. We were also looking at a Samsung LED tv for $100 more, but the blacks were terrible and it wasn't nearly as bright. We opted for better picture quality over audio outputs.

 

[Adam]

Alrighty. I've been looking around for an external ATSC tuner with a coax digital audio output. What would you think about the Magnavox MDR-513H/F7? It's a hard drive and DVD recorder, so you can record shows in addition to just getting the audio connection that you want. The downside is that it costs about $200.

I got my parents a Philips that did the same thing a few years ago, and they love it. I don't believe that Philips makes anything like that anymore, but Magnavox does. I haven't gotten one because it records in standard definition.

 

[markw]

here it goes.

So, you knew before you bought it that it lacked audio outputs?

From what I could find on the Internet*, it's a fairly basic, bare bones unit that lacks any means of audio outputs. It looks like you're gonna have to invest in some sort of external tuner or cable box in order to get any sort of audio output besides the internal speakers.

Sometimes, there's a reason things are inexpensive and we simply can't take any "features" as givens anymore.

* I can't find the manual on line

 

[Adam]

* I can't find the manual on line

Yeah, Samsung doesn't consider it a valid model number - what's up with that?

 

[thephanatik]

Yeah, we got the TV for like $450, for a 46" with good picture quality, it was hard to pass up. We don't ever plan on recording TV, so $200 seems a little steep for getting audio to the receiver. I'm honestly thinking about just switching the built in speakers with a line output converter for $15.

The other idea I came up with is using a Logitech remote with macros. I have a few digital to analog boxes laying around. I could use the Logitech remote to change the TV station on the TV and the D/A box, while using the D/A box just for audio to the receiver, while keeping the HD video of the TV's tuner.

 

[markw]

Yeah, Samsung doesn't consider it a valid model number - what's up with that?

Dunno - must be a real loss-leader, decontented to the bare bones in order to sell for the lowest possible price. I wonder if OP added the cost of the additional hardware he needs to do what he wants and added it to his initial budget, what other options he would have had to choose from?

Sometimes "inexpensive" does not mean a bargain...

 

[thephanatik]

Dunno - must be a real loss-leader, decontented to the bare bones in order to sell for the lowest possible price. I wonder if OP added the cost of the additional hardware he needs to do what he wants and added it to his initial budget, what other options he would have had to choose from?

Sometimes "inexpensive" does not mean a bargain...

Honestly, I didn't have much say in the decision. My mom and step-dad did the shopping. I told them a different one that was significantly better, they found this one for way less and brought it home. My step-dad is really stubborn when it comes to stuff like that; Hes the type that would rather buy two $50 Blu-Ray players then one good $100 one (I took them back and got a $100 one). I'm graduating in a few months (computer engineering), and going to be moving out, so I really didn't care to put up much of a fight over the TV. I'm just trying to figure out a cheap way to enjoy the Packers winning the super bowl on the surround sound system. Everything else we do is Blu-Ray, DVD, or Netflix, where the TV output really doesn't matter.

 

[BMXTRIX]

On a quest to find a manual, finally dug up a product sheet, got a long name, found the right page on Samsung's website...

Samsung

But, no manual from them on it! Also, I did find some questions asked on the Samsung website and on Amazon which seem to confirm that there are no audio outputs at all to go along with the junky speakers. Silly Samsung!

Anyway, I would consider something like the Sony SAT-HD300 HD satellite receiver from several years back. It has an integrated HD ATSC receiver in it and has a optical audio output on it.

Sony Digital TV/Sat receivers HD SAT-HD200 SAT-HD300 and extra SAT-A4 | eBay

Search eBay, there are a couple there. I think the HD200 also has this from Sony.

 

[thephanatik]

On a quest to find a manual, finally dug up a product sheet, got a long name, found the right page on Samsung's website...

[snip]

But, no manual from them on it! Also, I did find some questions asked on the Samsung website and on Amazon which seem to confirm that there are no audio outputs at all to go along with the junky speakers. Silly Samsung!

Anyway, I would consider something like the Sony SAT-HD300 HD satellite receiver from several years back. It has an integrated HD ATSC receiver in it and has a optical audio output on it.

[snip]

Search eBay, there are a couple there. I think the HD200 also has this from Sony.

I posted one of the reviews on Amazon

I have the paper version of the manual back home. I'll be driving back tomorrow, but I've looked over it pretty close.

I'll look into the receiver on eBay, thanks.

 

[markw]

Sounds like a gift.

Honestly, I didn't have much say in the decision. My mom and step-dad did the shopping. I told them a different one that was significantly better, they found this one for way less and brought it home. My step-dad is really stubborn when it comes to stuff like that; Hes the type that would rather buy two $50 Blu-Ray players then one good $100 one (I took them back and got a $100 one). I'm graduating in a few months (computer engineering), and going to be moving out, so I really didn't care to put up much of a fight over the TV. I'm just trying to figure out a cheap way to enjoy the Packers winning the super bowl on the surround sound system. Everything else we do is Blu-Ray, DVD, or Netflix, where the TV output really doesn't matter.

Can't really complain. It's the thought that counts.

Look at it this way: Once you graduate, get a job, and get your on TV with all the features you need to be happy, this will make a nifty bedroom set.

 

[thephanatik]

Can't really complain. It's the thought that counts.

Look at it this way: Once you graduate, get a job, and get your on TV with all the features you need to be happy, this will make a nifty bedroom set.

My mom and step-dad are keeping it when I move out. My Christmas present to them was 5.1 Polk speakers for it. Our living room won't work for for 7.1, but we have some outdoor speakers that I'm going to wire to the extra 2 channels on the receiver. I guess I kind of moved out already, since I have an apartment at school, but go home every weekend.

 

[markw]

My mom and step-dad are keeping it when I move out. My Christmas present to them was 5.1 Polk speakers for it. Our living room won't work for for 7.1, but we have some outdoor speakers that I'm going to wire to the extra 2 channels on the receiver. I guess I kind of moved out already, since I have an apartment at school, but go home every weekend.

Since it's theirs, and they don't seem to be bothered by it, I wouldn't obsess over this. It's not like the sound is why one watches sports anyway, not does it an integral part of the mix as it does in a cinema experience.

Now, when they put a "For Rent" sign on your room or convert it into a full blown Home Theatre...