Samsung TU8500 - Connecting old AE Aego 2.1 powered sub and speakers

[DominicStar]

I just bought a Samsung TU8500, forgetting that I had connected the powered sub and speakers to the headphone jack in my old Samsung TV, as the sub only has one cable to it. The new TV only has optical out and the white/red L/R connectors, which don't work with the speakers. The TV menu options only have the options to connect to Bluetooth and optical.

I'm not very technical when it comes to sound set up... I have tried searching online, but cannot really see what I need, mainly as I don't really understand the terminology in the descriptions of how to set it up. Is anyone able to break it down simply for me please?

I don't really want to buy an amp or soundbar, as I have a free £1500 worth of amp and speakers waiting for me, once I my friend is allowed to travel with it.

 

[lucid]

I'm sorry to tell you this, but there's no point beating around the bush here; you're out of luck.

In order to use the Aego speakers you need a line out or headphone out connection - and that part is easy. There's no headphone out on the TV, but the optical out can be converted to stereo line out.

What's more difficult is that the line out signal level needs to track with the TV volume adjustment. Optical won't do that, and there are no other audio outputs on that TV with or without variable level, so I am afraid you're out of luck.

There are workarounds, of course. You could spend a bit of cash on a headphone pre-amp with infra red volume control. This would replicate the headphone level connection you had on the old TV. If the pre-amp had an optical in then that would save you buying a £15 optical to stereo convertor. It's all a bit of a faff though, and after you've got your £1500 then what happens to this stop-gap gear.

If you bought something cheap then it'll be largely worthless as a s/h sale. If you spend a hundred quid or more then you'll get some of that back, but you'll lose more money than a s/h soundbar with optical would have cost. Plus, you'll be able to sell a soundbar again easily - and possibly for what you paid - because they're a common commodity. The same is unlikely to be trusted of some small pre-amp sticking-plaster solution.

 

[DominicStar]

Thanks. I had a sneaking suspicion. How much are we talking for a half decent sound bar to hear music nicely and gaming? I can get 10% off the Samsung site through the NHS scheme and I think they have some kind of cashback as well going on. I will weigh up whether I think it is worth the hassle with resale etc.

 

[lucid]

Why are you looking at wasting a bunch of cash on a new sound bar? You wrote in the OP that you didn't want to do that, particularly as you have a £1500 amp waiting in the wings. Now you're going back on that.

To get something new in a soundbar that is going to sound OK with music will be expensive. It will be £200-£300 for just entry-level performance if music is a priority.

Is the money now not so important as you first made out?

 

[DominicStar]

Because it could feasibly be 2-3+ months now before he can visit with it (ferry from Northern Ireland and the Scotland route being off bounds). And you had mentioned I'd possibly be able to offload it without too much loss.

But yes, at that price it is just a waste of money for me, so I will just wait.

 

[lucid]

Because it could feasibly be 2-3+ months now before he can visit with it (ferry from Northern Ireland and the Scotland route being off bounds). And you had mentioned I'd possibly be able to offload it without too much loss.

But yes, at that price it is just a waste of money for me, so I will just wait.

BIB - I think you've got your wires a bit crossed there. I mentioned the idea of offloading a second-hand soundbar without too much loss. You're talking about a new soundbar; or at least I presume you are when you mention a 10% NHS discount on Samsung gear. That sort of thing won't apply to something second-hand.

At this point I suppose I should ask whether you understand that the abbreviation 's/h' stands for second-hand; and that second-hand is different from new.

Second-hand gear has already gone through the initial depreciation phase. That's why it's possible to sell on for a minimal loss so long as you didn't overpay.

For second-hand (s/h) sound bars that are good for music too I'd have a look at the following

- Q Acoustics Media 4 (M4) and the later Media 3 (M3).... Fairly recent products. Simple stereo configuration. No HDMI but has Optical input. Two 6" concealed woofers, so deep bass for a sound bar. The M4 dates from 2016/17 I think. New prices around £300. S/h prices from £80 to £140 for the M4 depending on condition and accessories.

- Yamaha YSP-series sound bars. YSP-600 is much older than the Q Acoustics gear (2008 IIRC), but sonically superior in all except the deeper bass of the M4 and M3. It was £600 new. Very effective virtual surround in a sympathetic room. Good for music for a sound bar without external sub. Basic HDMI ins and outs: 1080p, HDMI Control, but predates ARC feature. Used prices very volatile though. Lows of £60 to highs of £150
- Yam YSP-500 - as above for sound. No HDMI but plenty of digital and analogue inputs. Silver colour is a bit out of fashion now.
- YSP30D and 40D - HDMI and DAB tuner.

Older units such as YSP-1, YSP1000, YSP800 are coming on to Ebay for daft money. They still sound good, but IMO they're over-priced for the age.

I'm pretty sure most of these come with a subwoofer output socket, so if you have a spare sub then that could be hooked up for fatter bass. The set-up mic and remote are important accessories. Don't buy a YSP-series sound bar without them.



Thinking about ways to get the Aegos connected at minimal cost and without getting involved with circuit board builds, a cheap remote controlled preamp such as the PGA2310 for around £50 would be a start (search on Ebay). Then add an Optical to analogue stereo convertor will take care of changing the digital Optical audio in to a stereo signal for the pre-amp. These convertors start from under £7 + delivery.

*** While you're on Ebay, look up item number 163836129352. This is a small Optical to stereo analogue convertor with an IR volume control. It's under £13. I have only just found it, and I have no idea whether it sounds any good, works okay, or is reliable, but for the price I think it may be worth a punt even if it only lasts until your friend can visit.