2. home-theater
  3. 152683-17004

Are sound bars worth it?

My cable provider [Videotron in Quebec City] does not offer a cable base/box with analogue outputs. So, I am at a loss how to get the audio signal from my TV to my preamp, for real sound while watching TV.

My question is whether any sound bars are worth the expense and effort in providing better audio than the TV itself [a SONY.... but they are all terrible].

Any opinions?
zimmerma

Showing 2 responses by reubent

reubent
7,072 posts
 
@zimmerma 

So, I am at a loss how to get the audio signal from my TV to my preamp



 Does the cable box, or TV, have digital output? I’m guessing one of them, or both, do have digital output. Just get a DAC, connect the DAC via a digital cable (optical or coax) from the cable box, or TV, and analog RCA cables out of the DAC, into your pre-amp.

Do you know what a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) does? It would seem to be a perfect solution to get a digital signal out of your TV, into your pre-amp..

You can find DACs starting at about $10 on Amazon. If you want to step up to an "audiophile approved" DAC, the Shiit Audio Modi starts at just $99 and has a money back return policy.

https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1
reubent
7,072 posts
 
Some of the higher end ZVOX speaker systems are pretty nice. They will accept a digital input from your cable box.

You could also likely output digital from your cable box into a simple, inexpensive DAC and out of the DAC via analog RCAs, into your pre-amp.
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