TV upgrade - fake surround Hookup

[kmb1966]

I have a 2000 Itasca Suncruiser 37G. I was looking to upgrade the TV. It appears the GE 25" TV that came with the coach has basically an "earphone" jack on the rear. The extra speakers (not really surround) connect to this earphone jack. It appears that when the mini-jack is plugged into the earphone jack, it does not turn off the internal TV speakers so you get both tv speakers and these extra speakers playing all together. It all works fine, and the TV volume somewhat controls the extra speakers (which have volume knobs as well), and that seems to be the way the whole thing is rigged up for the sound. The problem I see is finding a NEW TV with an earphone jack in which the TV speakers do not turn off when the headphone or earphone jack is in use. For example, the Samsung LCD 2653 TV has an external headphone jack that I could hook up the speakers to, but when you plug into the headphone jack the TV speakers automatically are muted. Therefore I cannot mimic the GE TV setup with a new TV. Anybody out there know what I am trying to explain here??

[kmb1966]

I have a 2000 Itasca Suncruiser 37G. I was looking to upgrade the TV. It appears the GE 25" TV that came with the coach has basically an "earphone" jack on the rear. The extra speakers (not really surround) connect to this earphone jack. It appears that when the mini-jack is plugged into the earphone jack, it does not turn off the internal TV speakers so you get both tv speakers and these extra speakers playing all together. It all works fine, and the TV volume somewhat controls the extra speakers (which have volume knobs as well), and that seems to be the way the whole thing is rigged up for the sound. The problem I see is finding a NEW TV with an earphone jack in which the TV speakers do not turn off when the headphone or earphone jack is in use. For example, the Samsung LCD 2653 TV has an external headphone jack that I could hook up the speakers to, but when you plug into the headphone jack the TV speakers automatically are muted. Therefore I cannot mimic the GE TV setup with a new TV. Anybody out there know what I am trying to explain here??

[John_Canfield]

I think you are saying you need an audio out source from the TV to drive the "Surround Sound" amplifier.

We had an early 90s era Sony that had an audio output jack (not a headphone jack) that could be configured for either variable or fixed audio output.

You should be able find a TV with this kind of feature, but it might be a high-end model and not available in the usual big box stores.

Check out Crutchfield, JR, Amazon, etc and read the specifications and download the user manual if necessary.

You can always modify the headphone jack so it doesn't cut off the TV speakers if you are willing to dig around in a new set (and have the capability of course.)

And .. welcome to the forum!