Using TV's speakers for center channel with Surround Sound

[DavesHDTV]

I'm wondering if anyone can answer this question. In my current system, I'm using an A/V receiver for surround sound and I have the TV set's speakers as the center channel speaker by running an S-video cable for video and a RCA cable to the left channel input on the TV from the center channel out jack on the receiver and the audio on the TV set to mono. This is working fairly well since my receiver lets me adjust each speaker in the surround system individually. My question is, when I finally upgrade to HDTV and a receiver with HDMI capability, will I be able to feed the video to the TV with an HDMI cable and still use the speakers in the TV as a center channel by running the audio through a separate RCA cable like I'm doing now or will the Audio from the HDMI cable be the only sound the TV will play? In other words, can I use a separate audio source if I use an HDMI cable? This would be something the TV would have to allow. Are there TVs that let one do that?

Thanks in advance for your input
Dave

[Richard]

I'm using a TV receiver for surround sound

I think you mean A/V receiver.

The answer is possibly yet in the end not even recommended. Flat panel speakers for the most leave much to be desired. What could make it possible is an HDMI input that also has an RCA stereo input. To make it work may require you tell your A/V receiver to not send digital audio out or it could be switched by the TV just by using the RCA connections.

[bobby_c]

My question is, when I finally upgrade to HDTV and a receiver with HDMI capability, will I be able to feed the video to the TV with an HDMI cable and still use the speakers in the TV as a center channel

It might be difficult to do that with HDMI. The much better choice, when you upgrade to HDTV, is to also buy a center channel speaker. They are not all that expensive. This way you will get better sound than what speakers often are in TVs.

[DavesHDTV]

I pretty much figured I'd probably end up getting a center channel speaker, I just figured if they're building a hi-def TV, they'd upgrade the speakers since most people don't bother with external speakers anyway, and if you have a decent set of speakers already closer to the screen then you'd ever get with an external center channel speaker, why not put them to use? And you were right Richard, I did mean A/V receiver, it was early in the morning and my brain wasn't fully functioning yet. See how easy it was to fix though! Thanks for the replies.

Dave

[eliwhitney]

Hi DavesHDTV

Probably before you began "noticing" HDTVs, the early sets actually came without Any sound system whatever !

The vast majority of HDTVs are so lacking in available interior space that - as Richard says - the existing amp / speakers are quite poor, regardless of the Brand / model.

Especially now with the 5.1 Dolby + contained in our HD signals, essentially all should have a separate Sound System ! Not going to happen, of course, but perhaps these should have continued to be offered w/o any sound at all !

Do take your time - the selection of ( 5) appropriate separate speakers & the Sub Woofer will deserve as much time / effort as will your HDTV itself ! But, your efforts will be handsomely rewarded. This associated sound can be as outstanding as IS the HD!
eli

[rfowkes]

Good advice by all here. Internal speakers on most displays, and certainly on all flat panel sets regardless of cost, are only for non-critical use (like when the TV is in the kitchen or similar.) If you are going to be watching HD broadcasts and taking advantage of more than two channel sound (highly likely in this day and age with most people who purchase HD equipment knowing its potential) then the only way to go is with separate, dedicated speakers. And just as important (and something I can't stress too much) is that to produce the best sound all three speakers in the frront soundstage (Left, Center, Right) should be acoustically equal. In some cases the center channel speaker can't be physically the same size as the L&R choices (sometimes they are) but quality manufacturers have come up with ways to handle this.

And don't forget that the most important speaker, in my opinion, is the center channel because thats where probably ~90% of the dialogue will come from. People who spend a lot of money on a surround system and then decide to use the internal speaker of the display for the center channel are really wasting their money since they are making the most important channel the weakest link by a long shot.

[palmharbor]

The center is critical. Notice in the stores such as best buy, Bose demo displays do not have dvd's playing that have dialog but just use crashing cars etc. Their tiny center is week at best. Spend the money and get some-
thing good like Vienna Acoustics $799 or Martin Logan $999. You will be happy you did.

[Richard]

For our upstairs casual viewing system we use a stereo speaker system with sub intended for PC. Works great and absolutely stomps the TV speakers. I'm an audiophile, got the big rig down stairs, I am 100% satisfied with this application.

You don't have to spend a lot to at least get in the ballpark!

[palmharbor]

I think you have redefined the concept of an "audiophile".....it is however nothing that I recognize.
$10 computer speakers and a sub huh? That's like saying you have a sportscar..... a 1984 Yugo with
racing stripes.

[Richard]

We support all kinds of users from newbie lets simply get it working to the high end video or audiophile. As stated, for the application it fulfills the purpose, decent sound and is far better than what is on the TV.

At this price range, as with all inexpensive products, it succeeds by errors of omission rather than commission.

The point is you don't have to spend a bundle for clearly better and what is wrong with supporting that.