I'm considering buying the 180636 "surround sound bar speaker system." My question is, is this JUST a speaker system, which needs to be connected to a separate amplifier or "home theater system?" Or will this item connect directly to my digital TV to read the digital audio signal and thus give better sound quality than the TV's built-in speakers? If not, can you recommend a product that will do this? Thank you very much. Meredith Loring

Check in your speaker setup menu. Sometimes you can select between using the surround back speaker jacks as "B" front speakers as well. You would have to tell the unit which one you want to use it as.

Headphone jack is an output not input jack. Your going to need a cord to go from your headphone jack(output) of your phone to audio input on your receiver. The cord has a mini stereo plug to the phone and RCA plugs of left and right to your receiver auxiliary input. Good luck..

Hello... Your TV speakers are turned off. If you don't have a sound bar or a surround sound system, go into the TV menu, audio, speaker settings and turn them on. If you have a sound bar or surround sound system, use the remote for that system to adjust the volume. I hope this helps!

Aside from connecting the black wires and the red wires in their correct places, if you have a blown speaker in the center or surround, it will cause the others not to work.
Here are something things to look for:
1 not every wire is suitable. Most wires are ok, but have natural resistance that prevents some of the signal from reaching the speaker. (impedance, measured in OHMS.)
2. Most of the newer systems have rca or banana connectors to insure clean interfaces.
The reviews I read on this product do not inspire me to go out and buy one, so if you can still choose something else consider it sooner rather than later.
3 the amplifier for the surround sound speakers may already be damage
Try every speaker on the output that works. That way you can tell if the speakers are the problem or if it is the amplifier.
Good luck.

Suggest you abandon the mini-phone jack connection - sounds like a wire is broken in that connector. Use the RCA stereo outputs from your TV into the Dell surround system. You may need a couple of adapter cables to make that work. Take photos of the connectors on the back of your TV and on the back of the Dell Surround system. Take those to an electronics store like Best Buy and ask for help there to get the cables you need (telling them that the mini-phone (headphone) plug is giving you trouble.

If you have surround speakers with a surround system, then connect the Player to the surround system using for example RCA cables (White and Red).

If you have speakers only, connecting many speakers to a non-surround system won't give you surround.
In surround systems the sound is controlled, elaborated and distributed through the speakers by a circuit.

If you wnt surround sound the alternatives are :

1. Connecting a surround system (eg.Home theater, receiver) to the player (amp+speakers)
2. Upgrading the DVD to one with surround.

Let me know if you need more help.

bye.

G.

Considering you only have 3 speakers, I would think you would be further ahead by purchasing an entirely new system.

This article explains the differences between Dolby 5.1 and Dolby 7.1 surround sound:
Home Theater Receiver Guide 5 1 vs 7 1 Which is Better

In terms of brands, I'd recommend finding a complete set up that's in the price range that you would like to spend.

two rms-70 watt are good enough for you.

This may be old news but just in case ...

Typically you need to consider the surround system as the central point for sound distribution (and in newer receivers, the distribution point for video signal as well). So you need to think of your TV and Satellite as sound sources and connect them to the IN side of your surround sound system. From the back of your TV then, look for the Audio OUT (commonly Red for right and White (or black) for Left. Connect these to the IN on the back of the surround system. Likewise for your satellite box. Then make sure you select the appropriate source on the surround system. If the system supports the video signal, you can route that as well. Beware that you'll need some sort of simulation (provided by the Phillips unit) to upconvert stereo to surround ... check the manual online. If you post model numbers for the Phillips and satellite units, we might be able to direct you more specifically (provided we can find manuals online)