Simple Audio System?

**MrLynn** · 05-22-2023, 06:53 PM

Saturday night at the Spring Fling NH Rally, it was pouring rain, so we decided to watch a DVD movie on our SuperSonic TV. But the sound on the TV is rather weak, and the rain in our E21C made a racket like living in a tin-roof barn. So, I said, "Got to get an amplifier!"

Has anyone found a simple sound system that is 12-volt, easy to install, that I could run the TV through? AM-FM radio and USB and Bluetooth inputs would be nice, too.

Of course I could just run the sound to a boombox, but it would be nice to have a system that would be permanently mounted.

Keith3 · 05-22-2023, 06:55 PM

Sorry, we just use a Bluetooth speaker. Or headphones.

**MrLynn** · 05-22-2023, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith3

Sorry, we just use a Bluetooth speaker. Or headphones.

Don't think the TV has Bluetooth.

splitting_lanes · 05-22-2023, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLynn

Saturday night at the Spring Fling NH Rally, it was pouring rain, so we decided to watch a DVD movie on our SuperSonic TV. But the sound on the TV is rather weak, and the rain in our E21C made a racket like living in a tin-roof barn. So, I said, "Got to get an amplifier!"

Has anyone found a simple sound system that is 12-volt, easy to install, that I could run the TV through? AM-FM radio and USB and Bluetooth inputs would be nice, too.

Of course I could just run the sound to a boombox, but it would be nice to have a system that would be permanently mounted.

I don’t know if you have the ETI installed am/fm/cd player, but I think it would work. It has an auxiliary input, and Bluetooth, so either a wire or a Bluetooth adapter on the sound output of the tv should work. Of course, I haven’t gotten around to installing a tv or testing this theory, so your mileage may vary.

**MrLynn** · 05-22-2023, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

I don’t know if you have the ETI installed am/fm/cd player, but I think it would work. It has an auxiliary input, and Bluetooth, so either a wire or a Bluetooth adapter on the sound output of the tv should work. Of course, I haven’t gotten around to installing a tv or testing this theory, so your mileage may vary.

Nope, sadly no ETI-installed audio.

C&G in FL · 05-23-2023, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLynn

Don't think the TV has Bluetooth.

If the TV has an audio output jack, you can buy a (small) Bluetooth module from Amazon. Some are receivers and some are transmitters. When I purchased my trailer (2015) new from ETI, the system they were installing was not Bluetooth compatible, but it had an input jack. So I attached a receiver module to its side with double stick tape so I could stream music and SiriusXM to it from my phone. It works well. Personally, I would go that route with a small Bluetooth speaker. Anker makes a very good speaker, also sold on Amazon. It would probably cost approximately $60 for both, and the Bluetooth speaker could also be used if you have music on your phone.

Perry Butler · 05-23-2023, 07:56 AM

Previously, in our lake home and initially in our condo, our TV's only had a stereo out and I would have to listen to them on clutzy RF headphones. So when we purchased two, new Samsung TV's for our condo we made sure they had bluetooth. (The identical looking Samsungs in Costco did NOT have bluetooth, so do your homework first) I can hook up to either TV with my Apple AirPods or my hearing aids.

We have a bluetooth stereo system in our Bigfoot and watch movies on a Windows 11 laptop using a 22" HD computer monitor when watching together, or just the 17" computer screen watching alone. We stream the sound through our 2016 Bigfoot installed, bluetooth enabled Jensen stereo system. The sound is almost as good as in a theater. Plus, if Terry is sleeping I can use either the AirPods or my hearing aids.

Virtually every TV supplied with a camper is cheap, with no Bluetooth, so your sound must be hard wired to a speaker system, or use a bluetooth transmitter.

Food for thought,

Perry

Randy in Maine · 05-23-2023, 08:07 AM

We have a couple of Bose Soundlink speakers that plug into the headphone jack on our TV, phones and Chromebooks. Works well.

Jim Bennett · 05-23-2023, 08:17 AM

A good, but small Bluetooth speaker is the answer for me. It would work with a TV and is great with my phone as a music player. We also have a small radio I use it with.

I use an Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and really like it. Good sound, great size.

kinser913 · 05-23-2023, 10:21 AM

Roku soundbar enables you to hear over rain and the Dometic A/C. The Supersonic TV has an optical output jack to the soundbar. I will eventually try to hide the wires inside the cabinet.

**MrLynn** · 05-23-2023, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinser913

Roku soundbar enables you to hear over rain and the Dometic A/C. The Supersonic TV has an optical output jack to the soundbar. I will eventually try to hide the wires inside the cabinet.

Does the soundbar run on 12v? How heavy is it?

Selkirk · 05-23-2023, 11:32 AM

FWIW, I have found the ETI-installed system in my new E19 to be very functional.....well worth the option price.

I have used it extensively over the the last three weeks. It connects easily to a phone/tablet/laptop via Bluetooth or with my old-school portable Ipod-type music player with an aux-in cable (this is all the connectivity I need). The location of the head unit in an E19 also provides a convenient bedside wall clock when powered off.

If I had acquired a trailer without a factory audio system, I'd be tempted to retrofit an automotive-style system in a manner similar to the factory installation. There are a lot of head unit options available on the market that would connect easily to a TV (if that's a requirement).

rubicon327 · 05-23-2023, 01:45 PM

Previous owner wasn't impressed with stock stereo back in 2009. He didn't order the option and installed a Kenwood with AM/FM/Bluetooth and aux input capability. I wired from the audio out on TV (earphone jack) to the stereo but it must be only mono from the Dynex TV because it only plays through one speaker. Can play music from phone through stereo via Bluetooth. I haven't fooled around with a Bluetooth module plugged into the TV to transmit sound to the stereo. On my boat I use a Bose SoundLink plugged into the receiver audio pre-amp output and it works great to supplement the stock speakers. This could work the same as others have mentioned wired to the audio output from the TV which is functionally the same as a sound bar. That should work great for amplification but you obviously will not have any AM/FM functionality.

If you are interested in a traditional receiver, they make under dash/cabinet mounts that keep it looking clean. I think this is how Escape would typically mount it if it was ordered from the factory.
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Ove...37677878&psc=1

kinser913 · 05-23-2023, 01:54 PM

The soundbar has a 120 volts AC power adapter. It actually uses 12 volts DC at 5 amp draw. If I didn't have an inverter, I would probably cut and hard wire it into the RV. The soundbar is mounted on a reinforced wall with brackets purchased from Amazon.

**MrLynn** · 05-23-2023, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinser913

The soundbar has a 120 volts AC power adapter. It actually uses 12 volts DC at 5 amp draw. If I didn't have an inverter, I would probably cut and hard wire it into the RV. The soundbar is mounted on a reinforced wall with brackets purchased from Amazon.

Thanks. We do have an inverter, so soundbar might work. Only 4x24" space between TV and countertop, though, so might be tight.

C&G's idea of a Bluetooth transmitter and portable BT speaker might be the most flexible solution. Wonder if the Anker would provide enough volume to defeat the rain. . .

kinser913 · 05-23-2023, 03:03 PM

Streaming device and soundbar in one compact package. Kinda hard to beat for me.

**MrLynn** · 05-24-2023, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinser913

Streaming device and soundbar in one compact package. Kinda hard to beat for me.

Not just speakers? For streaming, it would need Internet access and two-way communication to the TV.

kinser913 · 05-24-2023, 08:27 AM

Streaming requires WI-FI access. Spent quite a few nights camping in family and friends driveway with WI-FI access. When streaming, a HDMI cable carries the combined audio and visual signal from the soundbar to the TV and an optical audio cable carries the audio signal back to the soundbar from the TV.

Amazon list the Roku streambar with the wrong dimensions. The correct dimensions are
14" wide
2 3/8" high
5 1/2'" deep with mounting brackets

LAMBO63 · 06-02-2023, 07:54 AM

We use a small usb rechargeable JBL speaker with our Sonic tv because the sound from the tv is not good at all. I use an external speaker jack and plug one end into the speaker and the other end into the audio /headphone jack on the back of my sonic TV. There are 2 audio jacks on the back of my Sonic TV/DVD player. The one labeled for PC will not work. Use the other jack (audio out/headphones)

Hancock · 06-05-2023, 05:02 PM

We use a Bluetooth transmitter on our TV like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Tra...6002106&sr=8-6
We use this speaker:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The system works great and is very portable.

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