Have I Destroyed My TV's HDMI?

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

Let me preface this by saying: I am an idiot.

I wanted surround sound for my new 360, so I figured "Oh, I'll just plug MY PC speakers into the Red/White sound ports on the back of my TV" (I have a 32'' Polaroid LCD- It's not too shabby). The ear-piercing buzzing sound that erupted from the TV alerted me to my mistake.

Now almost whenever I boot my 360 using HDMI, the colors/picture is fucked. It's all purply and wrong. You can still see the screens/logos/game and all that, but it's just fucked. Sometimes I can get it normal, but for the most part it's 24/7 screwed.

Like I said, I am fully aware of my stupidity. In addition, the TV is pretty old, isn't covered by manufacturers warranty, and doesn't have a store warranty. I echo my original question: is my HDMI input fucked? This isn't so massive of a problem for game playing because I can just plug in those other cables, but not being able to play in 1080i makes me sad.

[Desx]

Probably. Go buy a new one.

[Zerai]

So you plugged something into your speaker ports on the TV..and you're asking if the HDMI port is broken? It sounds like you broke something in the TV not the HDMI port. Thats at least what I got from what you said. Unless you meant you plugged the speakers into the red/white connectors on the dongle for sound you can use when you use the HDMI port on the 360.

Still. I have no idea how you managed that. I had my computer speakers hooked up to my 360 just converting the signal (red/white cable connected to a red/white input, speaker output connected to a female to female speaker connector and then just plugged the speakers in) and it worked fine.

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

Negative. Below the HDMI port on the back of my TV are a Red and White input associated with that single HDMI input. All inputs on the back of my TV have Red/White speaker plugs. I placed one PC speaker plug into the White input and then BAM, fucked.

[Kaio]

Hrm, i don't see how that managed to break the hdmi. So you confused input with output? The only way to be sure if it's the TV's hdmi is to plug something else in or try your xbox somewhere else.

[Brutul Tarew Marr]

It looks like this? Those audio jacks are inputs, not outputs. Putting an 8 Ohm speaker across them is almost a short. Without knowing exactly what's in there it is definitely possible that you fried a chip of some kind in there and that input is hosed. It can probably be fixed, but probably not by you.

Should have connected the speaker over here:

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

Yup, that's exactly what I did. Figured I shorted something. Gracias.

[Brutul Tarew Marr]

Easy to do since the plugs are exactly the same.

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

I should have brought a flashlight. The audio outs are right below the ins.

[Aegdaien]

Were you not using the tv's speakers?

[Zerai]

Originally Posted by Aegdaien

Were you not using the tv's speakers?

Um. TV speakers, on average...suck huge balls.

[Desx]

I got the sweetest deal on my surround sound setup.

Best Buy puts things on clearance all the time.. I got my Receiver for $110
Pioneer - 550W 5.1-Ch. A/V Home Theater Receiver - VSX-517-K

and

My JBL 6 Speaker 5.1's for $88

JBL SCS145.5S Ratings. Surround Speaker Systems User Opinions.

After I had realized how much the speakers were sold for normally I regret not buying every set they had.

[Aegdaien]

Originally Posted by Zerai

Um. TV speakers, on average...suck huge balls.

He's using a fucking Polaroid TV. His speakers should be the least of his worries.

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

Don't let the brand throw you off, it's an incredible TV. Full 1080i support, DVI and HDMI inputs, and it's about 3 years old. I run my PC out of it all the time - games look stunning on it. The only issue is the sound, which is garbage, and obviously I fail at fixing that.

[Aegdaien]

Originally Posted by ValkyrieIsAboutToDie

Don't let the brand throw you off, it's an incredible TV. Full 1080i support, DVI and HDMI inputs, and it's about 3 years old. I run my PC out of it all the time - games look stunning on it. The only issue is the sound, which is garbage, and obviously I fail at fixing that.

Dude, no offense but that's the same as claiming a Dynex is a good HDTV. Polaroid doesn't even support those TVs. If it breaks, they have no warranty repair center for them. Good luck with that. Source So fucking up your sound kinda really sucks for you.

Originally Posted by HD Guru

Polaroid’s HDTVs, which sell mainly through Circuit City, would seem to be bargain-priced compared to the “name brand” competitors. Polaroid’s 1080p 42” LCD Model number PLD 4241TLXB, for example, sells for $1149.99 at Circuit City, while Toshiba’s 42HL167 goes for $1699.99.

The Polaroid set seems like a good deal until you find out what the Circuit City and Polaroid websites fail to disclose, which is that Polaroid HDTVs cannot be repaired after the warranty period expires!

The HD Guru visited his local Circuit City and asked the salesman what to do if a Polaroid required out of warranty service. He didn’t know. The next day the HD Guru called Circuit City’s customer service (CS) department. The representative did not have a clue about either in or out of warranty service for Polaroid flat panels!

The HD Guru later contacted Polaroid customer service. A representative informed him that its HDTVs carry a one-year on-site warranty. Fine. But what about parts and service for out of warranty service? Incredibly, the customer service rep replied “there are no out of warranty repairs available, you are basically on you own,” adding that Polaroid does not offer any out of warranty support (including parts), at its US headquarters or through independent TV repair shops.

With no parts and no authorized “out of warranty service available”, what you basically get when you buy a Polaroid is a disposable HDTV— think paper towel. When the warranty expires, if the set breaks, it’s ready for the town dump.