Connecting new TV to very old HI-Fi?

[Cheeky_Chris]

We've had a rather snazzy Samsung 50" 3D tv for a while now, but we had been using the tv's speakers. Sitting right next to it, is a hi-Fi system that was bought a very long time ago, but me, not being content with the tv speakers decided this morning to hook it up to the system and see how things went. I turned the hi-Fi round to find a red and white connector with the words audio (video) beneath them, and thought-great, this might connect to my tv! Venturing around the back of the TV I discovered it had another red and white connector. After rummaging around in a draw for several minutes I found a scart cable sort of thing-red, yellow and white on both ends. I decided to hook it up from the tv to the hi-Fi using just the red and white connector, as from my understanding they do the same thing as a lead with just red and white. I switched onto external speakers on my tv and "video"on my hi-Fi expecting bear grylls to come shouting though the speakers about survival. Silence from the speakers, but going around the back of the tv and unplugging the cables I found that if I pressed the lead on the outside of the port I got the buzzing noise from the speakers.
I've tried all the options on my tv and hi-Fi, but cannot figure out for the life of me why it won't work. I see no reason why not? Not being too up on sound I may have missed something obvious to another. What's wrong?

 

[i7Baby]

Read the manual

 

[MagicPants]

The three connectors on the back of the TV are an input, not an output (having the yellow video connector is the giveaway). Look for connectors without the yellow(they should be labeled ARC for audio return cable). Otherwise you are more or less out of luck

 

[Cheeky_Chris]

The three connectors on the back of the TV are an input, not an output (having the yellow video connector is the giveaway). Look for connectors without the yellow(they should be labeled ARC for audio return cable). Otherwise you are more or less out of luck

Ah, upon taking a picture to post here I can see that they are audio in cables x)
There is a digital optical out on tv but no other on the hi-Fi, I presume this is game over?

 

[Cheeky_Chris]

Read the manual

Haha well unfortunately the system is that old that we don't have it anymore and I couldn't even find one online!

 

[ssddx]

you need to list the exact model of your tv or read the manual to see if it has any sort of outputs for sound.

if you are playing from the tv as a source the following 3 apply:

if your tv has a headphone jack you could use a headphone 3.5mm to rca red+white splitter to hook up to the old hifi.

if it has optical or other output then its not so easy and you would need a not-so-cheap converter.

if it has zero outputs... then you're stuck.

if you are using another device (a cable box, ps3, dvd player, other device) as the input which then connects up to the tv then you have other options available to you but you need to specify what devices you have and which specific models as well as how you have everything connected.

 

[americanaudiophile]

Something like this is all you need:
http/www.parts-express.com/digital-to-analog-converter-%2851-compatible%29--180-999
Not too pricey.

 

[i7Baby]

So can't be done. Not worth trying

 

[ssddx]

@i7baby

we do not know that yet. the op hasnt given us info on which tv they have and what sources they are using.

dont be so pessimistic.

 

[jFiveNYC]

The three connectors on the back of the TV are an input, not an output (having the yellow video connector is the giveaway). Look for connectors without the yellow(they should be labeled ARC for audio return cable). Otherwise you are more or less out of luck

Ah, upon taking a picture to post here I can see that they are audio in cables x)
There is a digital optical out on tv but no other on the hi-Fi, I presume this is game over?

Yeah, see what ssddx said.

It'll look like this....

 

[americanaudiophile]

As I said you need an digital to analog converter. This will convert the optical audio output to a stereo analog RCA output that will connect to your stereo.