Complete Noob. Floorstanding Speakers.

Mr.Alex

Hey guys, I tried to google my way to the answer but keep coming up short, even bought some cables which won't work. They are specifically the Monitor Series60 II with the "bi-amp" wiring. I have no idea how to get this set up and have no knowledge of amps or receivers.

Could you guys just point me in the simplest way to hook this up? Its for my TV so I don't have to blast the volume to hear something on the other side of the room.

Thanks from just another noob.

WilliamM2

Do you have a receiver or amp to power the speakers?

Mr.Alex

No, somehow I just thought it would hook up to the TV input in the back. I suppose I need a receiver then, any variations in them? Or would a amp be more preferable towards a TV setup?

ROHfan

<facepalm>

You're gonna need to start at the beginning. Your TV doesn't have external speaker outputs for you to hook up your new speakers to. You'll need at least a stereo receiver to do that.

Where does your TV get its picture? Cable box? Satellite dish? HDTV antenna? That signal will have to go through the receiver so it can amplify the sound that will go to your new speakers. The video will pass through to your TV.

Welcome to the world of home audio, and welcome to Club Polk.

I don't think many people here will be willing to hold your hand throughout the entire process so this might help, for starters:

http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2008/12/05/your-first-audio-system-a-beginners-guide/

Mr.Alex

Ah, I see.

Thanks, this clears it up. Seeing as how its for something as simple as only a TV setup, is there a really big difference about which receiver to go with? Obviously Im hinting at picking up something like a 200$ receiver.

WilliamM2

If it's just for the TV a receiver would be fine, and probably all you need. There are too many variations to list. Do you plan to add more speakers for surround, or just stick with two?

Mr.Alex

Just two. This is a bit embarassing, but I only bought one floorspeaker. I know, I know, cue the facepalm.

dudeinaroom

what outputs does your TV have?

Mr.Alex

HDMI and the other typical ones a Plasma TV has. The one from the cable box is the typical audio in/out.

BlueFox

Mr.Alex wrote: »

Ah, I see.

Thanks, this clears it up. Seeing as how its for something as simple as only a TV setup, is there a really big difference about which receiver to go with? Obviously Im hinting at picking up something like a 200$ receiver.

Welcome. There is a lot to learn about this 'hobby'. For example, $200 will buy an entry level power cable. However, when you are starting with nothing, then anything will be an improvement. Just be aware that once you hear something better there is a good possibility you will wonder if it could be even better. The answer is, "Yes, it can be a whole lot better."

dudeinaroom

At the very least you will need an integrated amp. This would be two channel with stereo inputs for your TV, DVD, Cable box, tuner and possibly a turntable. And will have l and right speaker outputs for connecting your speakers. A receiver will add a built in tuner for picking up local radio stations. An AVR (audio/video receiver) Will add a processor for surround sound, and will have outputs for not only your left and right, but also a center channel speaker (mainly dialog) l&r surround speakers for spatial effects, and a sub woofer output for a dedicated low frequency effects channel. <that would be a basic 5.1 surround system you can go anywhere from 5.1-6.1-7.1-8.1-9.1 depending on the receiver and what your room needs. 5.1 is well suited to just about all consumer situation. If you wanted to go with surround sound, you could start with the receiver, and add more speakers as you can afford/want to. Just about all AVRs have settings for the number and size of speakers so it can grow with you. No matter what route you chose Be it receiver, integrated, or AVR don't short change your self and get the cheapest to get the job done. Underpowered a pair of speakers and asking too much from the equipment to get to a volume level you want can kill speakers, just as easy if not easier than over powering them. Setting up a full surround sound system is not that complicated. For audio only from your tv to a receiver/integrated amp would require a stereo interconnect (2 connections on each end). With an AVR it would require a single connection if the AVR has HDMI in and outputs, if it does not have HDMI you would run a single digital coax or a fiber optic cable depending on which your TV has for audio only. If ended up with an AVR and wanted to use it for video switching in addition to audio, you could hook your cable box, dvd player, etc. to it and have it switch what source you are watching. For surround sound you would be looking at hooking up 3 more sets of speaker leads, and an interconnect for a powered subwoofer (if you choose to use one). I know this is beyond the scope of what you were asking, but I figured I would give a brief look at the ways you could go. If you are not interested in surround sound or or radio and integrated amp would be your best bet. You get basic controls and no compromises in cost cutting to squeeze in an added circuitry for video or surround processing. The only problem I could see would be some broadcast signals have erroneous low frequency information that can be annoying when amplified, but you would never hear through the built in speakers. I have really only notice this problem during the news, some commercials, and on the lower definition channels, this is with over the air reception (TV antena, not cable) and only on 2 TV stations ymmv. Good luck with which ever route you chose. Feel free to ask any questions, we have a wealth of knowledge on this forum from everything from low budget HTiB(home theater in a box) setups to ultra uber highend gear.

deronb1

If you want this strictly for TV, you might want to return the one floorstanding speaker and go with a soundbar. They are designed to hookup directly to the TV and often come with a subwoofer. They don't sound too bad and are a major improvement over the sound that comes from most TVs.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sound+bars&tag=googhydr-20&index=electronics&hvadid=5935677509&ref=pd_sl_5qp0wnwd5m_b#/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aelectronics%2Ck%3Asoundbar&keywords=soundbar&ie=UTF8&qid=1326636367

AsSiMiLaTeD

deronb1 wrote: »

If you want this strictly for TV, you might want to return the one floorstanding speaker and go with a soundbar. They are designed to hookup directly to the TV and often come with a subwoofer. They don't sound too bad and are a major improvement over the sound that comes from most TVs.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sound+bars&tag=googhydr-20&index=electronics&hvadid=5935677509&ref=pd_sl_5qp0wnwd5m_b#/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aelectronics%2Ck%3Asoundbar&keywords=soundbar&ie=UTF8&qid=1326636367

That's the best advice I can possible think of. For someone in your position I can't think of a better option than a SurroundBar.

deronb1

Thanks Assim! (didn't want to cut it off too short) lol. I have heard some pretty good sounding soundbars. BTW, I noticed you are a PSB person. Bought a pair of Alpha B1s from pepster which should be here soon. Going to use them as fronts in HT, any thoughts?

tonyb

Welcome Alex, don't worry about the face palm Sir, many of us still do it. The soundbar suggestion is probably your best route to take at this point, and cheapest solution.

I take it your cable box doesn't have a HDMI connection ? Your not watching HD on that plasma ? The TV itself should have some options for audio in the setup menu too, that may help it sound fuller on its own. Do you have any other dvd/ blu-ray players hooked up ? Any other stereo gear hanging around the house that maybe you could use ?

dudeinaroom

If your TV has a variable stereo output you could make it work with a mono amp and a y splitter.

Mr.Alex

I think Il try the soundbar route. But for the person whom asked, the cable box has one HDMI output.

leftwinger57

as most here said you would need an amp/avr. the way I have it set up is a Hdmi cable from tv to cable box then out of avr to pick up (YPAO)Yamahas' auto calibration system. You never mentioned size of your tv and to me you must go w/ some sort of sound system beyond the tvs'tiny speakers.With the Yamaha you have 4 HDMI ins and 1 out and w/ the way mine is set up I also ran an optikal to pick up audio so I can listen to tunes and have silent tv at the same time .My rx-v665 is 3yrs old but does what I need w/ a dock, i-net radio ,pure direct mode and all sortsof music scenes and decoders, of course 7.1 to 2-chl apps.For $345 it was a good deal at the time and all here will agree it has pre/outs which maybe very important down the road.

leftwinger57

A quick follow up to my previous post RCAsout into 1 speaker is not the way to go .get an inexpensive amp/avr and 2spkrs at the very least.once this is done then maybe a hometheater is in the offing.

Glowrdr