Installing a sound bar with a Jensen audio system

[steelpony5555]

Ok, have now figured out the Jensen TV and audio system is one place CC skimped on to save money and keep prices low. So the TV will be replaced in the future, but the sound system needs an upgrade too. Will probably keep the system since the audio outside is ok and has the DVD player, but inside we would like better sound then the 2 itty bitty speaker put out. Now it they were Bose itty bitty speakers it would be fine lol lol lol, but they are not. So since we don't have surround sound we figured we would get a nice sound bar for the TV and hopefully wire the audio receiver in to it too. Has anyone done this and which did you go with and were there any problems I will have to deal with??.....oh and yes I did a search and found nothing...

[CC75]

So, I for one, am glad they skimped on the sound and gave me a better bed.
I wonder if Bluetooth speaker would work for your situation. It could be external and would not need re-wiring.

[SilverbackMel]

Go online and look at Samsung Sound Bars....just looked at some last week at HHGreg appliances. They use Bluetooth and come in several grades of quality. The mid range, around $225, offers EXCELLENT tone and sound that will blow you away for the price.
More than enough for any RV sound enhancement.
We have the Jensen TV and if we used it more, I would have already bought this one. Low profile and will easily move to many spots or home!
Just a thought.....

[jgahlhoff]

Put a sound bar in a few months ago, has Bluetooth, so we also use iPad music as well. Huge improvement in sound and an easy mount

[Ramblin Recks]

I opted to trash the sound bar and install my Onkyo 6.1 receiver and Bose speakers.

[steelpony5555]

Ok I am a little Bluetooth stupid..not really sure how it works....but is the Jensen radio/DVD player Bluetooth??? I would rather hard wire the radio and TV into the sound bar. All I want is better sound from the radio and TV then what comes from 5 inch speakers or the TV speakers....

[SilverbackMel]

Most all have both Blue Tooth capabilities AND HDMI cable that you simply plug into your TV.

[RSchleder]

Not sure why you'd add both a sound bar AND a receiver to listen to your TV. Sound bars have a built in amplifier so a receiver is not necessary as a addition to listen to the tv. Now if you want a receiver for other purposes like movies, radio, etc, then go for it. You'll need to be sure the sound bar you buy has multiple source inputs if you add a receiver!

[steelpony5555]

I am not talking about a receiver, but the Jensen radio/DVD/CD player CC installs. I find nothing that says it is Bluetooth. I am just trying to find out if the radio has audio OUT connections before I tear it out of the wall to see since the instructions are very limited too. I know the TV has audio OUT connections so that is not a problem. I just want to be able to listen to FM/CD on something other then the cheap 5 inch speakers CC installs. So are there connections on the back of the radio to connect to a sound bar?????

[goduc]

Go here http://www.asaelectronics.com/rv/stereos.html and look up your Jensen unit. It will tell you if you have BT. Also you could just wire the sound bar into the front AUX plug.
Also why not just replace the CC speakers with some high end of the same size? Sound bars are nothing more than a long box with speakers in it. They sound fine but swapping the current Jensen junk speakers for some quality Bose, Infinity, etc would improve the sound as well.
Not sure if you have a subwoofer. If not then going with a sound bar and wireless subwoofer would be the way to go as opposed to upgrading the CC speakers and adding a subwoofer.
We have a subwoofer in our SOB 5th along with 4 speakers in the ceiling and it sounds pretty good. Nothing like our home system but considering we are usually close to others when camping it's hard to crank it up without bothering a fellow camper anyway.

[RSchleder]

Originally Posted by steelpony5555

I am not talking about a receiver, but the Jensen radio/DVD/CD player CC installs. I find nothing that says it is Bluetooth. I am just trying to find out if the radio has audio OUT connections before I tear it out of the wall to see since the instructions are very limited too. I know the TV has audio OUT connections so that is not a problem. I just want to be able to listen to FM/CD on something other then the cheap 5 inch speakers CC installs. So are there connections on the back of the radio to connect to a sound bar?????

I see that, after rereading your post, you describing the receiver as the Jenson unit in your RV. To many of us, when we see receiver, we think of a unit like the YAMAHA receivers that perform several functions, not the tuner/radio that already installed in the RV.

[jgahlhoff]

most sound bars also have AM/FM receivers as well

[pashooter]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Recks

I opted to trash the sound bar and install my Onkyo 6.1 receiver and Bose speakers.

Thinking of doing something similar in my new Coachmen Pursuit. Curious about how you routed speaker wires around inside the rig. That's my sticking point. I have plenty of room in the MH for a true "home" theater system, but not sure how to get wires from the receiver to the speakers.

[BusyRetirees]

Went to Walmart and bought a Vizio sound bar. Excellent sound and less than $50 (no bluetooth) or less than $100 w/bluetooth. Super easy connection/installation.

[Stormrider151]

I built a shelf over the TV (it swivels to the bed room) and put a sound bar there. It is wired to the headphone jack of the Jensen TV. It works great, maybe too great. It has a subwoofer in it and will get extremely loud. Sorry the picture is upside down. I haven't quite figured that part out yet.

[poppytoymaker]

I had my C in Best buy to have a pair of Kickers to replace the stock door speakers, and I asked the tech about the sound bar and he felt aroud the side of my tv { 42" entertainment center ] instead of bunk and said it was an easy plug in. The
samsung sound bar in my home tv plugs into the back.

[Sierra360PDEK]

I installed a Vizio sound bar that we purchased from Sam's Club. Hooked into the TV through fiber optic and off the stereo with RCA jacks Can blue tooth phone also. Sounds great and has a wireless subwoofer.

[Ramblin Recks]

Originally Posted by pashooter

Thinking of doing something similar in my new Coachmen Pursuit. Curious about how you routed speaker wires around inside the rig. That's my sticking point. I have plenty of room in the MH for a true "home" theater system, but not sure how to get wires from the receiver to the speakers.

In our application, I “remodeled” the shelves in the entertainment cabinet to fit the 18lb receiver and removed one door (so the receiver remote would work).
I mounted the FL and FR Bose cubes to the front cabinet stiles of the entertainment cabinet. Routed the wires up and behind the window valance and to the Bose cubes. FC speaker sits were original “HiFi” surround speaker was.
I routed 3pr of speaker wires from the bottom front corner of the entertainment cabinet under the sofa to the RL, RC and RR to the rear corner of the slide behind the lazyboy. Then routed the wires up the corner of the wall and used the window valences to route and hide the wires. I mounted the RL and RR cubes to the top of the valances in opposite corners. For now, RC speaker is on floor behind the lazyboys……

As for the 3pr of speaker wires under the sofa, I attached one end of a light weight spring to the wires (with added insulation) and the other end of the spring is attached to the floor with a small screw. The spring is just enough to pull the wires out of sight when the slides are out, and give enough slack when the slides are in.

I’ll take some pictures of it this weekend.

[pashooter]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Recks

In our application, I “remodeled” the shelves in the entertainment cabinet to fit the 18lb receiver and removed one door (so the receiver remote would work).
I mounted the FL and FR Bose cubes to the front cabinet stiles of the entertainment cabinet. Routed the wires up and behind the window valance and to the Bose cubes. FC speaker sits were original “HiFi” surround speaker was.
I routed 3pr of speaker wires from the bottom front corner of the entertainment cabinet under the sofa to the RL, RC and RR to the rear corner of the slide behind the lazyboy. Then routed the wires up the corner of the wall and used the window valences to route and hide the wires. I mounted the RL and RR cubes to the top of the valances in opposite corners. For now, RC speaker is on floor behind the lazyboys……

As for the 3pr of speaker wires under the sofa, I attached one end of a light weight spring to the wires (with added insulation) and the other end of the spring is attached to the floor with a small screw. The spring is just enough to pull the wires out of sight when the slides are out, and give enough slack when the slides are in.

I’ll take some pictures of it this weekend.

Looks like a nice installation. Looking forward to seeing some pics. We pick up our Pursuit this weekend... can't wait to start "modding."

[mbienve]

I connected my TV to the Jensen sound system through the Audio out on the TV and the auxiliary in on the radio. Sound is better than using the TV speakers. When I watch TV outside, I can use the outside speakers for sound instead of the TV speakers. If I'm watching the same show on the indoor TV.