Audio Systems: Home Stereo Crackling, crackling sound, internal amplifier

Question
I run my TV sound through my stereo speakers and have a problem with the sound crackling during loud parts of a show.  It helps to turn the TV down and stereo up but when I do this, the voices are muffled.  I've come to the conclusion that I need to get rid of the crackling.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Dear Jeff,

TV audio outputs, especially in non-HDTV models not of recent (in the last year or so) vintage, are notoriously low powered. The crackling you hear could be coming from the TV's output being driven beyond its capacity or you receiver's amplifier working to capture the weak input.

I suggest you run the audio through your receiver at the source (cable/satellite/antenna feed) by routing the input signal through your VCR or DVD player, whichever has an antenna throughput, and using the audio output of that device as the input to your receiver. Some satellite and cable boxes also have audio outputs. You bypass the TV's weak internal amplifier, and your muffled/crackling sound disappears.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin