Connecting TV to hifi speakers

[cynicalmonk]

Hi there

I was hoping someone could help me with a problem I have. I need to connect my TV (LG-m2262dp) to a new hifi I just purchased (Panasonic SC-PM500) so I can watch the TV using the hifi speakers as audio instead of the TV's substandard ones. And I really don't want to have to buy a sound bar!

On my previous hifi there was an audio input socket so I have been able to connect the TV to the hifi using the TV's headphones output. But the new Panasonic hifi has no audio input, only a USB port designed for external devices such as iPods.

I've seen that it's possible to buy an adapter which will convert a standard headphone cable to USB (it's like a USB dongle with a hole at the back for the headphones cable). But will that work? Is it possible to connect a headphones audio output to a USB input? Will the hifi recognise the audio or does USB input only work with devices such as hard drives?

Here's an example of the headphones to USB adapter I'm talking about:
http/

And if the headphones output to USB port is not an option, does anyone know whether I could connect any of the other ports on the TV to the Panasonic hifi's USB port? The TV also has an Optical Digital Audio Output socket and the standard red and white audio out sockets, plus a scart connection. The TV also has a USB port and a HDMI port but my understanding is that these are inputs, not outputs.

And if none of these outputs are of any use, does anyone know of another type of adapter I could use to solve this problem?

If anyone could help me with this I'd be very grateful.

Cheers!

 

[Ralston18]

Depending on the available ports and viable TV menu configurations you may have some choices.

Here are two links that can provide some guidance provided you can match the ports on your devices:

http/www.diyaudioandvideo.com/TV/WiringDiagram/

http/www.ceaconnectionsguide.com/

Look at the User Guide/Manuals for the LG TV and Panasonic Hifi - make sure that you understand which ports are truly functional. Some ports could be just "placeholders" and not activatable for real use on lower models.

Map out any connections that seem viable and test accordingly. Pretty good chance that you willl be able to send the audio output to the speakers - necessary adapters and cables to be determined.

For example if you determine that some SCART adapter is workable then just google for the necessary adapter via the port and gender requirements.

 

[americanaudiophile]

USB won't work since it has limited functions in AV equipment.
All you need is a DAC like this one
http/www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-%2851-compatible%29--180-999
to convert the optical audio out of the TV into an analog stereo audio for the analog audio input on the hifi. You will also need a Toslink digital audio cable (TV to DAC) and a cable that has 2 RCA plugs at the DAC end and a 3.5mm stereo plug at the hifi end.

 

[cynicalmonk]

USB won't work since it has limited functions in AV equipment.
All you need is a DAC like this one
http/www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-%2851-compatible%29--180-999
to convert the optical audio out of the TV into an analog stereo audio for the analog audio input on the hifi. You will also need a Toslink digital audio cable (TV to DAC) and a cable that has 2 RCA plugs at the DAC end and a 3.5mm stereo plug at the hifi end.

Thanks for all the answers. I have in fact already returned the hifi after lots of asking around specialist shops. It seems that a USB input on a hifi cannot be used to receive a direct audio signal. There may be some sort of combination of adapters / amplifiers but the whole thing was getting far too complicated and I shall buy a different stereo with an audio input socket.