A Simple Amp

[allenlondon]

I want an amp, with (for preference) a 3.5 input socket (to take sound from TV headphone socket) and a 3.5 headphone output.

I don’t want much power output - its only function is to take the crappy sound from the TV and pump it through a couple of surround speakers.

Amazon’s range is full of unwanted bluetooth devices (I want wires!) - will £50 get me an amp, and any suggestions?

Allen

[klazomaniac]

Get a good second hand amp off ebay (Denon is a super brand) for way less than £50 and purchase a 3.5mm jack to phono lead. job done.

[allenlondon]

Maybe yes to ebay, but Denons seem to keep their price!

[allenlondon]

Bit stuck with this one.

All I want is sound in, speakers and headphones out, but this is far too simple for most amps, either new or second hand.

This looks fine, but no headphone output:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Anything similar WITH headphone socket?

[allenlondon]

What is a pre-amp? Like this:
Amazon.com User Recommendation
Which looks like what I want...

[allenlondon]

Help! I.’m bumping this as I’m drowning in techno talk which I don’t understand!

[Ellipsis]

You would probably be better off with a cheap soundbar.

[allenlondon]

Does a soundbar take in sound and then send it to speakers or headphones?

It’s partly a question of where in our room we want the sound to come from - at present we have two bookshelf speakers at the back of the room, so as not to annoy the neighbours. Would a soundbar have to sit by the TV (close to the usually open patio door?)

[davebro]

I have a TEAC DAB radio/CD that will play TV through speakers or phones. CR-H250 I think.

(tried a cheap sound bar but it was rubbish)

[Ellipsis]

Yes, the soundbar sits under/next to the TV. I thought your issue was the crappy sound from the TV, not the unwillingness to upset the neighbours! Most crappy sound from modern TVs is caused by the TV speakers facing the wall behind the TV (especially if the TV is positioned across a corner). A soundbar is a simple answer. The speaker points outwards.

Trying to rig up some old "surround" speakers as your main speakers, on the other side of room, using an amp, is not so simple.

[gingejbee]

Yes, that's what soundbars were invented for....but cheap ones are usually no better than the TV they are connected to.

[Ellipsis]

A £50 soundbar pointing outwards is going to give better sound than some built-in TV speakers pointing into a corner. I know this because I borrowed a cheap soundbar for my expensive TV, before buying a decent Bose one.

[gingejbee]

^^Not necessarily so...you only have to look at soundbar test results as tested by Which? Depending on how poor the TV is and how poor/mediocre the soundbar is....you can be worse off with one.

[Ellipsis]

You could be, if you got the wrong one!

Allen, forget the soundbar. Somebody will be along soon to tell you how to connect up your surround speakers ...

[allenlondon]

Confusion is going to arise, to here again is the set up.

1) Samsung TV/
2) Cable, connecting TV headphone-out socket to...
3) ancient Sony mini HiFi, 'Audio In' socket.
4) Speaker cables going to my pair of old (but good) bookshelf speakers and back of my room.
5) Also, out of the Sony mini HiFi, a headphone-out socket, for private listening.

All works, all fine, no problem - EXCEPT that the Sony mini Hifi (pre-1990) is clapping out, and I need a replacement, hence I need a small, compact AMP to take its place.

All I want is a pointer to the sort of small, compact amplifier, with a headphone socket.

A

[davebro]

So why not just another mini-HiFi rather than a stand alone amp?

[allenlondon]

Well, it's worked for many years, so worth a thought, thanks davebro.

[sunny-dave]

A surprisingly difficult thing to find - a few years back it would have been a doddle.

This is about the cheapest I can spot :

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Good reviews too.

You'd need a simple jack/RCA cable too - about a fiver.

[allenlondon]

Thanks sunny dave, that doesn't look bad - although I do wonder about the valves sticking out of it. Just a gimmick, or do they improve it? But yes, it does have line input, speakers out, and headphones, so very close to what I want.

Ta.

A