Needed an extra line-out

my TV’s internal speakers don’t give the best sound and for ages I have connected my TV to a simple 2.1 amplifier. When i got a new cable-box i had a little problem; with old one i could change the volume on the cable-box itself with its remote, the new one just gives a signal over hdmi and he only volume that can be remotely changed is the sound over the internal TV speakers. So if I really wanted to change the volume remotely I was left with two options, either train my kids to change the volume on the amp or somehow rewire the TV so that the signal to the speakers is sent to the line-out. I choose the second solution because well…

The signal level on the leads to the speakers is to high to send to the line-in of the amplifier so I needed a way to bring down this level. After some googling i discovered that you only need a few resistors. In it’s most simplest form it looks like this.

Should be easy, but it is a fixed circuit and in case the needs change I would have to redo it. Better do it right from the start and use a variable resistor; potmeter. It saves me from calculating the right values of the resistors and can tune the level ‘by ear’.

checked my drawers and found that i had two 5K pots (left and right) and some connectors and switches so that i would be able to toggle between line-out mode and speaker mode (one never knows)

OK, let’s heat up the soldering iron and open up the TV to see what we have.

fortunately there was room for a side-panel for extra options for the more luxurious model I obviously don't have. The pots, fitted fine and there was room enough for the RCA jacks and switch.

with some careful drilling holes in the right places i came to this configuration. preparations done i could cut the wires to the speakers and connect them with the pots and RCA jacks.

final step is of course test-driving the whole setup.. and it worked like a charm

the only thing left is to tap down the wiring, check of everything isolated and put back the casing of the TV.

when looking at it back on the wall one might think it always has been there and more importantly, no need for extra remotes or standing up.

