Dolby 5.1 surround sound

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Ok, my camper has the Dolby 5.1 surround sound home theater system in it and has a 20" LCD Flatscreen tv tied into it as far as the sound going through the Dolby system.
The tv has it's own speakers, but like I said, it's sound is going through the Dolby right now.
Is this just a cable plug in from tv to Dolby?
I have not looked yet to see, was just wondering if anyone knew right off the top of their head.
Thanks

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

I would imagine you've just got RCA cables running from the TV to the stereo. Does the sound come out of the TV speakers at all? Does the volume coming out of the stereo change if you adjust the TV volume? If this is the case, your TV may be like the one I have in my bedroom and you might have a headphone to RCA cable connecting the two. I used the headphone output on my little TV because it doesn't have RCA outs. That may be the case with yours.

-Carl

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

I would imagine you've just got RCA cables running from the TV to the stereo. Does the sound come out of the TV speakers at all? Does the volume coming out of the stereo change if you adjust the TV volume? If this is the case, your TV may be like the one I have in my bedroom and you might have a headphone to RCA cable connecting the two. I used the headphone output on my little TV because it doesn't have RCA outs. That may be the case with yours.

-Carl

No sound from the TV speakers.
Can adjust sound with TV remote, but not very loud.
That is reason I want to use it as stand alone volume for itself and not go through all 5 speakers.
I think that is where I am losing volume at.

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

I would check on the back of your TV (if you can get to it) to see if the cable going to the receiver is plugged into the headphone jack. On my TV, I have the volume cranked way up to get enough sound out of the receiver. If it is hooked up through the headphone out, remember to turn down the volume BEFORE you unplug it, because the TV speakers will be cranked way up and you'll be blasted out of the room! If it's not hooked up through the headphones, your TV may have settings to change the way the sound comes out. On my big TV, I have the stereo hooked up through the RCAs, but have the TV speakers turned off in the menu. See if there is a way to change the output to fixed (instead of variable), if the TV is hooked up through the RCAs. The sound through my receiver and speakers is so much better than the sound from the TV speakers that I just leave the TV connected and leave the volume on the TV cranked up. I then use the remote for the stereo to control the volume. You may find yourself in a similar situation. Let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any questions!

-Carl

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

That's the thing, I can not get much volume out of the Dolby, even with DVD playing, like they are combating themselves for volume.
I will check when I go back to the campground and see how they are hooked up.
Thanks, I will let you know.

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

You don't get much sound through the TV or the DVD player? Are they hooked up separately or is the DVD player run through the TV? If your DVD player runs through the TV, try running the sound directly to the receiver. If the volume improves, we'll know to look at the TV more closely. If not, you may have a wiring problem or some other issue that we'll have to sort out. You may have speakers out of phase, or something that's not connected correctly.

Another thing... try switching the sound to "stereo" on the receiver. Some receivers don't cope well with trying to convert a stereo signal to surround and you lose a TON of volume. I usually leave my stereo on "5 channel stereo" when I'm listening to the TV, but many receivers don't have that option, especially if it is more than a few years old.

Hope this helps!

-Carl

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

This is a brand new unit.
I had one just like it in the 2006 I traded in, but did not come with the TV like this one did and I had n/p with volume.
The 5.1 would well put you outside if you wanted it to.
I will look more closely when I go back out.

 

[i386]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

Thinking about my setup at home...

My TV only plays through its speakers when the TV's tuner is used (which is never). I have audio cables going from the Sat. receiver and from the DVD player to the Amplifier. On the amplifier I have to select which sound input I want. So if I go from watching Sat. TV to watching a DVD I have to tell switch the Amplifier/Receiver to DVD.

Oh, it sounds like you're really roughing it in that camper!

 

[zoe'sdad]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

Is the reciever and DVD player one unit or two seperate ones? If it is two seperate devices then the TV would have a yellow video cable or co-ax cable running from the DVD player to the TV. You would have (2) pair audio cables running from the DVD to the stereo reciever, one input and output (red and white) for the left and right channels. Not sure on a unit with both the reciever and DVD combined but it would seem that you would then have just an audio output running to the TV. Check the reciever settings there should be three, surround or pro-logic, stereo 3 (center and right/left speakers) and stereo (left/right) speaker. You can use one of those three settings to your liking. Finally, turn off stereo and just play the television. Turn up the volume from its lowest setting, the TV should work without the pro-logic reciever turned on.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

Is the reciever and DVD player one unit or two seperate ones? If it is two seperate devices then the TV would have a yellow video cable or co-ax cable running from the DVD player to the TV. You would have (2) pair audio cables running from the DVD to the stereo reciever, one input and output (red and white) for the left and right channels. Not sure on a unit with both the reciever and DVD combined but it would seem that you would then have just an audio output running to the TV. Check the reciever settings there should be three, surround or pro-logic, stereo 3 (center and right/left speakers) and stereo (left/right) speaker. You can use one of those three settings to your liking. Finally, turn off stereo and just play the television. Turn up the volume from its lowest setting, the TV should work without the pro-logic reciever turned on.

The unit has the dvd in it, one unit.
It has 3 cables coming to tv.
2 are hooked together to make one and it plugs in the side of the tv.
I unplug it and the tv sound comes out the tv speakers.
Get's away from the other 5.
I did not try the dvd player to see what effect it had on it, will do that tomorrow.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

You may want to look in the tv's menu also.Some have settings for the audio for fixed and variable that determines the output to the surround receiver.
It sounds like yours is converting a stereo signal into Dolby Pro logic,that is a simulated 5.1.Most small tvs don't have the digital or optical output needed for true 5.1.The DVD player should though.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

This is what I found.
3 cables coming from the Dolby to tv.
2 of them were hooked together and plugged into the side of the tv.
These were for the sound from tv to Dolby.
Unplugged it and sound is fine on tv.
Put dvd in Dolby and played and had plenty of volume.
Went thru the routine of adjusting each speaker plus the subwoofer and the sound is great.
Had one of the action kung fu movies in and each hit and kick were really picked up and sent to different speakers.
Thanks all for the advice.

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

Glad to hear you have good sound for your movies! If you are still wondering about the TV, try plugging the cables back in and switching the receiver to stereo. You won't get the surround sound, but I'd imagine the sound from the receiver and speakers is better than the sound on the TV. You may have to crank up the volume on the TV to get an acceptable level on the receiver. On the other hand, you could just leave it alone and enjoy it!

-Carl

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dolby 5.1 surround sound

I don't watch the tv much so I don't worry about it.
My wife has to watch her soaps though but her hearing is a lot better than mine so she won't have a problem now hearing the tv.
Thanks again everyone.