ATV2+HDTV+Analog Speakers Help with volume

[weddlec]

I bought an Apple TV 2 for its Airplay capability. I love this box. I thought 720p would be too limiting but it is perfect for what I use it for. I am going to be shooting DVD rips of cartoons and TV shows to it.

My plan was to leverage that small form factor with mounting a HDTV to the wall. I am trying to avoid a lot of AV equipment but the speaker on my LCD are terrible. I want to be able to hook up a pair of powered speakers (to cut out the need for a receiver) to my wall-mounted TV and play shows and music over this system.

My problem is the lack of analog volume on the ATV2. It's all digital. The TV will be inputting via the HDMI cable and outputting audio via RCA left and right jacks to some speakers. My problem is being able to control volume. I was hoping the volume control on the TV remote would control volume coming out of the audio out ports but it does not. All of the powered speaker I have looked at only have volume control on the back. I want to be able to control my volume with a remote.

I need to avoid buying a receiver to do this. I also can't seem to find and 2.1 systems with IR volume control. Logitech makes a 5.1 system with IR control but no 2.1.

Any way to control the volume of the ATV2 or a set of powered speakers (preferably mountable) with IR control?

 

[mchalebk]

Sounds like a perfect application for a soundbar. These come in many configurations and most will have a remote.

 

[newagemac]

I was about to same the same thing! A soundbar would be perfect in this situation. They have HDMI inputs and you just connect the Apple TV to that. No need for the optical output and a clean setup for wall mounts.

 

[weddlec]

A soundbar would be a good solution, but any of the good one are $400+
For that kind of money I can find a better way.

 

[swansong75]

A tad expensive...

but a very good solution

http://www.avihifi.com/