Using a soundbar with an older TV

[taxboy]

I currently have a Panasonic TX32LXD85 TV and whilst it will be replaced in due course I would like to upgrade the sound for the time being and have my eye on a Philips HTL5140 soundbar. HAving done some research I've discovered that the sound out is via RCA so a couple of questions please.

1) Presumably I will need to buy a twin phono to 3.5mm lead to be able to connect to the soundbar ? I understand that I will not be able to make use multi channel audio. As a newbie to this what impact will this have on sound quality and also will I have issues with not being a leading to mute the TV speakers due to its age.

2) The soundbar has IR pass through but will I be able to make use of this

Any advice appreciated

[taxboy]

Anyone please

[rsbmw]

RCA to 3.5mm will work fine, but the soundbar has hdmi in and out so you could plug your source (sky box?) into the soundbar, then soundbar into TV.

No reason IR passthrough won't work

[taxboy]

rsbmw said:

RCA to 3.5mm will work fine, but the soundbar has hdmi in and out so you could plug your source (sky box?) into the soundbar, then soundbar into TV.

No reason IR passthrough won't work

Thanks for that. The TV source is Freeview via a standard aerial although we do have an HD recorder currently linked to the TV via HDMI. I had assumed the pass through wouldn't work just using the audio cables.

[rsbmw]

IR passthrough is just a transmitter on the back of the soundbar as they often get in the way of the receiver on the TV. It receives the IR signal from the remote, uses it for volume/power if it's configured that way, then relays it out to the TV.

[taxboy]

Thanks for taking the time to explain that. Much appreciated