HDTV's with 2-channel analog audio outputs?

Bubinga99

Looking at new HDTVs in the 42-47 inch range, and it seems most no longer have 2-channel analog audio outputs (to run to the 2-channel audio rig).
Panasonic, Sony, and LG don't seem to on any models.

Anyone know if any brands remain that have 2-channel analog audio out?

newrival

I've noticed the same thing on TV's I have been helping friends install. Most do have optical outs, though. One I saw even had a mini plug audio out which you could use a mini plug to rca adapter. I would use the optical out if you can. It seems unlikely you will find many TVs at RCA audio out.

Syndil

Are you sure about that? I just checked Sony's site and I couldn't find any without analog outputs.

wayne3burk

My sharp has 2-channel RCA stereo outs that i'm running into my AVR

Not sure about those other brands.

Syndil

newrival wrote: »

I've noticed the same thing on TV's I have been helping friends install. Most do have optical outs, though. One I saw even had a mini plug audio out which you could use a mini plug to rca adapter. I would use the optical out if you can. It seems unlikely you will find many TVs at RCA audio out.

Checking more TVs... This is surprising news to me if it's true. All of the ones I have looked at so far list a variable/fixed audio output, which is your RCA outputs. Of course I guess they might be 3.5mm analog outputs, but that's still 2-channel analog.

Bubinga99

I'm not positive on all the Sony models, but I looked at the 36pg manual for the 46HX750 and didn't see any analog audio outputs. Just out of curiosity, which Sony models did you look up?

There's probably little hope I can look at the back of the TV at BestBuy since they are all hanging on the wall and up high.

edit: the HX750 has a mini headphone jack, but that wouldn't be line level, to feed into an aux input on my 1980's Adcom preamp. Is this what you guys are looking at, or is there a combo-mini plug with line level analog audio?

Syndil

The 46HX750 lists variable/fixed outputs in the specification on the Sony Store page... That was what I was using to confirm. But it may not be accurate, so I'm checking the manual now. I checked probably half a dozen of them.

Syndil

Manual shows a 3.5mm analog audio output on the side of the 46HX750 on page 15, also listed in the specs on page 33.

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/KDL-HX750_HX751.pdf

Bubinga99

Many thanks for taking the time to look these up!
I see what you mean, but there's also a headphones icon next to it, so I'm not sure it's line level.
In any case I was focused on seeing 2 RCA jacks; hadn't thought about a single 3.5mm jack so I'll have to take another look.
I think I found a Samsung 6xxx series TV with RCA analog outputs but it's mentioned in a review, not official.

Syndil

Given that it is described as a fixed/variable output, that indicates to me that you could use it as either a line output (fixed) or headphone output (variable) depending on which mode you set it to in the TV's settings.

What model of receiver/preamp are you wanting to hook your TV to anyway?

Bubinga99

OK, that sounds logical (a setting to switch between fixed and variable); thanks.
I'm strictly a 2-channel household, so I'd either hook to the Adcom GTP 500-II or the Parasound P3 (neither has digital audio in).

treitz3

Our Samsung uses some sort of 3.5mm output using a 4" long external converter cable to L+R RCA. It sounds better than my last TV with RCA outs only but I'm sure that has to do with the internal DAC. IIRC, all of the Samsungs were the same way [about 6 months ago].

Tom

Bubinga99

Thanks for all the info guys. I went in to look at TVs, and the Panasonic and LG have optical audio only. The Sony and Samsung have a 3.5mm connector and you buy a splitter cable with 2 RCA jacks on the end (as mentioned above).

The salesperson told me you could just buy and optical to RCA converter box for about 20 bucks and it would work on the LG and Panasonic too. I had my doubts it was that arbitrary, and it turns out you have to know a couple things to choose the right converter box.

This review of one of the converter boxes:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Audio-To-Analog-Converter/product-reviews/B0013LWK3A
shows some of the things to look for. It varies with your TV and your cable signals (and don't expect to find enough info in the TV manual or from tech support to help figure it out). Worst case it seems you'd have to get one of the multiformat converter boxes, which are more pricey (in the $70-100 range).

One other thing to mention (for the TVs with optical only) is apparently on some TVs not all inputs get passed to this optical audio output. The owners manuals are no help on this either, but one example is that the audio from A/V media input via USB might not pass, or some but not all HDMI inputs pass audio to the optical output. That just means you are stuck using the TV speakers, not that you get no sound at all.

tonyb

Buy a dac, use the optical out of the tv into your dac which will have analog outputs to your pre amp. This will sound way better.

steveinaz

Bubinga99 wrote: »

Anyone know if any brands remain that have 2-channel analog audio out?

There's a "work around"...monoprice sells a small DAC, like $24 small; come out of a coaxial or toslink from your tv and into this DAC, this will give you your analog outputs. I had a similar situation, so i did this to allow me to run a set of cordless headphones for bev's Dad (very hard of hearing). It works great!

steveinaz

Tony beat me to it.

Correction, $19.45:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&format=2

treitz3

That tiny little DAC will make the TV sound better? Not confronting, just very curious. That's a stupid silly price. I've been looking at ways to improve the sound coming from the DTV/TV but since that sound isn't my priority [my 2-channel rig is], I haven't really researched into it that much. For that kind of price, I may start soon.

Tom

steveinaz

Tom, I use it strictly for analog outs to my RCA wireless headphones. I doubt it's a giant killer DAC, by any stretch...LOL It IS surprisingly well built, though the pics don't do it justice.

treitz3

Hello, Steve. Just out of curiosity, have you ever compared it to your Benchmark for just a standard TV program or movie?

Tom

steveinaz

I haven't. I have my HD Receiver running to the BM via toslink--I only use the "baby DAC" when Bev's Dad is visiting. The sound thru the RCA cordless headphones is quite acceptable. It has a small wall-wart PS.

It's bigger than it looks in the pics, and (if they are still made the same way) is a metal case with nice black wrinkle finish paint on it. I was quite impressed.

treitz3

Thanks, Steve. If you do ever have a chance to test out the comparison between the two on the TV, I sure would appreciate your impressions. I have always wondered if you could come close to really good sound out of a DTV receiver or TV and hadn't really thought about it much until you and Tony started mentioning TV DAC's. I have heard the Benchmark and I know what it can do but I have yet to hear one of these aforementioned little DAC's.

Tom

steveinaz

I would imagine it would fall in line with any portable CD walkman type DAC, Itunes thingy, super cheap CD player, etc.

treitz3

Hehe..I was talking about using the Benchmark and comparing that to the little DAC [which I would imagine the sound being as you just described, albeit slightly better as mentioned before]. What would the end result be from that? In other words, when just using the DTV or TV signal, would the Benchmark be a worthy upgrade or would just the little DAC be sufficient enough? I'm curious to know how much of a difference [if any] there is between a really good DAC or a $20 DAC when it comes to the TV broadcasts/movies.

Tom

steveinaz

Oh gotcha....I would PRAY that the BM would out-perform a $19 DAC....LOL, and I'm sure it does, at every level.

vinyladdict

I just bought a brand new 40 inch Toshiba and it has fixed analog out (RCA out) . I was looking for the same thing, don't want nor need any 5.1 sound . Good stereo coming from the TV works just great for me. Check Toshiba. Unfortunetly the analog rca out is becoming more rare as the years go on .

Bubinga99 wrote: »

Looking at new HDTVs in the 42-47 inch range, and it seems most no longer have 2-channel analog audio outputs (to run to the 2-channel audio rig).
Panasonic, Sony, and LG don't seem to on any models.

Anyone know if any brands remain that have 2-channel analog audio out?

tonyb

I was thinking more along the lines of a quality dac that the OP could also use for his rig since he didn't mention he had one. You could use one input for the tv,another for the stereo. Would a 20 buck dac sound better than the TV's ? I dunno man, but at that price, sure wouldn't hurt to find out.

unc2701

Friend of mine did this exact swap- TV DAC to that external DAC (or one that was probably made in the same factory in china) since he didn't want to have his TV on when just listening to music out of his Apple TV. Made zero difference in music quality. Granted, he's feeding it from an Apple TV, but that source quality is probably a little better than anything you're going to get out of DTV or a cable box.

steveinaz

I find the toslink output of my directv hd box to be very good, SQ wise. I watch concerts regularly, and I'm very satisfied with the results.

I would think that sat/cable boxes would have far better audio out quality than a TV, but that's just my opinion.