Sharp Aquos Sound Problems

**FSUSIX** · November 11th, 2007 18:02

I did my research and bought the #1 product of the 2006 season - a LCD Sharp Aquos 37D4U. Can anyone give me a suggestion on what to do when my sound works some of the time, and other times, it does not. The only thing I have hooked up to it is a Direct TV Satellite box. I switched it with another one, to eliminate that issue, and it still does it.

Sometimes it quits in the middle of a show, other times, it won't come on just when I turn on the TV. I've re-set everything to the factory settings, checked all the lines to make sure they are connected securely. I've read the book, no help there. I'm over the year warranty, (just my luck) so if there are any suggestions I'd appreciate it, before I take it to a repair shop. Could there be some sort of short that would be an easy fix? Could the speakers somehow be disconnecting?

Help. Loretta (the electonic literate one in the family)

**Rope** · November 11th, 2007 19:13

Welcome to the board FSUSIX!

I'm not familiar with this Sharp LCD model, bear with me while we play 20 questions.

How are you listening to audio (not certain if the Sharp is built in speakers) and if the tv is connected to an external audio source (receiver and speakers), what wiring is being used, HDMI, Toshlink, standard RCA anolog connectors?

Rope

**FSUSIX** · November 11th, 2007 19:30

Thanks for any help I can get. I have the simpliest set up - built in speakers (only) and only hooked up to a Direct Satellite Box. No recievers or speakers. I have what is called a Monster Cable for my Video (Monster price too!) and the RED and White Video Cables

I hope this answers your questions, I'm not all that electonic literate, but if you tell me to check something I will. Unfortunately for me, I went online and checked many other reviews in the last couple of hours. Looks like ALOT of unhappy Sharp Aquos owners. AT exactly 17-18 months, their sound goes out. They call in someone to check it (about $150) and the same answer over and over is the AV Board (another $300). None of these people recommend anyone buying a Sharp product and their consumer service wasn't any help at all. Any thoughts? Loretta

**Rope** · November 11th, 2007 20:25

FSUSIX wrote:
Thanks for any help I can get. I have the simpliest set up - built in speakers (only) and only hooked up to a Direct Satellite Box. No recievers or speakers. I have what is called a Monster Cable for my Video (Monster price too!) and the RED and White Video Cables

I hope this answers your questions, I'm not all that electonic literate, but if you tell me to check something I will. Unfortunately for me, I went online and checked many other reviews in the last couple of hours. Looks like ALOT of unhappy Sharp Aquos owners. AT exactly 17-18 months, their sound goes out. They call in someone to check it (about $150) and the same answer over and over is the AV Board (another $300). None of these people recommend anyone buying a Sharp product and their consumer service wasn't any help at all. Any thoughts? Loretta

The options would be to spend $450.00 dollars repairing the Sharp AV board (if that is the problem) and hope it doesn't go bad again or purchase an inexpensive HTIB surround system and connect the audio via HDMI or Toslink to the HTIB processor, thereby bypassing the Sharp LCD audio.

Does the Direct Satellite box have digital audio output, HDMI or analog audio out? If that is the case you may consider purchasing a pair of self powered speakers and connecting them to the set top box (Direct Satellite Box).

Rope

*EDIT*

To simplify, the audio and video originate from the Direct Satellite Box and are passed to the Sharp Aquos, it in tern processes the video and audio so you get a picture and sound. If you bypass the audio section of the Aquos and feed it from the set top box directly to another processor, you no longer rely on the Aquos's ability, or in this case, inability to process the audio signal.

Message Edited by Rope on 11-11-2007 08:58 PM

**FSUSIX** · November 11th, 2007 21:39

Oh My GOSH, Rope. You are giving me such hope. I would have never thought of the option of by passing the speakers in the TV, but that makes alot of sense. I looked at my Direct TV box, I see Audio Out (L & R) where the Red, White and Yellow cables go, but not sure if this is what you are refering to. Would you be able to recomend and inexpensive HTIB surround system? I'm not sure what I would be looking for, and is this something that I would buy at a certain electonics store? Should it be a certain wattage or voltage?

I was interested in your link to your HT Electoronics, and went to view your photo's. My, you have very nice eletronic equipment. I enjoyed seeing stuff like that, I can't imagine having all those things to hook up, but it must be really nice to hear, see and use. Thanks so much for your help, you are a life saver - I'm glad you post and read on the web and makes people's lives much happier! Thanks - I look forward to your response. Loretta

**akula** · November 11th, 2007 21:49

The "audio out" jacks are what you'd be wanting to hook up speakers to. You might also, instead of a HTIB system, just grab a simple two channel (left and right) system; maybe a shelf system with an aux input or a 2 channel receiver and a pair of inexpensive bookshelf pair (like the Insignias from Best Buy).

I don't even use the speakers on my Mitsubishi TV. I only used them when it was first installed to see if they worked, and since then I just route all the audio through my home theater system.

Hang around, you'll learn plenty.

**FSUSIX** · November 11th, 2007 22:01

I totally feel empowered. I like the simplicity of just the left and right speakers. I will be at Best Buy tomorrow, take my copy of your information, and follow your advice. Thanks for your encouragement. I haven't realized till now, how helpful these forums could be. Maybe I would take on more challenges, and learn more, knowing I have this network of information behind me. You guys remind me of the Verizon commercial..........there really are a network of helpful people. Thanks........I certainly appreciate it. Maybe I'll be able to pass it on and help someone else one day. Loretta

**Rope** · November 11th, 2007 22:12

The least expensive approach would be self amplified speakers with the audio output from the set top box to the speakers, I know AWIA used to offer self-amplified speakers but currently I'm at a loss. The next least expensive option would be what akula has mentioned, the folks at BB should (hopefully) able to understand and give you a recommendation. Good luck and keep us in the loop!

Rope

**akula** · November 11th, 2007 22:18

My brother actually uses a set of computer speakers with his DVD players (the Klipsch Promedia 2.1), and it works great, but the problem is that it does not have a remote for the volume (but some TVs, when you use the audio out, you can use the TV remote to control the volume level; it varies the level going to the output).

Glad we can help, Loretta. We aren't EXACTLY like the Verizon network; we don't follow you around and generally stalk you. Well, Matt B might, but we try to keep him on a leash.

**Rope** · November 11th, 2007 23:17

akula wrote:
My brother actually uses a set of computer speakers with his DVD players (the Klipsch Promedia 2.1), and it works great, but the problem is that it does not have a remote for the volume (but some TVs, when you use the audio out, you can use the TV remote to control the volume level; it varies the level going to the output).

Glad we can help, Loretta. We aren't EXACTLY like the Verizon network; we don't follow you around and generally stalk you. Well, Matt B might, but we try to keep him on a leash.

I'm not sure the audio out from the Aquos is in working order, Loretta is under the assumption from other forums with Aquos owners describing the same symptoms the audio board in the LCD is fried. It would certainly cure the problem with the signal ran from the set top box to self-amplified speakers.

Rope