A few years ago it looked as though the best option for high quality TV sound - if it was available - was to use an Apple TV device, and take the digital audio out stream through a DAC, and thence to whatever high quality kit is available. Is that still the case? Our newest devices can do high quality video - typically 4K video - but appear to put out audio via HDMI - in several high quality formats. Does that mean that additional devices are now required to split off a high quality audio stream for further processing? Maybe a Mac mini is still one of the better options - though quite an expensive one.
-
-
It would help if you mentioned the rest of the system. In general TVs deliver sound through HDMI. If you have an AV Receiver or processor they have HDMI inputs. Some DACs have HDMI inputs (Bryston, NAD, others) added mainly so people can add TV or gaming console sound through their main audio system. I am guessing from your question that you aren’t interested in these options. You therefore require a TV that has non HDMI digital outputs or else a converter that will accept HDMI in one end and output it as any other digital stream (S/PDIF, USB, AES, etc) on the other end. The former exist but are rare. Search Google. The latter are cheap and ubiquitous. -
I don't know about the system used over The Pond but in the UK, the terrestrial channels devote far too few data to the audio. Even the aac CODEC used for so-called HD fails in this respect, tending to be barely superior to the mp2 stream used for standard definition.Originally posted by richardfinegold View PostComment
-
I am not claiming to be an expert on low resolution outputs from Video Devices, but Ibelieve it’s the same situation here.Originally posted by Bryn View PostComment
-
We have several TVs - one fairly recent 4k model (Toshiba) and one much older (Sanyo) - which has been very good in the past, but is now perhaps looking a bit tired. We have a whole bunch of different gadgets designed to pick up different channels and TV streams. Almost all our viewing is now done via internet links, though occasionally we do use satellite. Freeview (terrestrial) is next to impossible to pick up, but we can access FreeSat if needed - which mostly it's not.
I'm trying to remember what gadgets we already have - an early Roku box, a couple of Now TV sticks, a Fire HD stick, and a couple of the newer Roku HD sticks. We also have an Apple TV (3rd gen) and some Chromecast sticks. The latest TV has some form of HDMI output for soundbars. We have also, in the past, directly connected TVs to computers - such as a Macbook Pro laptop and a Mac Mini. Computers may have some advantages, but also some Cons - including cost, and restrictions on HDMI. Presumably some AV systems could also do surround sound as well as stereo.
It may be that it's not worth considering if the streaming/broadcast audio quality isn't good enough - though I thought in the past it was not terrible compared with the R3 high res streaming channel.
If we are going to be shut in again for the winter months then getting better audio quality could be a project, and would enhance some of the services we might watch.Comment
-
What will you be feeding the TV sound into? An AVR? DAC? Integrated amp?Comment
-
And what speakers ? And don't forget all the delays that you introduce the more digital gadgets you put in the way. We use a Sonos Beam. It's OK but then I listen on headphones as my ears aren't as good as my wife's. In hindsight we might just as well have stayed with the TV speakers. In fact, I think I will turn off the Sonos and see if she notices. I bet she doesn't in which case I'll sell it. It's a bit narglking TBH. There we have a brand new state-of-the-art Hi-Def large screen TV and I can guarantee that she will be watching SD. When gently challenged, she will respond "Well, that's what it came up with when I turned it on'. The fact that she doesn't see the difference ......Originally posted by richardfinegold View PostFewer Smart things. More smart people.Comment
-
Perhaps that really is the issue. I'm trying to figure out what others might consider "current best practice". I'm unlikely to use an integrated amp, but could use a small DAC with a small but powerful amp. I doubt that we'd bother with surround sound - and in any case most TV or streaming services don't support surround. I could be tempted by an AVR - though that might not be the best solution. Someone suggested a soundbar, but I don't think that would be worthwhile. I would expect that to give a modest improvement, but nothing like good enough for serious music. Any limitations might be baked in by the quality (or lack of it) of the source material. For exmple, I suspect that the audio quality of some TV programmes is actually rather good in the studio, but by the time it's been mangled in order to transmit it for us to listen to, I expect it may just not be worth rescuing.Originally posted by richardfinegold View PostComment
-
Both my TVs are in a 5.1 surround sound system. I find that having a Center Channel really helps for dialog.Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post
It seems that you really need to figure out what you want from the room before getting hung up on what kind of connection you need for the TV. Will you be listening to music here or just video? Do you want decent bass management? Budget?
If it’s video only you don’t need especially good speakers, imo. I would consider a center speaker. An AVR becomes the most cost effective option, set up as either a 3.0 or 3.1, if you want a sub.
Are you going to also use the space for music listening? Then it’s harder. You want better speakers. Should you use an AVR for video that has a home theater pass through, so that you can use a separate DAC/ amp for music? Or simply play the TV through a 2 channel system? Or use an AVR that is of sufficient quality that you find it acceptable for music? IMO you need to answer these questions first.
If you go the two channel route the easiest thing is to buy a HDMI converter. There are TVs that offer other digital connections for sound so it will depend on the inputs for your DAC.
Don’t get a sound bar. UghComment
-
The sound bar suggestion came from a friend who has perhaps spent more on his TV sound system than many of us have on our hi-fi. I have discounted that - I'm fairly sure that they wouldn't work for me/us.
The same person has also a dedicated cinema room and an audio system which would not be sold at Richer Sounds.
When you say "video only" I assume you mean films and the like. I'm not over bothered about the sound on films or TV shows, as long as it's bearable, and in the case of speech/dialogue - intelligible, which sometimes it isn't. OTOH I watched a streamed version of one of last year's Proms a few days ago, and I really missed the benefit of good quality audio for that.
However, it may be that in fact the broadcasters manage to remove most of the nuances (dynamic range, good and well balanced frequency response etc.) which make for an enjoyable music experience so that even trying to get good quality audio from a TV set up would be pointless.
If that is the case, then there'd be little point in pursuing this line of development. For example, what is the sound quality from the Met Opera streams? Some of the orchestras - for example the Berlin PO stream? If it never gets better than mediocre TV sound then there's no point.Comment
-
Ever since I've had a digital TV (ten years and the same set is still going strong) I've just gone via digital out with optical lead from telly straight into amp and never used the TV's own tinny speakers at all. Rather simple and produces great sound. Hifi speakers were already either side of TV and the stereo sound picture is natural and vivid.Comment
-
For general viewing, where the need for decent audio quality is not at a premium, I save electricity by making do with a television's speakers. When better audio quality is called for, I rely on an HDMI feed from the tuner in a hard disc/Blu-ray recorder to the hi-fi.Originally posted by gurnemanz View PostComment
-
Not sure of your budget Dave 2K2, or how far you want to go, but check out the KEF LS50 wireless speaker range for a topnotch option....
Very compact, good-looking, with connectivity to suit just about any situation...to judge from their many reviews you can't do much better....
I never got around to doing this for my TV, only wish I had before the finances took a few hits from the pandemic... I'd order them now, today, if I could afford it & work it all out when they got here....some great vids on youtube about usage...
I use a stylish old Denon Soundbar which is fine, good for Smooth Classics, films and sport (sometimes alarming when sounds arbitrarily bounce off doors and walls, jump at you from above and behind! I look around for a Cat...), but still fantasise about those KEFS...
I once wired up two Tivoli Model Ones, one per TV channel to the Panasonic.... sounded amazing for music, films, but it was a bit of a pest adjusting two volume controls manually!
Not to mention lack of muting for the ads & trailers....
I still remember watching Nikki Minaj at Glasto doing Starships through those....dashed over to turn it up to 11, and didn't sit down again for a few crazily wonderful minutes...
Last edited by jayne lee wilson; 01-06-21, 14:23.Comment
-
I haven't got a specific budget. I already have a lot of kit of various sorts - so one option is to rummage around to find the long SPDIF cable (or even buy a new one) and connect the TV in the living room to the DAC and see what the quality is like. However we do have two rooms with TVs, and we often use the smaller one. I don't think that the Sharp TV has SPDIF out - though i can check.That would probably need another solution.
The KEF LS50s - can I afford them? Yes - but would I go for them? Perhaps not. They do seem to have a very good spec and very good reviews. Many years ago a friend bought some KEF speakers - they were very good for the time, but much larger than those new ones - and I guess a completely different style. I wasn't sure about the KEF advert which shows a turntable, and under that what looks like an LP rack. In the LH side of that there are some LPs, but also another pile of what might be LPs stacked horizontally! Maybe that's OK these days - I thought horizontal stacking wasn't recommended, unless one was trying to flatten a warped LP. However, I'm not really likely to go back to LPs - though I might get one of the turntables stored somewhere around working again.
How do those KEFs stack up against larger "reference" speakers? If they are really good then I would definitely look at them - though they might be overkill for TV rooms.Comment
-
Is there any mileage in using an old laptop for tv reception, with video via hdmi to the tv, and a usb dac for the sound?Comment
Comment