Surround Sound Volume Control??

smlranger · 09-05-2005, 05:50 AM

Other than adjust the TV volume, is there another way to adjust the surround sound volume? Since my replacement TV has no 'audio out' jacks, I plugged the surround sound inputs into the satellite receiver (which does have auido out, R & L). However, I get one volume level which is LOUD!!!! Obviously, adjusting the TV volume has no effect.

Is there any other way? If not, any of you electronic experts got any ideas? Can I use the headphone jack on the TV to drive the surround sound?

smlranger · 09-05-2005, 05:50 AM

Other than adjust the TV volume, is there another way to adjust the surround sound volume? Since my replacement TV has no 'audio out' jacks, I plugged the surround sound inputs into the satellite receiver (which does have auido out, R & L). However, I get one volume level which is LOUD!!!! Obviously, adjusting the TV volume has no effect.

Is there any other way? If not, any of you electronic experts got any ideas? Can I use the headphone jack on the TV to drive the surround sound?

resqguy · 09-05-2005, 06:16 AM

I not real clear on what you want to do. Are you trying to connect your Satellite receiver audio into your surround sound system?

What surround setup do you have, is it the Q-Surround?

DriVer · 09-05-2005, 07:02 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by smlranger:

Other than adjust the TV volume, is there another way to adjust the surround sound volume? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I don't believe so.

smlranger · 09-05-2005, 07:49 AM

Driver,

I thought so. thanks.

Resguy:

I had to replace my front TV which had L/R variable audio out puts on the back which drove the Q-Surround sound system. Replacement TV does not have any similar audio 'out' jacks so I did connect the Q-surround sound cables to the satellite receiver. However, there is now no way to control the sound volume.

John_Canfield · 09-05-2005, 01:15 PM

Chris - if I'm not mistaken, I believe there is an input level adjustment on the QSurround box. You might need a mirror to look around there. If that doesn't work out, you can always make a little 'pad' out of a potentiometer or a resistor on the audio out of the TV.

--John

resqguy · 09-05-2005, 01:32 PM

I think you are just dealing with line levels here. I would think an old style preamp (receiver without power amp) with a remote would do the trick. Just put it between the sat receiver and the Q-Sound amp.

Omurray · 09-05-2005, 03:01 PM

Go to the set up menu for the tv and check for the proper audio selection. I have an '02 Journey and had the same problem. You have several choices, cannot remember which, but I tried each to decide upon the best setting for us. Initially it was very loud and tinny, now a very good surround sound emits from the speakers.

smlranger · 09-05-2005, 03:27 PM

Omurray:

Thanks for the suggestion but my TV will not be connected to the Surround Sound. Input for Surround will be from the satellite receiver. I already checked all the satellite receiver menus and there is no way to control the sound output. Does your rig have the RCA 25" TV in front? Mine bit the dust and I had much trouble finding any 25" TV that would fit in the steel cage. I finally found a Sharp 25" that will fit but it has no audio outputs to drive the surround sound system. Actually, the RCA had them added..that TV is no longer available.

John:

Been a long time since I diddled with A/V stuff at the component level...I wonder if I can put something together from stuff at Radio Shack? Do I need two pot's...one for each channel. The replacement TV (Sharp 25C340) has no audio outputs...I'm driving the Surround Sound with the audio outputs on the satellite receiver.

tomsm · 09-06-2005, 01:59 AM

I don't know how audio outputs are wired in TVs, but might it be possible that a local TV repair shop could add them to your Sharp? Might be worth a few phone calls...

Radarr · 09-06-2005, 03:48 AM

John,

Before you go to far I suggest you call RiverPark, Inc 800-442-7717 and ask the techs what you need to do.

Also remember, if you don't have a TRUE Sterieo Signal the Surround Sound doesn't work.

Radarr

smlranger · 09-06-2005, 04:57 AM

Radarr:

Is Riverpark the manufacturer of the Surround Sound system in the RV?

The replacement TV does have stereo sound (MTS).

John_Canfield · 09-06-2005, 05:01 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by smlranger:
John:

Been a long time since I diddled with A/V stuff at the component level...I wonder if I can put something together from stuff at Radio Shack? Do I need two pot's...one for each channel. The replacement TV (Sharp 25C340) has no audio outputs...I'm driving the Surround Sound with the audio outputs on the satellite receiver. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Chris - yes - you would need a pot for each channel. You might get into an impedance mismatch but it is worth trying. You could wire say a 10k pot for starters with each leg across the line and the centertap would be your out to the amp. Rat shack might even have a box ready to go that could be used for line level adjustment. You could even try a few different resistor values (1k, 4.7k, etc) in series with the audio out, not the ground side, but the primary conductor.

Are you sure you can't control the audio level out from the Sat receiver setup menu?

--John

smlranger · 09-06-2005, 05:04 AM

John:

Sure about the sat receiver. It is a Hughes D-10 and I went through all the menus. I am sure it is set up to feed audio to a device that has its own volume control.

Wonder if one of those wall mount stereo volume controls would work??

ichn2go · 09-06-2005, 06:53 AM

craig, first call Riverpark , second you might want to consider what Tomsm suggessted.
Contact a home audio/video store and see if those jacks could be added.

My Tv has the input jacks for a gameboy etc on the front and not the rear TV. If the grandkids are along I would definetly want them in the back...Another "no thought" from Winnie.
jim

tomsm · 09-06-2005, 07:20 AM

Chris - here's a few more reasons to consider modifying the TV... You might be able to make the sat rx output compatable with the surround sound, but you still have no remote volume control, and more importantly (for those obnoxous commercials) no "mute". Also, if have or might add a DVD, it would be nice to have it's audio into the surround sound system. Same with cable - there are going to be times when your sat dish is blocked by trees and you'll want to use campground cable.

Your TV probably has decent sound on it's own, but it would be better if you could route everything through the surround. And the only common point is the TV...

smlranger · 09-06-2005, 08:02 AM

I did talk to Riverpark. They advised also to add audio out jacks to the new TV. Tech guy said I could just connect to each speaker but would need to add a resistor...could not give me specs on what resistor to add, said it would depend on the TV.

tomsm · 09-06-2005, 10:21 AM

Since they can't tell what value to use, I'd use the 10k pots that John mentioned. Connect one lead of the pot to the primary speaker wire (one on each channel) and the center tap on the pot will be your output to the surround. The other end of the pot will be left open. This allows you to tap a variable amount of power in parallel off the speaker line - adjust it so that for a normal TV speaker volume you get normal surround volume.

I guess you then have to decide if the audio sounds better with or without the TV speakers. While you're inside the TV cabinet, you might want to add a switch between your pot and the speaker. This would allow turning off the TV speakers (if it sounds better that way), but still have them available if the surround craps out.

smlranger · 09-06-2005, 10:27 AM

Tom:

I would need two pots, one for each channel..correct?? Once adjusted for 'normal' TV sound, increasing/decreasing TV volume will increase/decrease volume on the surround...do I have this right?

Thanks.

tomsm · 09-06-2005, 10:40 AM

Yes and yes

One minor correction is that with the TV at normal volume, the adjustment will be made to obtain normal surround volume.

I'm not a ham like John, but I did work in electronics for 4 years in the AF in my younger years. I started to suggest this earlier, but was a little hesitant. What the tech said verified what I was thinking.