Solved! Connecting 5.1 analog to my TV audio out.

[cagporo]

I would like to connect my TV (audio out shown below) to my speakers (also shown below). I know that if I get some (red/white?) cables I can connect them to the red white audio out of my TV but that would only provide stereo sound. I would like to get surround sound if possible. What can I do to connect these two?

 

[jsmithepa]

I like THIS.

 

[cagporo]

I like THIS.

Thanks for the quick reply. Is there any other option out there for me? This adapter costs as much as the speakers themselves.

 

[Dugimodo]

There's no direct way with the connectors shown, but there appear to be more on the TV along the bottom edge? what are those?

The only 5.1 input in that photo are the 3 orange/black/green plugs which look like 3.5mm plugs. This is a Logitech PC speaker system yes?
The TV has a digital optical out in the photo, you would need to get an active converter from optical SPDIF to 5.1 analog and th eappropriate cables, no Idea if such a device exists, never had a need for one.

The easiest thing would be to use a speaker system with a SPDIF optical input the same as the TV output (Digital Audio out in the photo)

 

[getochkn]

What are you watching on the TV in surround?

 

[cagporo]

There's no direct way with the connectors shown, but there appear to be more on the TV along the bottom edge? what are those?

The only 5.1 input in that photo are the 3 orange/black/green plugs which look like 3.5mm plugs. This is a Logitech PC speaker system yes?
The TV has a digital optical out in the photo, you would need to get an active converter from optical SPDIF to 5.1 analog and th eappropriate cables, no Idea if such a device exists, never had a need for one.

The easiest thing would be to use a speaker system with a SPDIF optical input the same as the TV output (Digital Audio out in the photo)

They are the inputs for the TV. Okay so I have to find a optical SPDIF to 5.1 analog or get a more compatible speaker set? These are new from black friday so I can still return them if necessary.

 

[cagporo]

What are you watching on the TV in surround?

I dont know. I've never watched anything in surround. Does it have to be a particular movie setting or something?

 

[Dugimodo]

You need a source that is in surround, like from Blue Ray or DVD - in which case the player might be able to connect direct to the speakers.
For broadcast TV you are probably fine in stereo. If it's a smart TV Netflix might work in 5.1

But yeah either a different set of speakers with a digital audio in or a converter and three 3.5mm to RCA stereo cables. Here's one from a quick google search https/www.amazon.com/Digital-Surround-Amplifier-Converter-LoveQmall/dp/B076VBCZGY.

If it was me I'd probably just use stereo and live with it, surround is nice but stereo is still good.

 

[cagporo]

You need a source that is in surround, like from Blue Ray or DVD - in which case the player might be able to connect direct to the speakers.
For broadcast TV you are probably fine in stereo. If it's a smart TV Netflix might work in 5.1

But yeah either a different set of speakers with a digital audio in or a converter and three 3.5mm to RCA stereo cables. Here's one from a quick google search https/www.amazon.com/Digital-Surround-Amplifier-Converter-LoveQmall/dp/B076VBCZGY.

If it was me I'd probably just use stereo and live with it, surround is nice but stereo is still good.

Didn't even think that I had to have something that i was watching to be in stereo. So I guess what I need instead is a red/white stereo cable for tv/speakers? Would that only activate the front 2 speakers or all 5 of them?

 

[jsmithepa]

. Is there any other option out there for me? This adapter costs as much as the speakers themselves.

I am only a problem solver, not a salesman, cost is your own concern. There is a 1/2 priced similar item on Amazon, but the 2-star rating suggests is a P.O.S.

If u can get a full surround speakers set for usd$50 that will directly hook up to this TV, then that's what u should do, and save these speakers for other occasion.

TV can only output stereo, 2-channels analog.
For surround, you need output its Optical to a surround (which will do the surround decoding) speakers set with Optical input.

Toys cost money.

 

[Alabalcho]

Didn't even think that I had to have something that i was watching to be in stereo. So I guess what I need instead is a red/white stereo cable for tv/speakers? Would that only activate the front 2 speakers or all 5 of them?

Some Logitech speakers can simulate surround out of stereo signal. All you need to try this is a stereo RCA cable (white/red) between the TV and the speakers.

 

[Dugimodo]

Do you not have a cable you can try? even a 3.5mm cable from a PC or smartphone in stereo to see what happens.
Most speakers come with at least one cable. For the few I have owned which were not the same as yours, when I connected up a stereo source it just output from all 4 speakers anyway but didn't use the centre speaker.

It may have virtual surround or dolby surround options in the speakers if they have a remote? Dolby surround is sent over a stereo connection, it's not proper surround but it can sound ok. You'd have to check the manual if you have one.

 

[cagporo]

Do you not have a cable you can try? even a 3.5mm cable from a PC or smartphone in stereo to see what happens.
Most speakers come with at least one cable. For the few I have owned which were not the same as yours, when I connected up a stereo source it just output from all 4 speakers anyway but didn't use the centre speaker.

It may have virtual surround or dolby surround options in the speakers if they have a remote? Dolby surround is sent over a stereo connection, it's not proper surround but it can sound ok. You'd have to check the manual if you have one.

The speakers came with these cables. For whatever reason wont play any sound from my speakers when i connect them red white to red white with these cables. maybe its the wrong type of cable cuz its the wrong colors?

 

[jsmithepa]

Speaker shows 2 channel input using RCA, and TV shows AUDIO OUT 2 RCA jacks, THAT'S IT, you need a commonly available stereo RCA cable.

Every audio equipment ever sold comes with a cable like this.

 

[Dugimodo]

Plug the green one into the green input on the speakers and plug the other end into a headphone output from a smartphone, or the TV, or a PC/laptop, and see what happens. The green input is the front left and right same as the red and white is so it should give you the same results.

 

[cagporo]

Speaker shows 2 channel input using RCA, and TV shows AUDIO OUT 2 RCA jacks, THAT'S IT, you need a commonly available stereo RCA cable.

Every audio equipment ever sold comes with a cable like this.

Everything except the z506 logitech speakers apparently.

 

[Solandri]

Thanks for the quick reply. Is there any other option out there for me? This adapter costs as much as the speakers themselves.

You're not going to escape some cost. Your TV only has analog stereo audio out, and digital optical out. Your speakers only have analog stereo and 5.1 audio in. There is no cable-only solution to accomplish what you want.

If you use the stereo audio out, then obviously it doesn't carry the surround sound channels. So you're going to need to buy an adapter with a sound field processor which generates the surround sound effect.

If you use the digital optical out, since your speakers only take analog audio in, you're going to need an adapter with a processor to convert the digital optical signal into 5.1 analog.

If you're lucky, as someone suggested above the speakers may have a sound field processor inside to create a faux surround sound effect from stereo input. Search the manual.

 

[boju]

The speakers came with these cables. For whatever reason wont play any sound from my speakers when i connect them red white to red white with these cables. maybe its the wrong type of cable cuz its the wrong colors?

Na, colours doesn't matter. They're coloured for simplicity so you know what goes where instead of trying to figure out a whole bunch of cables if were all the same colour. You probably just need to enable external speakers in the TV's audio settings.

--

Regarding surround, with analog PC speakers it's impossible because a PC has all the designated connections (Green, black and yellow) to make 5.1 work. TV's don't have this nowadays. It's only Optical or Hdmi.

If you want surround from your TV then thats when an Audio Visual Receiver (AVR) specialises in. Doesn't need to be pricey either, can get quite an 'ok' good setup for 300$ or so with speakers that would be same or bit better then those Logitech speakers.

ie,

--

Regarding 5.1 content from TV, since Optical is bandwidth limited (2.1 usually lossless audio, untouched) the content from the source needs to be already encoded or compressed. Netflix has some shows in 5.1 but a lot are not, same for other streaming services. Content that is 5.1, what they do is they compress at their end in a format like Dolby or Dts capable of transmitting through an Optical cable (Optical cable doesn't have the bandwidth like Hdmi does) and then that audio is passed from the TV to the AVR where the format is then decoded (unzipped if you will) and you get 5.1.

Most AVRs nowadays have Hdmi and Hdmi ARC (Audio return channel over Hdmi) which ARC allows Dts HD and Dolby HD played directly to the AVR from the TV if streaming services allow it, not sure they do yet. It's also handy if you run out of Hdmi ports on the AVR and want to use the TV's Hdmi ports that audio wont be limited.

--

If you want surround, need an AVR. With PC speakers best you can do is stereo.

 

[rgd1101]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from cagporo : "I have Logitech z506 and VIZIO E32-C1. Need help in connecting them together."

I have the logitech z506 speakers and would like to connect it to the VIZIO E32-C1.

I would prefer to have surround sound on a minimal budget. Doesnt make sense to buy an adapter that costs as much as the speaker itself. I have figured out that I need some sort of converter. Just not sure what would be best and what cables I would need. I only have an hdmi-hdmi cable and a the factory cables from the logitech speakers.

This is your audio output:

You're going to need something like this(if in the UK) or this(if in the US).

This is your audio output:

You're going to need something like this(if in the UK) or this(if in the US).

With the US one what would the output be?