Technical question about Panasonic flatscreen TV

[Evil One]

I know there's a few techy types on here, so it's worth a shot. I've had a flat screen Panasonic HD telly for a few weeks now and the picture is great, but the sound, like with many flat screens, is terrible. I can buy extra speakers, etc and wire them up, but this will necessitate an extra remote just for controlling volume. Is there any way to set the TV so whenever I adjust the volume it also adjusts the rest of the output volumes too? I've had a fiddle and can't see a way to do it. :shrug:

[AndrewG]

I'm not an expert on this subject by any means but I get the impression if you want true surround sound you will always have to feed the sound straight from the source to the speakers before it goes to the TV, so you get the whole Blu Ray/DVD + receiver malarky and then can feed extra connections from Game consoles into there, now mostly digital. This gets complicated and often you will still have normal TV without that sound going through speakers unless the TV manufacturer has taken a connection possibility into account.

As a very simple solution (and audiophiles will probably cringe at this) I have hooked up my Sony Flatscreen straight from headphones out to a cheap (less than £100) Logitech 2.1 system. The sound? Incredible in my opinion, especially with Blu Ray. The thunderous bass is bloody fantastic on these Logitech speakers. I'm getting the same effect in Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii which is quite surprising. Whenever the gorilla slams the ground, it makes the house tremble.
This also lets me control all the volume, from everything TV, Games, Movies etc, straight to the speakers and the TV speakers are of course instantly disabled (and the Sony ones are crap too).

Perhaps a 2.1 system worth considering here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980-000320-Z523-Speakers-Black/dp/B002MHYQJA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1293631348&sr=8-7) (it will do the same as what I have but you need a 3.5mm to RCA cable I think if it is not supplied) if you are interested in this cheap simple solution.

For me surround is not necessary and I don't want cables throughout the room. If I could get a wireless surround system I would consider different connection possibilities but for me this 2.1 solution is great at the moment.

[AndrewG]

This (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Z-2300-Speaker-System-970118-0120/dp/B002AAL8CM) is the set I have (200W is obviously going to be better than the ones I pointed out above) but I got it for £75 so def shop around.

[Monstro]

:lurk:..........waiting for Jonty to come online lol

[daveake]

We went for the option of buying a 5.1 surround amplifier from the same manufacturer (Sony in our case). It connects to the TV via a single HDMI lead, and when the amplifier is on the TV speakers automatically switch off and the TV remote then sets the amplifier volume not the TV volume.

We already had the surround speakers installed, using flat cables under the carpet for the rear speakers. Didn't bother with a subwoofer as the main speakers are BIG :-)

[daveake]

:lurk:..........waiting for Jonty to come online lol

I didn't realise we had a porn star in our midst :lmao:

[Evil One]

I'm not particularly bothered by surround sound. I just think the speakers in the TV are shite.

I can take the sound from the headphone socket but it doesn't work off the main volume control, you have to fiddle about in various menus. There is no way (that I can see) of altering the volume of the audio out sockets. I suspect it has been deliberately designed this way in order to force people to buy the Panasonic home cinema thingy, which I have no intention of doing. :twisted:

[daveake]

Option Z: Open case, cut wires to speakers, extend wires outside the case (maybe via some sockets to be posh) and thence to a decent set of external speakers.

Job done. Warranty void. :-)

[Evil One]

Warranty void. :-)
I'd already thought of that one. Losing the 5 year warranty is somewhat unappealing though! :shock:

[duke knooby]

so are you just wanting to hook up additional speakers into the back of set, and have them controlled from the sets sound controller?

its unlikely the tv will have an amp/processor built in to drive external speakers. The best solution is a seperate amp/processer (yamaha are amongst theeeee best) and speakers/sub kit, but that will give you a 2nd remote which you don't want. The most common solution is a standard surround kit, usually with the dvd/blu ray player combined.. but you'd need to check it has sufficient inputs to hook up your tivo box to get the sound for tv progs as well as any other kit you wanted to hook up (and again a 2nd remote... though if you get a panasonic the main features will be controlled from the tv remote). I quite like andrews solution... wouldn't have thought of that, and as best as i recall the panasonics have a seperate volume/bass/treble control for the headphone outputs.

Which model is it anyway?

[Evil One]

It is a Panasonic Viera TX-L32S20BA

so are you just wanting to hook up additional speakers into the back of set, and have them controlled from the sets sound controller?
That would be the ideal solution. My previous telly allowed me to alter the volume sent to external speakers, so I can only assume this has been designed without that capabilty. :roll:

[duke knooby]

the rear of it like this????

page 64

http://support.thetechguys.com/Uploads/%7B9cdc33be-f939-4ba8-9ee0-11f5301c6c3f%7D/TXPxxS20.pdf#page=64

[Evil One]

Yep. :yep:

[AndyK]

Employ a servant to operate all the various remote controls upon your single command. Simples.

[Monstro]

Employ a servant to operate all the various remote controls upon your single command. Simples.

When you need said servant do you give them a ring? :D

[duke knooby]

Yep. :yep:

nah, i'm 99.9% certain youre gonna need more kit for better sound.. but i'll ask some people in the know to be sure

was your old set a prologic sound set or similar?

http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Yamaha-DSP-Z11/ :drool:

[daveake]

Employ a servant to operate all the various remote controls upon your single command. Simples.

So, I guess that when you go through airport security and they ask "Did you pack these bags yourself?", you answer with "Do I look like the kind of person who has to pack their own bags??"...

[Evil One]

No it was a huge Phillips CRT widescreen effort. There was nothing actually wrong with it but this flat screen was a gift, so I'm not going to say no! :twisted:

[duke knooby]

so what do you want for nothing??

your money back??? :D

(i love that phrase)

the panny is a good set... have you played about with the audio set up?

[Evil One]

Yes lots. It's actually the second one. The first one went back after 2 days once I'd confirmed that the bass wasn't working! :?

[AndyK]

So, I guess that when you go through airport security and they ask "Did you pack these bags yourself?", you answer with "Do I look like the kind of person who has to pack their own bags??"...

I have people who talk to security for me, and carry my bags, the Bentley is just driven from the helicopter to the private jet on the airstrip. :))

[daveake]

I have people who talk to security for me, and carry my bags, the Bentley is just driven from the helicopter to the private jet on the airstrip. :))

Ah, of course. I bet you take the pâtissier too.