If you are tired of using the speakers integrated into your monitor, a solution is to equip yourself with external speakers or real audio systems.
Of course for background music, a sporadic video on youtube or even a video call on Skype, the integrated speakers are fine.
You can find excellent quality on PC monitors such as ASUS VZ239HE-W, where the audio signal is carried by the HDMI input.
However, if you are looking for a better listening experience than external speakers are necessary, and each type offers very different pros and cons.
Among the aspects to consider, understanding how to connect the speakers to the PC is less trivial than it seems at the beginning.
There are several ways, not all of them intuitive: I will talk about them in-depth in the guide you are about to read!
Contents of the article
- How to connect speakers to PC: all the ways
- How to connect speakers to PC with the 3.5mm jack
- How to connect speakers to the PC with multiple jacks
- Connect your speakers to the PC via USB
- How to connect speakers to PC via a sound card
- Conclusions
How to connect speakers to PC: all the ways
In this guide, I will tell you about the hardware solutions through which you can connect a speaker to your computer. They are therefore wired and not- wireless solutions. In fact, if you don’t have an audio system yet, I recommend you before reading my article on how to choose PC speakers, which will clarify your ideas well.
However, if you also have a Bluetooth speaker (or audio system), you can take a look at the article I wrote on how to connect Bluetooth speakers to the PC.
Are you ready? Let’s start the simplest and certainly most widespread case!
How to connect speakers to PC with the 3.5mm jack
Along with the USB input, the 3.5mm jack is perhaps the most common connector. You can find it on desktop computers, laptops, sound cards, tablets and so on.
On smartphones, you can use it to connect earphones or headphones with cable, but also the famous selfie sticks and other types of peripherals.
Going back to the speakers and the PC, using the 3.5mm jack to connect is a very simple operation.
All you need to do is connect the speaker audio cable to the jack input located on the back of your computer. It is also sometimes on the front of the case, but the choice depends on how often you plan to unplug and reattach the cable.
In some cases, you will find different colored audio ports: connect your speaker to the one colored green. The system will automatically recognize the audio output.
How to connect speakers to the PC with multiple jacks
I didn’t casually mention jacks of different colors. In fact, they come into play if you purchased an analog multichannel audio system.
These are systems with multiple speakers and a subwoofer, for example, a 5.1 or a 7.1. Their goal is to create a more enveloping listening experience by surrounding the listener.😉
Usually, desktop computers are equipped with an integrated sound card that has all the jack inputs required for connection.
Each port can manage two audio channels, divided as follows
- Green: stereo front speakers (left and right)
- Yellow: central speaker (but also the subwoofer)
- Black: upper left and right satellite speakers
- White: lower left and right satellite speakers
Obviously, the green input is the one where you can connect stereo speakers or headphones. Furthermore, if you have a 5.1 system you can also ignore the white input, which will be useful for a 7.1 surround instead.
In fact, there are two other audio ports, one pink and one blue. They are both used for the incoming audio signal: the first for a microphone, while the second for a mixer.
Although they are still quite widespread, in recent times analog multichannel audio systems have been replaced by wireless alternatives or, to remain on the wired, USB.
Connect your speakers to the PC via USB
A 3.5mm jack carries only the audio signal. This means that you will always have to independently feed your crates.
As a consequence, you risk finding yourself with two cables to manage rather than with only one: on one side, the audio cable; on the other, the power supply.
This problem is solved with a connection via USB port. In this way, with a single cable, your speakers receive both the audio signal and the power supply.
Connecting a sound system to your computer’s USB input is something very simple. It’s exactly like when you connect any other device.
In theory, the PC will automatically recognize the new device and install the drivers by itself, setting it as the audio output in use.
However, if the installation took place but you don’t hear any sound coming from the speakers, you will have to help the operating system. Let’s see how:
On Windows, click on the speaker icon at the bottom right, then on the arrow at the top and choose the name of your speakers from the drop-down menu;
On macOS, click on the sound icon at the top right and select the USB speakers from the list that will appear.
It is a very simple procedure, at most, it could make you lose a few minutes.
How to connect speakers to PC via the sound card
There are some cases where your computer’s default inputs are not enough for optimal sound performance. This can happen for several reasons:
- Your desktop PC is missing some ports;
- Your laptop only has one jack input;
- One or more inputs may not work properly.
In all these cases, it may be a good idea to have a dedicated sound card, i.e. not integrated into the motherboard.
There are basically two types. On the one hand, external sound cards, such as the CSL DTS Dolby 7.1, which are connected via the USB port to your computer.
On the other side the internal sound cards, which you will connect directly to the motherboard. To do this, you will need to follow these simple steps:
- Check if there is a free PCIe slot on the motherboard (you can find it under the dedicated GPU );
- Gently fit your sound card into the slot;
- Power it, if this is the case, with one of the cables coming out of the PC power supply.
It seems a difficult operation, but I assure you it is only apparent.
Take for example the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy Fx: the shape already intuitively tells you how to fix it inside the case, and outside you find all the necessary inputs!
Related Post- Fix PC power supply Issue.
Conclusions
There are many ways to connect speakers to your PC, as you have seen.
To a large extent, they depend on the type of audio system you will want to use and the possibilities offered by your computer.
In most cases, just follow these simple guidelines to be able to enjoy your sound system already. But by the way: did you know that the position of the speakers also affects your experience?
If you want to know more, read the article on how to position the PC speakers.
If you want to know which audio solutions to choose, visit the guide on the best speakers for PC. You will find them for all tastes and pockets!
