Trying to connect speakers to a LED TV with no audio output

[Naahuel]

Hello everyone! I just joined, but I've been following Dave's videos for quite a while. My name's Nahuel, I'm from Argentina.

Here's what I need your help with:

About two months ago I purchased an LG LED TV (not smart). This model is available globally (as far as I know) but this one in particular is assembled here in Argentina. It's the 32LN540B (here in eng).

As you can see, it's a pretty basic TV, just for my room. It does have one HUGE flaw: no external audio output. None at all.

I have a small set of speakers (amplified, of course) which I used to be able to plug into the headphones socket in my old tv.

The problem is that it's new. I don't want to tear it down, at least until the warranty is no longer valid

So... anything I can do...? Would a small amplifier with two microphones work in some way?

I know about electronics, I love it, but I suck at audio stuff... I'm open to all kinds of ideas

[Strada916]

Does it have an optical audio out? You could buy a cheap optical amp off eBay. I know you said you have your own speakers, can't see any other way to do it unless you want to tare it down and hook up into the main speakers.

[Naahuel]

No external oudio output at all... of any kind

I know I'm asking too much, but maybe there's some way to capture the audio coming out of the built in speakers using very sensitive microphones...?

If it truly is impossible, I guess I'll take it apart and screw the warranty.

[Strada916]

If you are watching TV only what about a set top box use TV as a monitor.

[dannyf]

hdmi with audio?

[fpliuzzi]

The user's manual that I just downloaded for the 32LN54** series of TVs shows an optical digital output connector on the rear panel. If your TV does have this type of output, perhaps you can use a converter like this to help with your audio interfacing situation...

   www.amazon.com/dp/B008JYB93G?psc=1

NOTE: This converter only works for two channel PCM signals (will not decode surround sound).

[miguelvp]

Well, the owners manual says:
To use External Speaker
SETTINGS ? AUDIO ? Sound Out ? External Speaker (Optical)
[Only available for models with an optical port]
Sound is output through the speaker connected to the optical port.
SimpLink is supported.

Don't know what SimpLink is but some of the TVs dont have the optical port.

What dannyf asked about hdmi with audio is because you can get an hdmi to hdmi with audio/sound extractor like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/AVUE-Converter-Audio-SPDIF-Extractor/dp/B00I86J1W6

But not sure how well it will work at 120Hz or with DHCP content.

And if the content comes directly from Digital TV reception then you are SOL

[fpliuzzi]

Hello,
Another reason that I thought the 32LN540B had the optical port was because I saw the following youtube video where the gentleman appears to be pointing to the optical audio connector at the 2:06 point of the video.

     

If the OP's particular TV doesn't have this optical port then I stand corrected.

Regards

[richcj10]

Use a receiver.

[German_EE]

Page 19 of the manual shows both a Speaker Out connection and a connector marked 'Stereo' with a headphones symbol by the side. Would this work with your PC speakers?

[tggzzz]

The volume control on the TV remote control will change the volume of sound heard through the loudspeakers - obviously.

Check whether or not it will also change the volume of an optical output or headphones output.

[G7PSK]

You could try putting a coil in front of each speaker, should be a magnetic field from the speaker coils that you can couple to like that.

[Naahuel]

Wow! Thanks everyone for replying and taking the time to find videos and user manuals and all that. You're all very nice

@Strada916: Yes, I watch movies like that (using a PC ), but the built-in USB functionality of the TV is quite good and much more comfortable And I don't want to buy a DTV receiver when it has one built-in.

@dannyf: Can I get audio out of the HDMI? Even when using another source (ie tv or usb)?

@fpliuzzi: Thanks for taking the time to find and read the manual but no optical audio output on this model

@miguelvp: Yeah, but this one doesn't have an optical port SimpLink was actually something that gave me hopes at first because when I press the button I get a menu where I can select TV, blue ray, hdd recorder and speakers! but after reading about it a bit it turns out it sucks It's a system that allows me to control other SimpLink-compatible devices connected to the HDMI port through the TV's remote. if I connect speakers there It won't output sound through the HDMI (as far as I know), I'll just be able to control it. And the speakers have to also be LG and have SimpLink.
Ah, so the HDMI to HDMI with audio extractor would only work for an HDMI input. Makes sense. I only use my laptop there and I set up the oudio output to my speakers, so

@fpliuzzi: hah, that backpanel looks nothing like mine! here's a photo of the one I have:

That's one HDMI input, one component input, two AV inputs and two coaxial. On the side I have one more HDMI and one USB. And on the side it has MCR64906601 printed on it :| A google search shows one thread in spanish and another in portuguese of people trying to do this

@richcj10: It wouldn't really solve my problem, I want to be able to amplify the sound of its speakers when I watch TV or a DVD or a movie through USB.

@German_EE: it appears there are many different variants of this model. The one I have has no headphones out or any external audio output.

@tggzzz: No optical or headphones outputs

@G7PSK: Now this is more like what I had in mind... The speakers are face-down at the bottom so it would be kinda hidden. But.. how would that work?

[NiHaoMike]

Some TVs do support reverse audio over HDMI but I don't think the basic ones would.

[joshhunsaker]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Mini-2-Pin-53-54-DB-9-7mm-6-7mm-Electret-Microphone-Spy-Condenser-Pickup-/360811259690

+

http://freecircuitdiagram.com/2010/11/15/op-amp-microphone-pre-amp/

Use both channels of the TL082 for stereo and add the bias voltage as described in that circuit write-up (required for electrets).  Use a 9v to power the preamp.  Patch your stereo audio out to a typical amplifier/receiver.  Being that TL082s and those electrets are dirt-cheap, your total project cost should be close to nothing.  Those mics provide very surprising audio quality.  I've used literally dozens of them in projects.

[tggzzz]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Mini-2-Pin-53-54-DB-9-7mm-6-7mm-Electret-Microphone-Spy-Condenser-Pickup-/360811259690

+

http://freecircuitdiagram.com/2010/11/15/op-amp-microphone-pre-amp/

Use both channels of the TL082 for stereo and add the bias voltage as described in that circuit write-up (required for electrets).  Use a 9v to power the preamp.  Patch your stereo audio out to a typical amplifier/receiver.  Being that TL082s and those electrets are dirt-cheap, your total project cost should be close to nothing.  Those mics provide very surprising audio quality.  I've used literally dozens of them in projects.

Presumably an electret microphone will pickup and amplify any sound. If so then the amplified wound will be the same quality as that from the speakers, and there is the possibility of audio feedback.

[Naahuel]

Thanks joshhunsaker! It looks cheap and effortless. Definitely worth a try!

What tggzzz said about audio feedback is the first thing I thought about with this microphone idea. But I guess I'd have to try.

[joshhunsaker]

These particular mics tend to be very directional from my experience.  If you're worried about feedback, mount it in a foam block potentially.

Most of the issue with lack of quality with these types of things is just lack of bandwidth available at a certain distance away from the speaker.  If you converted a set of tv speakers into a set of headphones likely they would sound just as good (if not quite a bit better) than most headphones on the market.  Close-range mic'ing will produce a far different sound than the typical vantage point of a person's listening experience for the same drivers.

[Sohail]

Hello friends I have same problem with my Samsung LED TV UA32EH4003R. There is no any audio output eg Aux/ Digital Audio Output/ RCA or any jack not available, there is only two option I have that is change my LED TV or make AUX or RCA from internal speakers, but I can't found how to wired and which converter I can use for output from internal speakers. Anybody know about this kindly help me.