Television Amplifier

Rlspencer · 2261

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Offline Rlspencer

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on: August 16, 2015, 11:51:02 AM
The question and please don't laugh but all amplifier forums talk about is music and I can appreciate that.  But I want to hitch my television up to an amplifier to get a better quality of sound out of it.  I am sure it would work but would I really get any benefits from it like if I was listening to music.  The TV is a stereo system with left and right outputs from the back and I can turn the speakers off on the tv. I would be using a headphone to listen (or maybe speakers.?) Can anyone speak from experience on this?  After reading the forum and description of the kits I think a crack headphone amplifier would be a good starting point.
Thanks Bob



Offline howardnair

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Reply #1 on: August 16, 2015, 12:51:33 PM
I myself have two tv's hooked to bottlehead products it is much more pleasant than TV speakers. I only have Netflix as an option not connected to commercial TV   You don't need the volume up as loud and I don't really care for surround sound   But I am a odd duck



Offline Hank Murrow

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Reply #2 on: August 16, 2015, 01:08:39 PM
Dear Bob;

Not as odd as you might think. I funnel signals from my Olevia widescreen to my Custom BH Linestage, Custom BH 2A3 stereo amp, and Blumenstein Orcas+Buf Subs for a superb visual/audio experience. I also use my Oppo DVP 95 with the BH DAC to play discs and stream video. Occasionally, I think about replacing the Olevia 537H TV with something larger or more up-to-date, but firmware upgrades and good reliability have kept me from doing so. I really enjoy watching music DVD's through this system. MY VPI TT and CUSTOM BH Phonostage are in an adjacent room for isolation. I also use a Custom BH Crack to drive my Senn 600's from the TV outputs late at night.

Cheers, Hank in Eugene

« Last Edit: August 16, 2015, 01:14:33 PM by Hank Murrow »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: August 16, 2015, 02:15:53 PM
A Crack amp and a pair of Sennheiser HD-580's would get you a long way toward your goal.

IIRC, the first stereo SEX amp still resides at PJ's house doing TV sound duty.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline Natural Sound

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Reply #4 on: August 16, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
One of the Bottlehead staff, Paul Joppa uses a S.E.X. amp with his television. If you only want to use headphones then a Crack amp would be fine. If your future might include branching out to speakers then a S.E.X. amp would be more versatile. The S.E.X. amp can run headphones (now) or speakers (later.) And yeah, it will sound WAY better than the speakers built into the TV.

BTW I used one of my S.E.X. amps on my television when my Harmon Kardon home theater amp died. It worked great with my Axiom Audio M22's which are not exactly efficient. I found the volume levels quite satisfactory.

EDIT: PB jumped in here with similar comments while I got distracted with my dog. :)
« Last Edit: August 16, 2015, 02:32:28 PM by Natural Sound »



Offline Chris

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Reply #5 on: August 17, 2015, 10:03:15 AM
Best of both worlds really... Digital is best for video and analog with tubes being best for audio... So do that and you have the perfect set up.... 



Offline fullheadofnothing

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Reply #6 on: August 17, 2015, 10:34:33 AM
Digital is best for video[...]

Thanks. I needed a laugh today.


Joshua Harris

I Write the Manuals That Make The Whole World Sing
Kit Packer Emeritus


Offline Chris

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Reply #7 on: August 18, 2015, 11:06:18 AM
Glad I made you happy....



Offline Rlspencer

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Reply #8 on: August 20, 2015, 05:34:30 AM
I would like to thank all who have responded to my forum request.
Bob