When using a receiver are you typically suppose to mute your TV volume ?

[Subzero11]

When using a receiver for your TV sound aren't you suppose to mute the volume on the TV ? Are you guys muting your TV sound when using a receiver ? I'm telling my wife that using the TV speakers for sound plus the receiver/speakers is not a good ideal and it defeats the purpose ? She ask why but I don't the answer exactly.

I currently have a kinda crappy 2.0 channel right now and she is right about one thing for some reason when I do use the TV speakers with my receiver/speakers it does seem to sound more full, the mid-range and the high-range really do seem to come through better when making comparisons when switching back and fourth while watching TV. I'm telling her it's not normal that the sound is better with TV & receiver/speakers. I've played around with settings but it makes no diff, it does sound better when I don't mute the TV. thanks

 

[Adam]

I turn my speakers off (different from muting, but the same effect) because I have a 7.1 system and don't want another set of "full-range" not-so-great stereo speakers also playing the same material.

That said, if your system sounds better with the TV speakers on, then by all means use it that way. The goal is to enjoy your system - there is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to that.

 

[slipperybidness]

When using a receiver for your TV sound aren't you suppose to mute the volume on the TV ? Are you guys muting your TV sound when using a receiver ? I'm telling my wife that using the TV speakers for sound plus the receiver/speakers is not a good ideal and it defeats the purpose ? She ask why but I don't the answer exactly.

I currently have a kinda crappy 2.0 channel right now and she is right about one thing for some reason when I do use the TV speakers with my receiver/speakers it does seem to sound more full, the mid-range and the high-range really do seem to come through better when making comparisons when switching back and fourth while watching TV. I'm telling her it's not normal that the sound is better with TV & receiver/speakers. I've played around with settings but it makes no diff, it does sound better when I don't mute the TV. thanks

The short answer is that there is no "right way" to do this. So, do whatever sounds best TO YOU.

Personally, the speakers in my TV are shut off in the TV menu, not used at all and I have 5.1 speakers.

If you only have a (crappy) 2.0 or 2.1 system, then it may indeed make sense that it sounds better with the TV speakers going too. For a true 5 channel setup, I would say shut the TV speakers off. The center channel should be located just above or just below the TV, and if the TV speakers are going too, then you will most likely get constructive/destructive interference and it will sound bad.

If you have a GOOD 2 channel system, then it can be very convincing using a "ghost center". What this means is that if your L/R speakers image very well, then you don't need a center channel at all as it will fool you into thinking that the sound is coming from the TV. For example, my GE Triton IIs sound very good without a center. My GF didn't believe that my center channel wasn't even playing anything.

The bottom line, try it both ways and go with what sounds best. Why would you do something if it made your system sound worse?

Now, if I were you......I would use this as an opportunity to leverage the spouse into giving you permission to upgrade to a quality audio setup and then turn off the TV internal speakers.

 

[Pyrrho]

When using a receiver for your TV sound aren't you suppose to mute the volume on the TV ? Are you guys muting your TV sound when using a receiver ? I'm telling my wife that using the TV speakers for sound plus the receiver/speakers is not a good ideal and it defeats the purpose ? She ask why but I don't the answer exactly.

I currently have a kinda crappy 2.0 channel right now and she is right about one thing for some reason when I do use the TV speakers with my receiver/speakers it does seem to sound more full, the mid-range and the high-range really do seem to come through better when making comparisons when switching back and fourth while watching TV. I'm telling her it's not normal that the sound is better with TV & receiver/speakers. I've played around with settings but it makes no diff, it does sound better when I don't mute the TV. thanks

When I had a 2 channel system, I used the speakers in the TV to help tie the dialog to the screen. The center channel speaker in a full surround system serves that function, so if you had a full surround system, properly set up, it would likely sound better with the TV speakers off. But given that you have a 2 channel system, it can work better with the TV speakers on. I used a TV that had line level audio outputs that were variable, and controlled by the volume control on the TV. I set the volume on the stereo to get the proper balance of sound between the TV speakers and the stereo's speakers, and then used the TV remote to control the overall volume. And, of course, for that to work, I had my video sources hooked up to the TV, not the stereo, so that I was using the line level output on the TV for all video sources.

It has been a while since I went down memory lane on that. I now use a surround system with a center channel, which is better. But wait until you can afford something decent, or it will not be much better.

 

[markw]

I'll use one or the other, not both. I find there's a very slight delay between the TV speakers and the system speakers which adds a phony echo effect, which I find distracting.

 

[Rickster71]

Wasn't there a way of using the TV as a center channel?
I can't remember where I saw it. Maybe one of my manuals.
OP mentioned only using 2.0, so I would bet the tv's speakers would help with dialogue.

 

[Subzero11]

A 5.1 setup just wouldn't work with my home right now. If anything I would get another 2.0 like maybe the Yamaha RX-V375 with Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers. With this setup would it be good enough to act as a good ghost center ?

Second question: With this possible new 2.0 system I should not need to use the TV speakers to improve the sound right ?

Third question and last: I've done some measuring already and if I do get this new setup I would only be able to use stands for my speakers and would elevate the speakers one foot only, and would have to place them right beside the TV. I would not be able to rise them any higher. So while sitting down they would not be in the same exact plane of my ears. I would be able to angle them about one inch so they would point towards my head about 10-12 feet away. Would this setup handicap my sound, if yes how much ? I've read before that best placement was on the same level of your head. thanks

 

[herbu]

it does sound better when I don't mute the TV

There's your answer. Do whatever sounds better to you.

I have a simple TV soundbar in the bedroom, and like markw, there is a slight delay between the soundbar speakers and TV speakers. So IT SOUNDS BETTER with the TV volume "muted"... so I mute it.

Regarding your last questions, I suspect almost anything you do will sound better than just the TV speakers. In the living room I have towers for my front left/right, and only the very top speaker in the tower stack is exactly at my head height when seated... which means most of the speakers in the tower are lower than my head, just like you describe. My center speaker is above the TV, and 4 to 5 feet higher than my head height. I have never felt like the sound was misplaced when watching TV or a movie.