New TV question

dromunds
dromunds Posts: 9,969
A friend of mine wants to get a new television, he doesn't need 4K, and he wants to go economy. I told him about the Sony XBR and he said he doesn't want to spend that much. I know somebody was recently talking about an economy brand that was supposed to be pretty good. Also, he has a vintage Yamaha 810 receiver. Is there a way to run the TV through that receiver, I assume the TV needs to have RCA outs for the audio. I think my buddy said the only input on the receiver that would be available is Tape 2. WIll that work? Or is that a foolish thought? Thanks. I think he's looking for a TV in the 40-50 inch range.

Comments

  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,042
    Vizio. TCL has become popular in the budget category as well.

    As far as having RCA outs there's super cheap DACs on Amazon, like $20-30
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    Can one still buy TVs (especially lower-end models) with analog inputs and/or outputs? I thought it was all HDMI, all the time nowadays.

    That said, I know there are HDMI to analog adaptors on the market. How good they are or how well they work, I dunno.

    https://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-hdmi-audio-extractor-with-toslink-and-lr-audio--180-995

    I wonder how well synchronized the audio would be?
  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,471
    edited July 2018
    I think many will still have a headphone out that can be adapted to RCA. Personally I'd go optical out to a Fiio D3 DAC for analog out on the cheap.
  • tonyp063
    tonyp063 Posts: 1,044
    TCL.
    If you are a Costco member they have a 42" model for about $270. 2 year warranty.
    That & the generic DAC DaveHo mentioned.

    Can't get much more economy than that.
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    I haven't used a Tape 2 input for so long, but is there any problem going Fiio D3 to Tape 2 on the receiver?
  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,471
    That will be a line level input, so no problem. Make sure he doesn't run it to the phono input.
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    Thanks, he has a turntable so phono taken.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    dromunds wrote: »
    I haven't used a Tape 2 input for so long, but is there any problem going Fiio D3 to Tape 2 on the receiver?

    Should be no trouble at all.
    Any line level input ought to be OK -- no AUX available on the component in question?
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    As far as his auxiliary input, I understand he already has a CD player in there, and I think he may have a cassette deck in Tape 1. So, it looks like he's going to use Tape 2 for television audio, although I think I am going to suggest that he move the CD player to the other Tape input and use Aux for the TV.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    Shouldn't matter, other than how one accesses the source.

  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    Right, just if it were me, it would be easier to remember TV as Auxiliary and the other players more like Tape 1 and 2. By the way, what is the consensus as far as quality of optical cables? Are they all the same? What is a good bang for buck optical cable? Thanks
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    dromunds wrote: »
    Right, just if it were me, it would be easier to remember TV as Auxiliary and the other players more like Tape 1 and 2. By the way, what is the consensus as far as quality of optical cables? Are they all the same? What is a good bang for buck optical cable? Thanks

    get the best you can afford. There is differences in how the fiber is made/drawn and what it is made out of...
  • Use the Digital to Analog converter, can save a lot to buy the new device.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited August 2018
    He should have 2 digital inputs on that receiver, and I think 3 HDMI. Just about all TV's these days have a digital output for audio. If he has no digital inputs available, on the receiver, then buying a cheap dac and moving a cdp or other digital component to that dac and use the TV for a digital input on the receiver.

    That is...if he cares about getting DD from the TV's content. A separate dac on the TV won't do that for him, that's why he needs to move another digitally connected device to either analog or buy a dac and connect one of the other devices.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
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    SVS SB-2000
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    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    Tony, his receiver is a Yamaha CR-810 from about 1978. Perhaps I wasn't clear on that. Just the usual phono, aux, tape 1, tape 2 type inputs.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    OK, thought it was the more modern 810.

    So...he doesn't use this system for movies then, so why the need to even connect it to the receiver ? Just for a louder stereo output of TV broadcasts ?

    It's your duty to bring him into the modern world of surround sound. :):)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    tonyb wrote: »
    ...

    It's your duty to bring him into the modern world of surround sound. :):)


    17yktbxr01z3.png

    ;)

    -- besides, the CA-810 is a pretty nice piece of hardware. Believe it or not, there isn't one here. :(
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    I don't believe that Doc, you hoarder. :)

    Yeah, it is a nice piece, but not for anything DD related. If he has more than 2 speakers set up, he's missing out.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    Come on tony, we all know that flat screen speakers suck! Going through that integrated into a decent pair of speakers will sound much better, even for dialogue driven material...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    He's told me there's no way he's going to get a new multi-channel AVR. Lol. He loves that vintage Yamaha. He wasn't even going to replace his old monolith TV but he's moving to a different state and doesn't want to have to cart that heavy beast around so he's leaving it at the curb and getting a flat screen for his new place. He has a real nice set of vintage monitors and I'm thinking it'll sound a shite-ton better than the flat screen speakers. And the video quality of even the cheap flat screens will probably awe him compared to what he's been viewing.
  • Jimbo18
    Jimbo18 Posts: 2,310
    How about using the headphone out of the TV to the RCA inputs on the receiver? I had to do that for a while and it sounded pretty good for home theater. Just need a cable like this.....

    wbt615c35q7l.jpg
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    dromunds wrote: »
    He's told me there's no way he's going to get a new multi-channel AVR. Lol. He loves that vintage Yamaha. He wasn't even going to replace his old monolith TV but he's moving to a different state and doesn't want to have to cart that heavy beast around so he's leaving it at the curb and getting a flat screen for his new place. He has a real nice set of vintage monitors and I'm thinking it'll sound a shite-ton better than the flat screen speakers. And the video quality of even the cheap flat screens will probably awe him compared to what he's been viewing.

    Gotcha, so movies aren't his bag then. That's cool too, but he'll still need a dac to convert to analog for that receiver....or kick another component to the curb in favor of.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    Jimbo18 wrote: »
    How about using the headphone out of the TV to the RCA inputs on the receiver? I had to do that for a while and it sounded pretty good for home theater. Just need a cable like this.....

    wbt615c35q7l.jpg

    That should work reasonably well -- surprisingly well, given the low impedance characteristic of a headphone load :)

    Assuming, of course, there's a headphone jack on the TV.
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,346
    A powered soundbar may be a better option for TV or movie watching and leave the two channel system to do its own thing separately.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    I'd be willing to bet, no soundbar will compare to the sound he's getting from the Yamaha and vintage speaks. Least none I've heard to date.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    Emlyn wrote: »
    A powered soundbar may be a better option for TV or movie watching and leave the two channel system to do its own thing separately.

    Like we need another soundbar thread :D
  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,640
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Emlyn wrote: »
    A powered soundbar may be a better option for TV or movie watching and leave the two channel system to do its own thing separately.

    Like we need another soundbar thread :D

    At least another Polk one... oh crap, did I say that out loud?
  • tonyp063
    tonyp063 Posts: 1,044
    edited August 2018
    Yup. You did.
    Heard you all the way over here.