We’ve a Toshiba Regza LCD TV. Picture’s fine, but the sound quality is pretty poor. We only tend to watch a bit of TV (via Freesat) – very few DVDs.

If we want to improve the sound, what’s an easy and cheapish way of doing it? 5.1 home cinema systems seem a bit excessive for Match of the Day and Location Location Location! 2.1 systems make more sense, but worry they’ll be very base-y. Often home cinema stuff seems to be maximised via blue-ray, of which we never use.

Is there a simple way of just adding a couple speakers, akin to simple PC speakers?

Cheers

most 2.1 drivers have base & treble adjustments so you can dial it as you want.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/logitech-s220-21-speaker-system-black-17w-rms

£18

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/creative-inspire-t3130-21-speaker-system-black-20w-rms

£37

Id think about something like these ^

I wouldn’t say there would be much point adding anything akin to PC speakers, however a couple of small bookshelf audio (not AV specific) speakers run through a stereo amp would widen your soundstage and give more depth and presence to your current tv speakers.

thanks. Stoner – we’ve got a couple of Creative bits and bobs and impressed with them. The speakers you’re suggesting, do they just plug into the TV audio ports – job done?

as above simple answer

I wouldn’t say there would be much point adding anything akin to PC speakers

I disagree. I’ve got some on our media PC and they work very well – and we have another set in the front room plugged straight into the big TV since we have exactly the same problem as you – eg crap built in speakers

While you may not do much at the moment, with better sound…

I went for a separate amp and 5.1 speakers.

This kinda thing:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh500/sony-strdh500
http://www.richersounds.com/products/hi-fi-separates/speakers/speaker-packages

I found with the all-in-one cinema ‘boxes’ that they struggled on inputs esp when adding a games console.

Aus – you should be able to connect from the 3.5mm jack output from the TV to the jack input on the speaker driver/sub.

But double check your TV audio output and the speaker manufacturers site to be sure.

I’ve just gone to 5.1 (well no .1 yet, but I don’t really need a subwoofer because I’ve got big floorstanders), but for decades I used just stereo and it isn’t really that far off for more or less every type of viewing. I’d say get a cheapo secondhand stereo amp (look out for a Cambridge or NAD or similar on ebay) and some medium sized speakers – drastically better than standard telly sound, plus just the job for radio and music.

Would this be a good time to mention (again) that I’m selling an amp? Yamaha RX-V595, open to sensible offers. Better than Winamp in the llama’s arse whipping stakes.

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