Dumb Q -- non-powered speakers connected to TV-out

fishfry

unread,

Oct 16, 2007, 8:47:17 PM10/16/07

to

I just bought a pair of JBL Control1X speakers. They have traditional
connecting posts (two wires, one to each post).

My tv-out jacks are RCA plugs. I took a pair of RCA-RCA plugs and cut
each one of the pair; separated the signal and ground, and plugged the
signal into the + post, and the ground into the - post of the speakers.

However, no sound comes out.

Somone on a Web forum had told me this setup would work ... but of
course they could be wrong.

Do I need to have an amp between the tv-out and the speakers?

Or should the speakers work the way I did it, and perhaps something else
is wrong?

I formerly had some powered computer speakers plugged in to the tv-out
jacks, and they work fine.

If I need an amp, what's a good one to get? This isn't a mega home
theater setup, I just want to put a pair of speakers on my tv.

Thanks, I hope this question's not too dumb.

Kalman Rubinson

unread,

Oct 16, 2007, 8:54:22 PM10/16/07

to

On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:47:17 -0700, fishfry
<BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote:

>I just bought a pair of JBL Control1X speakers. They have traditional
>connecting posts (two wires, one to each post).
>
>My tv-out jacks are RCA plugs. I took a pair of RCA-RCA plugs and cut
>each one of the pair; separated the signal and ground, and plugged the
>signal into the + post, and the ground into the - post of the speakers.
>
>However, no sound comes out.
>
>Somone on a Web forum had told me this setup would work ... but of
>course they could be wrong.

You can make the connection but the signals are not appropriate.

>Do I need to have an amp between the tv-out and the speakers?

Of course. The RCA outputs are not amplified and the speakers require
amplified signals.

>I formerly had some powered computer speakers plugged in to the tv-out
>jacks, and they work fine.

That's because they have amps in them.

>If I need an amp, what's a good one to get? This isn't a mega home
>theater setup, I just want to put a pair of speakers on my tv.

Google for T-Amps. Used to have them at Target.

Kal

Art

unread,

Oct 16, 2007, 10:30:26 PM10/16/07

to

I have a 1987 Mitsubishi TV that still works like new that has a built in
amp to power external speakers. But few tv's have that feature.

"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-2F...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...

Vitamin R

unread,

Oct 17, 2007, 7:48:09 AM10/17/07

to

"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-2F...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...

>I just bought a pair of JBL Control1X speakers. They have traditional
> connecting posts (two wires, one to each post).
>
> My tv-out jacks are RCA plugs. I took a pair of RCA-RCA plugs and cut
> each one of the pair; separated the signal and ground, and plugged the
> signal into the + post, and the ground into the - post of the speakers.
>
> However, no sound comes out.

Nope, you gotta have an amplifier. Check out Best Buy for a nice home
theater amp, you should be able to get by with one in the $199 range.

John Carrier

unread,

Oct 17, 2007, 8:19:43 AM10/17/07

to

General Rule of Thumb: RCA plug = line level output. Binding Post =
speaker level output. TV's rarely have speaker level outputs.

Exception to the Rule: Bose is so cheesy, they use RCA plugs for some their
speakers (and about 24 gauge wire).

R / John

"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-2F...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...

DaveW

unread,

Oct 17, 2007, 6:56:36 PM10/17/07

to

Yes, you need a power amplifier betweeen the TV audio outs and the speakers.
The audio-out RCA jacks on your TV are pre-amp output jacks. They put out a
tiny signal for an amplifier to boost to drive the speakers.

--
---------------------
DaveW

---------------------

"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-2F...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...