How to Get Surround Sound Speakers to Work on a Computer

If you want to connect the speakers from your home theater system to your computer, then you're out of luck; you need a receiver to power the speakers. But if you want to enhance the media located in your computer with the help of your surround sound system, read on.

Things You'll Need

• 1/8-to-RCA cable

Instructions

1. Go to the Codecs website (see Resources below). Download and install a copy of AC3 Decoder; this utility allows your computer to properly distribute sounds into your 5.1 surround sound speakers.

2. Restart your computer. Change the volume levels on your computer so that they are up all the way. Turn the master volume levels on the surround sound down.

3. Connect the 1/8 end of your 1/8-to-RCA cable into the Line In port located on your computer's sound card. Plug the other end of the cable into the Stereo Out ports on your receiver--matching red into the red port and yellow into the yellow port.

Tips & Warnings

• Use high-quality cables for high-quality sound.

Resources

• Codecs website