How To Connect Speakers To A PC

With so many different varieties of speaker out there, hooking them up to your PC isn't always as easy as you might think.

Knowing how to connect your speakers to your PC is vital to getting the most out of them, and you want to avoid getting a new pair only to be left frustrated by connection issues or unclear manuals. While all speakers have their own features and connectivity parameters, this guide will help walk you through them.

It is important to differentiate that some speakers use cables while others use Bluetooth; while the guide will cover both, make sure to know which type your speaker is so that you can follow the appropriate steps to pair it or connect it with your computer.

Related: Best USB PC Speakers of 2023

For starters, you should grab every speaker component and the speaker itself. The cable will be a 3.5mm audio cable, an RCA cable, or an optical cable, depending on whether the speakers have a jack, RCA ports, or optical ports and a power cord.

Once you have these grouped, make space so you can comfortably reach the back of your desktop. Now you need to find the audio output on the computer. It will either be on the front, on top or, in most cases, on the back of the computer. It will usually have a headphones icon or be labeled as Line Out or Audio Out.

The output can also be labeled as a green circle for the 3.5mm audio cable. As for the optical cable, it's usually a little black box with red lights inside. They use the green circle for RCA cables, too, but they might need an extension to be compatible (unless they already come with one). RCA cables can also use the right port for the red cable and the left port for the white cable in some computers.

Note: RCA cables often require an adapter to work with computers and are uncommon and only found on specific equipment.

Plug the end of the cable into the audio output on your computer, then the other end into the input port of your speakers. Connect the power cord to an electrical outlet (you should get and use a surge protector outlet to keep your speakers safe and working) and power them on. Lower the volume with the slider on the speaker to avoid max volume testing.

To connect Bluetooth speakers to a PC, ensure the computer and the speakers are Bluetooth enabled. Use the taskbar at the bottom of your PC screen, find this arrow ^ and click it. Then click on the Bluetooth icon and select Open Settings to check if Bluetooth is on.

Put your speakers in pairing mode; the steps for that vary between speakers but should be included in the instructions for the speaker. Then click the Bluetooth icon on your PC's taskbar and select Add a Bluetooth Device. Select your device from the list.

If necessary, enter the passcode to the speakers. That passcode is usually printed on the back of the speakers, although bear in mind most speakers won't have a passcode. Click done and the speakers should now be connected to your PC.

Now that the speakers and the computer are connected, you can start testing the sound to check the speakers are working correctly. Turn the speakers on and open the sound settings on your computer. To do that, find the speaker icon on your taskbar. Click it and then click the gear. Alternatively, right-click on it and select Sound Settings.

Click on the Playback tab, or adjust the volume to play a sound that will confirm if the speakers are actively working. Be sure to check the correct speakers are selected under Output Devices. You can also click on the Test button. You are good to go once you confirm your speakers are making noise.

If you still have problems connecting the speakers to your PC, refer to the manual provided with your speakers for more specific instructions. Hopefully, your speakers are working perfectly so you can enjoy them as intended.

There are many good speakers out there, and they're an excellent alternative to headsets. Ideally, you want to own a headset and speakers so you can freely switch between the two depending on the situation. Using a headset all day can be tiring, but sometimes you might want the kind of noise cancelation speakers can't provide.

Wired speakers tend to sound better and avoid latency problems. However, Bluetooth speakers are catching up to wired ones in those areas. They're also easier to take on the go and avoid messy cable setups.

When it comes to digital content, Optical is the superior cable, thanks to its high-quality audio.

Check all steps and read the manual provided with the speakers. While most speakers follow the same steps, some might have specific instructions.

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Ricardo Bracho is a freelance writer for TheGamer who composes articles passionately and meticulously. He studied Advertising and Public Relations at Barry University, has written top-quality game reviews, and now focuses on the board game scene. He has covered games such as Star Wars Fallen Order in articles with over 1000 unique readers and is interested in all media and games. His favorite board games include complex player versus-player ones such as Ankh: God of Egypt, but he is also known to dabble in more newcomer-friendly ones such as Marvel United. He enjoys a unique take on television, watching series such as Junji Ito's Collection/maniac and shows like The Flash CW. When it comes to enjoying video games, he picks the most obscure titles, hidden gems often unknown to many such as Drakengard or Brigandine. He is also a big fan of The Witcher 3 and Divinity Original Sin II.