I want to hook up pair of amped speakers (M-Audio Studio Pro 4) to my system which consist of Samsung PN50A450 (1440$) plasma and Philips DVP5982 (http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_DVP5982_37_US_CONSUMER/DVD-Player+DVP5982-37) DVD player (85$). They are connected by HDMI cable.

I wonder how bad in general are audio DACs in flat TVs?
DVD player has 24-bit/192kHz DAC by specs.
Plasma TV has unspecified DAC, but TV is much more expensive product.

So, should I connect speakers to RCA outputs of plasma set or to RCA outputs of DVD player? Or they are both worthless and I need some sort of receiver?

I don't need 5.1 sound, just want something better than TV built-in. Any advices are welcomed.

Try them both and see what you think :)

If you connect them to the TV you get to watch TV and any other TV inputs with your new speakers.

If you connect them to the DVD you only get DVD speaker sound.

The DAC itself is really not the issue.

Have Fun!

Try them both and see what you think :)


I did, but it takes several seconds to switch the cables between TV and DVD player and to my not-HiFi ears they sound the same. :)
Well, I guess I will leave it to TV, as you noticed getting OTA with proper sound is also nice.

The only nitpick is that I can't change volume through TV remote - since TV DAC does conversion I thought volume should work, may be it's Samsung glitch.

There's probably not a whole lot of difference between the two DACs. They didn't cost the respective manufacturers more than a buck or two. If your ears can't tell the difference, choose whatever set-up is more convenient.