It's hard to imagine desktop computer, which is used without columns. It's no secret that all laptops and other portable devices have built-in speakers, but here's the simplest personal computer Well, you can not do without the use of acoustics. A user who is faced with a similar task for the first time must understand how to connect speakers to a computer. To make your life easier, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with brief instructions on this account.

Connecting Audio Output Devices to a PC - Understanding the Basics

Before we get down to business, we need to figure out which of the sound systems we have to use. For a long time, everyone knew only standard 2.0 speaker systems, which consist of two speakers. But now on the technology market for more than a year you can find 5.1 stereo systems, 2.1 acoustics for personal computers, speakers for the most sophisticated music centers and home theaters.

Important! If you plan to use just such a version of the system, then our additional articles will help you:

All these devices have their own connection principles, and in each case it is worth following certain rules and connection sequence. Some of the device models may use bluetooth module for wireless communication.

Important! If you have a great desire, you can get confused and even connect an audio system for cars to your home, but the neighbors are unlikely to appreciate such a new thing. If you still decide on such an experiment, we recommend that you pay your attention to the models of devices from companies: JBL, Defender, Sven. Yes, even old Soviet acoustics can produce good and quality sound, there would be only desire.

How to properly connect speakers to a computer? What should you pay attention to? Let's go directly to connecting the components to the PC.

Establishing a connection between the speakers and the computer

In fact, the connection principle wired speakers is the same for all models of any manufacturing companies. The first step is to inspect the installation for the presence of connectors and compare their number with the findings on the motherboard or audio card. In some cases there may be 3 inputs, while in others there may be 6 or more.

Important! Don't forget to follow the instructions that should come with the rest of the documentation out of the box. This booklet will help you keep the order of connection and save you from unnecessary torment.

For an answer to main question you need to get to know the device itself and classify it.

Passive speakers

The connection itself shouldn't be a problem, since the entire setup consists of two speakers and a connecting wire.

Important! Nobody forbids you to get a 2.1 system, which also includes a subwoofer. The connection scheme does not differ at all from 2.0 systems. Ours will help you in choosing such a component.

To connect, do the following:

1. Unpack the box with the device and carefully inspect it for defects.
2. Now pick up the wire and connect the components together.
3. There should be a 3.5 mm jack on the back of the system unit of your personal computer. It is commonly referred to in green so you won't get confused.
4. The output from the main speaker must be inserted into this connector. The main speaker should have a power button and a volume control.
5. It remains to connect the system to the power supply and press the power button.

All is ready!

Important! For laptops, special small portable devices audio output that does not even need to be connected to the power supply. Instead of the usual mini-Jack, they are equipped with a USB connector. Here, to connect, you just need to insert this wire into the port of the laptop, and the accessories will immediately work.

The operating system must independently change the sound transmission from the device's built-in speakers to the only connected external ones. If you want to use such gadgets on a stationary personal computer, you can use the USB output on front panel system block. Also, some models have a green connector on the front (usually it is for headphones).

Active acoustics

If you are a fan of watching movies or listening to music loudly, we recommend that you get 5.1 or 7.1 stereo systems. Such setups include an amplifier that greatly enhances playback quality.

Important! To connect such a system of electrical appliances, you will need at least six connectors. If the number of connectors on the motherboard is not enough, then you will have to purchase a sound card.

How to connect speakers to a computer? The following is to be done:

• Connect the subwoofer and other elements. Usually they are labeled Front (two front), Rare (two rear), Center (center) and Sub (amplifying element).
• Arrange the components so that everything is in its place.

Important! Some users install components under the ceiling to reach the very best quality sound.

• Each of the wires has its own color, you need to arrange them accordingly in the connectors of a stationary personal computer. The subwoofer is most often connected to the microphone input, which is colored pink.

Important! If you have a microphone and use it, you can connect a subwoofer on the front panel of the system unit.

• Plug the plug into the outlet and find the power button on the subwoofer.

Important! Not all speakers can fit a PC. If you experience connection problems or cannot find the right connector on your computer, purchase special adapters.

Sound settings in Windows

Even the highest quality sound system won't sound right unless it's set up first. You need to make the following changes:

1. Click "Start", get into the "Control Panel".
2. So you need to find software with the name “VIA HD”, “Realtek HD” or “AC97”. Choose the one you have installed.
3. An interface should unfold in front of you, in which all working connectors are visualized and the settings for each of them are available. Here you can set the parameters you need, adjust the equalizer and find many other functions.

Very often a situation arises when the solution of a seemingly simple task turns out to be too complicated for a person who is not versed in subtleties. For example, on forums on the Internet every now and then there are branches in which the question is considered: “How to connect speakers correctly?”

To some extent, people who are interested in this are right, because connection errors can lead to failure of not only the sound reproducing device, but also the amplifier. It is especially important to understand well how to connect speakers to a laptop or personal computer. Only correct connection allows you to keep working sound card which, in some cases, is costly to replace. In this article, we will point to key features, without knowledge of which it is not recommended to connect. On the Web, you can sometimes find stories about how, when trying to connect the overall speakers to a computer, the sound failed in the latter. Alas, these topics are often lost among others, and the following home craftsmen, instead of looking for information on how to connect speakers, conduct experiments with their own computers.

Electrical and sound power

Before directly specifying how to connect speakers, it is necessary to touch on the topic of the energy consumed by the device. One of the characteristics of a sound reproducing device is its power. By the way, do not confuse sound and electric - they are different things, although they are interconnected. Approximately the first can be determined by the dimensions of the diffusers installed in the column: the larger their diameter, the higher the power. The sound cards of all modern computers contain an amplifier. It is this scheme that allows you to adjust the sound level. One of its characteristics is the allowable current that can be passed through the circuits. Since electric power is the product of current and voltage, it is obvious that, if the latter is constant, only the first two parameters can change. That is, a speaker connected to the output of a sound card, for example, at 10 W, will create ten times more current passing through the amplifier than an alternative at 1 W. Thus, direct connection of a large speaker system to a low power output sound adapter(which is designed for headphones and small speakers-"tweeters") leads to an excess admissible current and combustion of amplifier elements. This is exactly what is described in the topics "how to connect speakers" as a warning.

However, there is a solution. It consists in using an intermediate element - additional amplifier. That is why most modern speaker systems for computers involve inclusion in electrical network- this is necessary for the operation of the built-in signal amplifying circuits.

How to connect speakers from music center

Having found a ready-made speaker system somewhere, it is difficult to resist the temptation to connect it to a computer. As we have already pointed out, this cannot be done directly. The simplest solution is to use the built-in amplifier of a music center or tape recorder. Must be carefully examined back panel housing center and find the connector marked "line in" - this is the signal input. It can be made in the form of a connector for a plug or four clips. Next, you need to prepare a three-wire wire with a 3.5 mm plug (standard for computers). Connect it to the output of the sound card, and the other end in a certain way(depending on the type of connector) connect to the center. After that, it remains to switch the system amplifier to desired mode(usually "Record"; it is recommended to read the instructions) and turn on playback on the computer. After that, the entire load from the speakers will fall on the center circuits, due to which powerful systems, which would direct connection burned the card, they will work.

To enjoy your favorite music or movie using a computer, you need to connect speakers or headphones (this is the first thing), and only then install the drivers, if necessary, and then install desired programs and launch the music or movie file respectively. But everything is in order! Let's first connect everything you need to play sound, whether it's headphones, a headset, or speakers. The article has a lot of photos, it will not be difficult to figure it out.

Connect the speaker cable to the speaker/headphone jack, also known as the speaker jack. line-out/speaker-out (line out) is green. This is a familiar mini-jack connector, look at the photo:

The speakers also have a power cable that needs to be connected to the network, but some low-power models are connected not to the network, but to the USB connector, that is, they will not have the usual plug. I have on home computer just such speakers, look at the photo:

Also, right on the speaker, there can be an input for connecting headphones (this is convenient if you need to quickly switch from speakers to headphones so as not to disturb other people in the room with loud music, for example), and there will also be an on/off switch and volume control, which can be combined with a switch, and represent, for example, a wheel that, when turned, reduces the volume and turns off the speakers at minimum volume, which is accompanied by a click. This is done on the columns that are in the photo above.

However, there are speakers in which power and sound are transmitted via USB cable. As a rule, these are portable small speakers for laptops that you can take with you on the road. That is, in this case only one cable needs to be connected. Here is an example of such a device in the photo:

The computer will also most likely have a Line In connector ( line input) - connector blue color, to which you can connect an input device, but not a microphone, but a player, for example. In some cases, this connector can duplicate the line output. In the photo you can see the cable for connecting the player (this is my old second player (the first was a cassette player), the memory capacity is only 256 megabytes (). Now it is only suitable for photos for the article =)

How to connect headphones with a microphone (headset) to a computer

Headphones with a microphone that connect to a computer are called headset. It is very convenient to use if you need to communicate by voice using the Internet, record own voice, play computer games with a friend to talk. I specifically use the headset to record video tutorials. Here are a few of them:

And this is what the headset looks like, look at the photo:

On the left side of the headband you can see the microphone in the folded state, a thickening is visible on the wire: there is a headphone volume control and a clip for attaching to clothing.

If you need to connect the headset to the computer, then there should not be any problems either, since the headset has 2 cables: one for the speakers, for playing sound, and the other for the microphone (we already figured out how to connect the microphone). They must be connected to the appropriate connectors discussed above. See what they look like:

As you can see, there are icons on the connectors to make it easier to understand.
Also, the headset, like the other audio devices listed above, can be equipped with a USB connector, which reduces its connection to finding a USB connector on your computer and connecting an audio device to it.

On the modern computers usually the connectors for the microphone and speakers are duplicated on the front panel of the system unit, which is very convenient if you need to connect a headset - you do not have to climb behind the system unit. On the headset, the wires will be marked accordingly, that is, we connect red (pink) to the microphone input (of the same color or marked with an icon), and green, respectively, to the line input, to which the speakers are also connected.

On my old computer, for example, in order for the front connectors to work, it was necessary to connect the terminals at the back, there were wires hanging there, and one of them did not match in color, but by the method of elimination it was easy to guess where to connect it. It was inconvenient and had to be done like this:

On my new computer, I don't need to switch anything, and there are connectors on the front and back. Speakers are constantly connected at the back, and a headset is connected at the front if you need to chat via the Internet. In fact, these wires are just an extension cord. By the way, you can purchase it if you have microphone and speaker inputs only at the back, then you can connect it to the rear connector, fix it somewhere closer and more accessible, because it’s inconvenient to get to the back wall of the system unit. This is what the extension looks like:

An extension cord costs about $4 to $20. The cost depends on the manufacturer of course and on the length, which can vary approximately within 1m - 10m (you can find more). It is called correctly "jack-jack extension cable", and depending on the type of connector, it can be signed as:

- MiniJack-MiniJack extension either there may be marks like a MiniJack-MiniJack 3.5 mm extension, or you may also find such a mark, an example of a designation in one of the stores:

Headphone extension cable SPARKS SN1033, Jack 3.5 (m) - Jack 3.5 (f), 3m - in general, this is a mini-jack, the diameter of 3.5 millimeters tells us about this (), and in parentheses - these are the designations (m) male - the "father" connector and (f) female - the "mother" connector. It is this extension cord that will come in handy if you don’t have enough headphone, headset, or speaker cables. You can search the Internet or ask in a store and how simple a “headphone extension cable” will help you.

— extension Jack-Jack- may be useful for some types of headphones, an example of a name:

Headphone extension cable, straight cable, 1/4″ TRS Jack (male) - 1/4″ TRS Jack (female)

the type of connector (1/4 inch - Jack) and the type of extension cord are indicated: "father" - "mother"

if you need to connect a guitar, then you need a cable "father" - "father"

Also, so that the wires do not interfere and do not break when bent and serve for a long time, there are corner adapters that are indispensable if the back wall of the system unit is close enough to the wall and the wire is bent (although the system unit should not be close to the wall so that air exchange is not hindered ). By the way, such an adapter can simplify the connection to the rear panel of the system unit, since it does not have to be moved away, but can be connected from the side. In the photo, just such an adapter:

To be honest, I only met them on sale a couple of times, although in some cases they are definitely useful.

How to connect speakers and microphone to laptop

On laptops, there are usually only two connectors: for connecting speakers and connecting speakers. Most often, in front or on the side, they may not be marked with a color, but then they will definitely be marked with a pictogram, no one will confuse you on purpose (pictograms are most often used). Look at the photo: the required connectors are marked with pictograms:

And if you are the owner portable speakers connected to USB, then you need to look for this particular connector. In the photo above, it is just to the left of the microphone jack.

What should I do if my laptop only has one headset/headphone/microphone jack?

This question can be found more and more often on the forums and in the comments. Yes indeed, many modern laptops, netbooks and ultrabooks have only one headset combo audio jack instead of the usual two. For example, in a modern ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook, there is only one connector:

What to do? Understanding!

First advice: read the instructions carefully so as not to spoil the port! You may not be able to connect a microphone to the jack, but you can connect a headset or just headphones. There are models in which you can connect either headphones or a microphone, but you definitely need to read the instructions for what you can connect and what not! Here is an example: in the picture, the instruction page for the Lenovo S100. It says that you can connect a headset, you can connect headphones, but you can’t connect a regular microphone!

So, you need to work with a headset, what should you do? The solution depends on which headset you have.

1) If you have USB headset, then everything is simple: connect it to the USB connector.

2) If you have regular headset, as described in the article above, then you need an adapter from a 4-pin 3.5 mm Jack to headphones and a microphone, which will have a special four-pin connector (“headset”) designed for a combined headset device, for example, an adapter Gembird CCA-417. A 4-pin connector will have 3 strips:

3) You can just buy special headset with combo, to do this, type in Yandex.Market or in the search " headset mini jack 3.5 mm combo» the choice is quite large with prices ranging from $10 to $100 and more

You can also purchase a "native" headset from the manufacturer of your laptop / netbook. Here, for example, is a headset for Lenovo ThinkPad. It comes with an adapter for a laptop with two connectors (the reverse of what we considered in paragraph 2) and a case. On the Lenovo official website, such a headset costs about $20.

In all cases, in addition to connecting the device, you must also perform the following steps:

• install sound card driver if needed
• configure (meaning the setting in Windows itself) - if someone has problems with this particular item (the microphone or speakers do not work after connecting), then write in the comments which device, which computer and, you may need a separate article.

Well, that's all enjoy listening to music, watching movies and chatting with family via Skype!

From this article you learned:

• How to connect speakers (speakers) to a computer
• How to connect a headset or headphones to a computer
• How to connect a headset, headphones, speakers to a laptop

If you haven't used multi-channel audio before, this type of audio system will greatly enhance your movie and game experience. Marking 5.1 means that we will have as many as 6 speakers: 2 front, 2 rear, center and subwoofer (especially for low frequencies). However, there are even more advanced builds, such as 7.1. Below we will talk about how to connect such acoustics.

How to connect acoustics 5.1 - how to start speakers

First of all, you should find out if our motherboard six-channel sound. All modern assemblies can do this, but there are exceptions. In addition, it is necessary to keep in mind what type of acoustic systems the devices in question belong to. Analog speakers are connected to the PC in the same way as any others, while digital ones function via the SPDIF connector. Since analog audio systems are the most common, we will focus on them. Digital devices, among the benefits, are paired with system block with just one wire, emitting much less background noise. The sequence of work with the 5.1 audio system looks like this:

We unpack and examine the devices to determine where and how to place them. For example, it is logical to install modules with controls on the table in order to have fast access to sound settings. A subwoofer with "bottoms" is convenient to install under the table.

The connection scheme may vary, depending on the design of acoustics, however, in general view the connection of the plugs from the speakers must correspond to the signatures on the sound card connectors. The subwoofer is abbreviated as SW), the front left and right speakers are FrontLeft (FL) and FrontRight (FR), the two rear speakers are RearLeft \ Right, or SurroundLeft / Right (RL / RR, SL / SR, respectively). Center column - CEN.

Physical connection is made with a “paired tulips - jack 3.5” cable. They will go like this:

• a pair of “tulips” from the front speakers, jack into the green sound card slot;
• a pair from the rear speakers - into a black connector (depending on the manufacturer, the wire or “jack” can be painted blue);
• a pair of subwoofer and center - to orange (similarly previous paragraph- or yellow)
• do not forget to connect the entire system to the network;
• pay close attention to which section the "tulips" are in, it should be labeled "Audio Input 5.1", not "Audio Output".

Another connection option is also possible if the PC does not have enough connectors to connect a second pair of speakers and a sub / center. In this case:

• connect the front speakers to the green jack;
• back - to blue or black;
• the subwoofer and the central device - to the pink input intended for the microphone (as a result - if a microphone is required, the sub must be turned off).

How to connect 5.1 acoustics on a PC

Some settings to be made on the computer:

• go to “Control Panel” -> “Hardware and Sound”;
• select the section “Sound” -> “Speakers”;
• click "Setup";
• find the item “Surround Sound 5.1” and click on it;
• the audio system will be activated.

It is also convenient to use Realtek Audio manager:

• go to the program;
• on the “Speaker Configuration” tab, select 5.1 from the drop-down list;
• Save the changes with the "OK" button.

To connect acoustics to a DVD player, TV or other equipment, you will need an adapter (for example, mini jack - stereo RCA).

It's hard to imagine a home PC without speakers. Indeed, in this case, its capabilities will be significantly limited. You won't be able to watch a movie, listen to your favorite musical composition, play a game or just chat on the Internet via Skype. Sometimes it becomes necessary to connect speakers to a laptop. Although modern models equipped with speakers, not always available good level volume and playback quality. It is in this case that it becomes necessary to solve the problem of how to connect speakers to a computer. It would seem that the task is very simple. However, without knowing some of the nuances, this is not always possible.

How to connect a bluetooth speaker to a laptop?

In a situation where the functionality of regular laptop speakers is not enough to reproduce sound, great solution are bluetooth speakers. Such portable device has a number of advantages. First of all, they are compact, have a very good sound and very easy to use due to the absence of cables or wires.

But how to connect wireless speaker? What do I need to do? The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• First, we place the bluetooth device and the laptop at a distance of less than one meter. Then turn on the speaker. The indicator light should come on.
• Immediately after that, press the Connect pairing button and hold it for at least five seconds.
• Next, turn on the bluetooth on the laptop. As a rule, on many models this can be done using the so-called hot keys (Fn + F3). If there is no result, then try to do this: open the Device Manager. AT new windows 10 is the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Delete. You can also click on the notification center icon. Then click on the enable/disable Bluetooth icon. Such an icon will turn blue when in use.
• Then find among the list of devices available for connection bluetooth speakers. AT new windows 10 just click right click click on the enable icon. And then click in the window that opens, on "Go to settings". Next, you will see a list of devices. If it fails to connect to automatic mode, and sometimes it happens, then you need to click on "Connect"

Some differences in such a connection are characteristic of windows 7 and 8. Here the column should be reflected in the "Devices and Printers" section. Find it (path - Control Panel / All Control Panel Items / Devices and Printers), click on this icon and click on "Connect". Another option is to open the bluetooth tab. Then you should activate the option "Add devices". A list will appear in which you need to select speakers and connect them.

How to connect a speaker to a computer via USB

The main feature of speakers connected to a laptop or computer via usb is the absence of any wires. This greatly simplifies the user's work, makes it more comfortable. In this case, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

• Install on your PC software. To do this, insert the disc that comes with the speakers into the drive. The installation window will appear, click "Install" (Install), wait for the end of automatic actions.
• Then plug in the USB transmitter. Any free slot can be used. The system will automatically determine the type this device and will be able to configure it to work on a PC.
• After a special notification appears on the desktop that the device is installed and ready to work, turn on the speakers. In some cases, you will need to restart your computer. Also, some speakers are not equipped with a driver disk, the software installs automatically as soon as you connect the usb to the PC.

Possible connection problems

Sometimes unforeseen situations happen: you did everything right, but the columns still do not work. There may be several reasons.

1. Bluetooth not enabled (Check in Device Manager)
2. The volume is set by default - to the minimum (go to Control Panel / Hardware and Sound / Volume Settings. Adjust the volume control.
3. Not installed required drivers(in the Device Manager, right-click on the adapter and then select "Update Driver").
4. The wireless speaker is asking for a password. As a rule, this prime numbers 1234 or 0000.
5. An uncharged battery of a bluetooth device (basically, charging lasts no more than ten hours of battery life).

The task of how to properly connect speakers to a computer or laptop is quite simple and not difficult at all. Especially if you follow the instructions exactly. Connect good acoustics and be satisfied with the high-quality and loud sound of your favorite movies and music.

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