Need some decent, cheap speakers for Apple TV

[badlydrawnboy]

We don't have a TV, so when we watch movies it's usually download from iTunes and hook my MacBook up to an HD projector (via HDMI). For audio, I plug in some JBL speakers I have, which connect to the 3.5" headphones port on the MacBook.

Setting this up is cumbersome, and I've been contemplating an Apple TV. I can easily connect it to the projector, but the problem is the speakers I have don't have an optical connection. I guess I'll need to buy some speakers I can connect directly to the Apple TV, but I don't want to spend much. I'm not that picky as far as audio quality, and the JBL Duet speakers I've had have been fine for me. Obviously I'm no audiophile.

Are there any speakers with an optical port of similar quality and price out there?

 

[newagemac]

There is an item on monoprice for $25 that converts optical to RCA. But the HDMI port on the Apple TV carries sound. I don't know the capabilities of your projector but shouldn't you be able to send the audio from your projector to your speakers?

 

[badlydrawnboy]

The projector's built-in audio is lousy. And as far as I can tell, there's no way to connect it to external speakers. It's a projector designed more for business presentations than for home theater; maybe that's why it doesn't have audio-out capability.

What I really need is a cable that converts optical to 3/5" (female). Then I could plug my existing speakers into the Apple TV.

 

[newagemac]

Here's that digital to analog converter at monoprice:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?p_id=6884

 

[From A Buick 8]

The projector's built-in audio is lousy. And as far as I can tell, there's no way to connect it to external speakers. It's a projector designed more for business presentations than for home theater; maybe that's why it doesn't have audio-out capability.

What I really need is a cable that converts optical to 3/5" (female). Then I could plug my existing speakers into the Apple TV.

As stated above this from monoprice should do it (item 6884)


http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&seq=1&format=2

 

[zhenya]

Your projector must have some audio output jacks - either RCA or 3.5mm. Just connect your existing speakers there.

Otherwise the linked product above will do the trick.

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Hmmm. I'm a bit confused. What I think I need is a male optical on one end (to plug into the Apple TV) and a female 3.5mm on the other end (to plug my JBL Duet speakers into).

From what I can see on that converter, there is no 3.5mm female input.

 

[zhenya]

Yeah, the linked device will do that. You take the optical cable from the ATV to that converter, then use RCA to 3.5mm converter to connect the speakers. Still, doesn't your projector have these audio outputs already? What model projector do you have?

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Yeah, the linked device will do that. You take the optical cable from the ATV to that converter, then use RCA to 3.5mm converter to connect the speakers. Still, doesn't your projector have these audio outputs already? What model projector do you have?

Okay, I thought that might work but it's good to know for sure.

I have an Epson EX7200. It's a business projector, which may explain why it doesn't have audio outputs. It has two RCA jacks, but according to the manual they're for input - not output.

 

[newagemac]

Hmmm. I'm a bit confused. What I think I need is a male optical on one end (to plug into the Apple TV) and a female 3.5mm on the other end (to plug my JBL Duet speakers into).

From what I can see on that converter, there is no 3.5mm female input.

The converter does the hard part of converting from digital to analog. From there, you would just need a cheap cable with 3.5 on one end and regular RCA on the other like one of these:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/s...=Audio+Cables+-+RCA+/+3.5mm&keyword=rca cable

But still like was previously stated, you should be able to use the audio out on your projector. Not the projector's speakers. Those of course are crappy. But there should be some type of analog out ports on the projector that connects to your speakers input which would give you good sound and not require a convertor.

Hope that helps.

 

[zhenya]

Okay, I thought that might work but it's good to know for sure.

I have an Epson EX7200. It's a business projector, which may explain why it doesn't have audio outputs. It has two RCA jacks, but according to the manual they're for input - not output.

Yup, looks like you are correct in that regard. Seems like an odd design decision, but oh well! In that case, yes, you'll have to use the above device, or connect to a stereo receiver that has a digital input.