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Hi. I'm looking to replace an old huge av receiver into something compact that can fit my tv furniture. Unfortunately there is literally none quite small enough.
If I buy a 5.1 soundbar can I open it and wire my external passive 5.1 speakers instead of the built in speakers?
Posted : 27/07/2024 11:46 am
It's one of those "it depends" problems.
The difficulty is that these devices are engineered with many surface-mounted parts and some are quite "tricky" to get inside (usually the lower-cost ones that no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, to have to repair).
If you can get easy access to the speakers then that's certainly possible.
The other issue is that many soundbars use real-time HRTF functions to generate a "soundfield" from far fewer speakers - often just three. The surround "effect" is just that - and effect, so you need a soundbar that has a 5.1, 7.1, 7.2 (etc.) set of drivers. It's getting a bit silly these days because even with just a 5.1 setup, room acoustics have a striking effect.Headphone surround is actually surprisingly good these days but you'll need a fairly high-end set of cans to really appreciate it. I swapped out an old pair for some Beyerdynamics and the experience moved from muddy to like sitting in the orchestra pit.
With speakers you have to consider the reproduction of your speakers vs. the reproduction in the original soundbar. A good one will have matched and perhaps even tuned output to match the drivers. Sticking your existing speakers in there might result in a sub-par experience.
I believe you can get 5.1 (etc.) decoders these days from Ali, etc. but remember that for a decent one you'll be paying almost exclusively for the licencing costs to THX, Dolby (usually) and DTS. The actual electronics are quite low cost, what you're paying for is the development of the software that runs it all.
Take everything I say with a pinch of salt, I might be wrong and it's a very *expensive* way to learn!
Posted : 27/07/2024 5:55 pm
To wire external passive speakers to a soundbar, first ensure your soundbar has a dedicated output for connecting external speakers, or use an external amplifier if necessary. Connect the soundbar’s output to the amplifier using suitable cables. Then, wire the passive speakers to the amplifier’s output terminals, ensuring correct polarity (positive to positive and negative to negative). Power on your system and adjust the settings for optimal sound. This setup enables you to enhance your audio experience by utilizing both the soundbar and external passive speakers.
Posted : 03/09/2024 5:46 am