Turntable/receiver speaker output to new soundbar
March 28, 2019 10:00 AM Subscribe
I have an older nice enough stereo, connected to nice speakers. Works great. I also have a TV with soundbar. Works great. The receiver/amplifier has two sets of speaker out - I have one set going to the existing speakers, what can I do to add the soundbar as the second set of speakers?
The goal is that when I am listening to a record I can push the "speaker A" button and hear through the regular speakers, push "speaker B" and hear through the soundbar, push both A and B and hear both A and B.
I don't want to just have the soundbar as my speakers via line-out or headphone jack, and anyway, my amplifier doesn't have line-out.
We're talking old timey raw-wire speaker outs from the amp and a 3.5mm stereo aux input on the soundbar. I could just cut an aux cable and solder/twist some speaker wire on the other end, but then I'd be sending speaker level signal into (what I assume is) a line level input. I'm guessing that's bad.
Surely there is some sort of dingus can I put in the middle that would make this all work. What is that thing called? I'm willing and able to do simple soldering/assembling, but it really does have to be simple.
The goal is that when I am listening to a record I can push the "speaker A" button and hear through the regular speakers, push "speaker B" and hear through the soundbar, push both A and B and hear both A and B.
I don't want to just have the soundbar as my speakers via line-out or headphone jack, and anyway, my amplifier doesn't have line-out.
We're talking old timey raw-wire speaker outs from the amp and a 3.5mm stereo aux input on the soundbar. I could just cut an aux cable and solder/twist some speaker wire on the other end, but then I'd be sending speaker level signal into (what I assume is) a line level input. I'm guessing that's bad.
Surely there is some sort of dingus can I put in the middle that would make this all work. What is that thing called? I'm willing and able to do simple soldering/assembling, but it really does have to be simple.
> my amplifier doesn't have line-out
...and no "tape out"? I'm fairly old & familiar with even older receivers & most had a tape monitor/tape out circuit.
Obligatory "answer the dang question"-- here's a source of speaker to line converters from a place with actual customer service that can help.
And an old-time warning: some amplifiers use to blow transistors if run with no load. If you had both speaker A & B off & were using headphones it would be OK, but if you pressed a speaker button & there was nothing (or a high impedance line-level converter), run for a good while at high gain = kablooey.
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 11:43 AM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
...and no "tape out"? I'm fairly old & familiar with even older receivers & most had a tape monitor/tape out circuit.
Obligatory "answer the dang question"-- here's a source of speaker to line converters from a place with actual customer service that can help.
And an old-time warning: some amplifiers use to blow transistors if run with no load. If you had both speaker A & B off & were using headphones it would be OK, but if you pressed a speaker button & there was nothing (or a high impedance line-level converter), run for a good while at high gain = kablooey.
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 11:43 AM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Sony STR-AV560 amplifier and a VIZIO SmartCast SB3831-D (I think - it's indistinguishable based on features and look but man there's a lot of variations out there)
There is Tape Out (and video audio out!) but I never was able to get it to work when I had an external tape deck. At any rate, yeah, not what I'm looking to do.
posted by dirtdirt at 11:57 AM on March 28, 2019
There is Tape Out (and video audio out!) but I never was able to get it to work when I had an external tape deck. At any rate, yeah, not what I'm looking to do.
posted by dirtdirt at 11:57 AM on March 28, 2019
You can use the TAPE 1 (or 2) / REC OUT jacks. There should be signal on those jacks any time Tape 1 is not selected as an input. Plug them into your sound bar directly, no adapter needed. Be sure the TAPE 2 MONITOR light is off, press that button if necessary. (Source: the manual for that receiver.)
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:15 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:15 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks! Bought this thing, works exactly as I'd hoped. Success!
posted by dirtdirt at 8:03 AM on April 1, 2019
posted by dirtdirt at 8:03 AM on April 1, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
That is, indeed, generally bad. You can get speaker level to line level adapters. They're mostly aimed at the car market.
If you want to make your own, here's a design with some notes.
posted by Candleman at 10:16 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]