Samsung forum: LN40A630 - controlling volume of external speakers

Don't think you answered my question. As I wrote, I'm controlling the volume level (and channel selections) from the cable box remote, not the Samsung supplied one, external speakers or not. The only thing I use the Samsung remote for is changing devices (TV, media box, DVD). Currently, I have the external speakers plugged into the headphone jack. With that, I am able to control the volume level with that remote and the TV's internal speakers are muted. That is a stopgap measure and not why I wrote.

The LN40A630 allows use of external speakers from the audio out port. What I'm trying to figure out is how to control the volume of the external speakers through that port with the cable remote, while having the internal speakers muted. So far, with the TV's Sound settings I either get all four speakers going at once or the external speakers alone. The latter would be fine, except in that condition the remote control volume adjuster isn't recognized, no matter what device I'm using (there's a "no device" or some such message that appears on the TV screen).

I hope my question is clear now.

Hi highstream99,

OK, I'm confused. You said, (1) "Currently, I have the external speakers plugged into the headphone jack. With that, I am able to control the volume level with that [cable?] remote and the TV's internal speakers are muted. "

And then you said later, (2) "The LN40A630 allows use of external speakers from the audio out port. What I'm trying to figure out is how to control the volume of the external speakers through that port with the cable remote, while having the internal speakers muted. "

(1) and (2) sound like the same thing, except that (1) is working and (2) isn't working. The only difference I can detect that you may be talking about two different connection ports or two different remotes. So what is the point of variance?

HD Tech

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Let's start from the beginning. Let's say I want to hook up two external (amplified) speakers to the TV and be able to control their volume with my cable remote. At the same time, I want to disable the sound of the TV's speakers. I know of three choices for making the hook up from device to speaker:

- run RCA interconnects from the audio output port of the cable box
- run RCA interconnects from the audio output port on the back of the TV
- run 3.5mm plug cable from the headphone jack on the RV

As far as I know, the first option isn't workable, because the sound is only what the cable box gets - TV. OTOH, the headphone jack option does work (and maybe I'll have to live with it). That leaves the second option, off the back of the TV audio output port, which is theoretically the best choice because it allows use of RCA interconnects (and better ones, if I so choose).

The problem with the second option is that I have not yet figured out how to get the cable remote volume control to be recognized (control) when the TV's speakers are disabled in Settings (Menu > Sound > Speakers -- External). Thus far, I've only gotten the cable remote to control the volume when the TV's speakers are enabled, in which case I have four speakers going (two internal, two external).. So my question is, is it possible to make this second option work?

Is that clear now?

[I also have another post about hooking a powered DAC to the Wiselink USB port, if you or a colleague knows the answer to my question there. Thanks.]

Hi highstream99,

Yes, that is clear what you're trying to accomplish now. Sorry for the back and forth, but I'd like to ask you do one further thing: now that I've re-read all your posts I'd like to state what believe are the four conditions you've tried

Works - 3.5mm plug cable from the headphone jack on the RV | internal mute OFF
Works - 3.5mm plug cable from the headphone jack on the RV | internal mute ON

Works - RCA interconnects from the audio output port on the back of the TV | internal mute OFF
Fails - RCA interconnects from the audio output port on the back of the TV | internal mute ON

Are all these configurations the ones you've tried? Did I summarize everything correctly?

Speaking to that other post, I did make a response to it: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-13973_102-585397/usb-powered-dac-to-ln40a630-via-wiselink-port/?messageId=5423225#message5423225

HD Tech

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Yes. And that Fails is the one I'm asking about. It's the one I, and probably most users, would look at first.

(Is there a way to edit posts?)

Correction: the headphone connection turn disables the internal mute option in Settings, thus those two you've listed are really one and should read as follows:

Works - 3.5mm plug cable from the headphone jack on the RV | internal mute OFF by default

Hi highstream99,

Yeah, I often wish I can edit posts because I make typos here and there. Unfortunately, there's not a way to do so.

OK, so I'm going to come full circle now to what I originally said: you're encountering "fixed-line out"; Samsung TVs have a fixed level for their audio output. No remote control that changes the audio level on the TV's side will affect the sound level coming from the audio port output.

For this reason, any speaker system needs to have both its own power source and its own volume control; otherwise, you won't be able to control the audio.

I realize this is somewhat counter intuitive on the face of it, but it's the way these devices are engineered.

I see in your other post that you realized you discovered what I initially recommended: S/PDIF optical connection. This will most likely be your best option for audio control, because most devices that use this connection would have a remote, and so you'd be able to program a remote to be able to control its volume level.

HD Tech

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I'm not sure what "fixed-line out" is, but I'm going to give the S/PDIF cable a try next week and see what happens. I may be back to follow up on that. Otherwise, the headphone jack will have to do; it does draw on the same audio source. Thanks,

For the reference of anyone who comes across this thread via search, I used the S/PDIF (Toslink) suggestion but have run into frequent sound cutout problem with it. I started a new thread to discuss it: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-13973_102-590143/sound-cutout-with-toslink-connection-to-external-devices/?tag=contentBody;threadListing

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U008H8083

would getting an optical to rca converter solve this issue?

Thought about it myself. Leaving aside quality of sound with another device in the audio path, the DAC would require RCA inputs, along with a USB input that can be used for power. Most have the latter, but I don't know of any DACs that have RCA inputs, only outputs. So a USB to RCA digitial to analog converter would be needed, but that's part of the purpose of the DAC.