360/HDTV speaker-hookup questions HELP

[Kelegacy]

Hey guys. First off, I know diddly about sound and home theater stuff. I have a Westinghouse SK-32H520S, which is a cheap, but nice, HDTV. Only problem is, sound from the tv speakers really blows. Even messing with the treble and bass produce distortion. Some 360 games are alright, but atmospheric games like Dead Space have sound elements that I can’t enjoy fully.

I wanted to buy a cheap PC speaker set for the television, with subwoofer, but I can’t really figure out how I’d hook them to my television to use with my 360. Guess I’m a bit dumb. I don’t need a full home theater system since this is a secondary television. I can’t even hook up headphones because there is no jack on this tv, unlike my much nicer Samsung.

I’m using HDMI right now, and attached are pictures of the television on both sides, to show the inputs. My computer is also hooked up to the tv via VGA as well, and I can use the computer speakers for that just fine. I’d love to be able to use the same speakers, or at least unhook them and use them only for the 360.

In order to do this, do I need some special accessories? How do I hook up PC speakers/subwoofer to use with my 360/HDTV?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, put into terms that I, a five-year old, can understand.

[MachEnergy]

I use this for my home theater/PC and have loved it for the past 2 years:
Logitech Z-5500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120)

For my situation, anything that goes HDMI into my TV, I use the optical port on the TV to pipe the sound to my speaker system. Real simple, and since I see your TV has an Optical (TosLink) Out port, you could do the same thing. Then all you have to do is mute the TV speakers, and you're golden.

[Kelegacy]

I use this for my home theater/PC and have loved it for the past 2 years:
Logitech Z-5500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120)

For my situation, anything that goes HDMI into my TV, I use the optical port on the TV to pipe the sound to my speaker system. Real simple, and since I see your TV has an Optical (TosLink) Out port, you could do the same thing. Then all you have to do is mute the TV speakers, and you're golden.

So I'll need to buy an optical cord? Is that what it's called? Are they cheap?

[MachEnergy]

So I'll need to buy an optical cord? Is that what it's called? Are they cheap?

Yup. So long as your speaker system supports optical inputs.

Here's the port to look for on your box. Often times they have a hinged flap covering it, but the shape should be the same.
http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/_TOSLINK.JPG

You can get cheap cables here:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229

Honestly, you could probably get the cheapest one that is the correct length, and it will serve you just fine.

[KingGorilla]

Just try to find some theater in a box that supports Optical audio.

But you can check and see if the set has RCA audio out or supports typical speaker wire out. Some sets have this which sort of makes them like a mini-receiver.

[Kelegacy]

Okay, thanks guys. My current speaker system for the PC, which is good, doesn't support optical...I don't think. I'll have to see if there is a plug there. If not, I'll just go buy a new system this weekend. I need more immersion. Girlfriend will get pissed probably, so I hope there's a jack for headphones, too. :)

I'll do some searching. Thanks again.

[Mdot]

Monoprice, ftw. That website is so money. It should seriously be the only place anyone shops for cables.

[roboninja]

I use this for my home theater/PC and have loved it for the past 2 years:
Logitech Z-5500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120)

For my situation, anything that goes HDMI into my TV, I use the optical port on the TV to pipe the sound to my speaker system. Real simple, and since I see your TV has an Optical (TosLink) Out port, you could do the same thing. Then all you have to do is mute the TV speakers, and you're golden.

Yep, this is pretty much what you need. The TV sends the digital audio out via the TOSLink/optical cable, so as long as your speaker system/receiver can accept and decode an optical audio stream, you should be good. Of course, I add the should because my TV/PS3/receiver setup would not do so for PS3 games, only movies; I had to buy a receiver that supported Bitstream via HDMI to get my setup to work.

[Kelegacy]

I don't need anything too ridiculous, just a cheap set (yet decent) that doesn't distort when bass is used. Right now I get a tearing sound if the bass is elevated at all and a loud action is performed.

A while back, before I bought this secondary tv, I used a 17" Gateway LCD computer monitor and a Y adapter (and another item), coupled with a 360 VGA cable. I can't seem to figure out how to replicate that with this television. Then again, it wasn't the most ideal set-up.

Is there a way to set up a speaker system if it doesn't have an optical port? I really don't want to spend more than $100, and I'd prefer to spend much less than that. Even if I have to go 2.1 Surround on this thing, I think I'll be okay.

[KingGorilla]

Kel, you could look into getting a sound card supporting optical in, in essence turning the PC into a receiver.

[Hexxagonal]

Yeah, it looks like your TV doesn't have any outputs for anything. You're only bet really seems to get a speaker system that takes a direct input like they were saying above. You could also go for a cheap home theater in a box.

[Kelegacy]

Resurrecting for a second...

Is there an optical out/in on the 360? Could I possibly be able to hook up speakers directly to the console? I did some pricing on optical input speakers and I just don't have the budget for them right now. My bday is coming next week though, so I might be able to swing something.

I saw this (http://www.buy.com/retail/Product.asp?sku=204509050) online and was curious. It says unavailable but I'm sure I could track something similar down somewhere.

[KingGorilla]

I just remembered, the Optical audio is on the Component Cable, not the console itseelf. Most of our advice has been somewhat useless to anyone using HDMI with their 360.

[muddi900]

Doesn't the newer 360 also come with the old component cable. With a wire cutter, you can use it with the HDMI. can also buy an optical cable rip-off MS sells for idiots.