How to Connect a PC Sound Card to Headphones & Speakers
Your computer is an excellent device for playing all types of music, from CDs to MP3s and DVDs. Sometimes, though, computer speakers sound underpowered and tinny and are of poor quality. Voices may sound unnatural, and loud music overloads the speakers, causing distortion. You can hook your computer up to a different audio source that sounds much better, such as headphones or powered speakers.
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Things You'll Need
- RCA to 1/8-inch stereo adapter
- Coaxial cable (optional)
- Toslink optical cable (optional)
- 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch headphone adapter (optional)
Instructions
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Hooking Up Speakers
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1
Look on the back of your computer to find the sound card output jacks. If you haven't installed an additional sound card, they are usually located near the USB or keyboard inputs.
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2
Decide which output to use. Your computer's sound card may have one of three sound output jacks: 1/8-inch stereo, coaxial or SPDIF. Each connection method requires a different cable. The stereo output jack is usually green, while the coaxial and SPDIF digital outputs are labeled beneath the jack.
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3
Obtain the proper cable and insert it into the line output or headphone jack. On most computers, this jack is colored green.
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4
Insert the other end of the cable into your stereo receiver's red and white RCA input jack. If you're using a coaxial or SPDIF cable, find the respective inputs on your receiver and plug them in. Remember what input you use for future reference.
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5
Test your setup. Tune the receiver to the proper input and play music through your computer. If all is well, you hear the music through the stereo speakers.
Hooking Up Headphones
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6
Locate the headphone jack (usually green) on the back panel of your computer.
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7
Plug the 1/8-inch end of the headphone cable into the jack. If your headphones have a larger 1/4-inch connector, obtain a 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch adapter.
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8
Put on your headphones and play some music.
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Tips & Warnings
A headphone or line out jack requires a 1/8-inch stereo to RCA adapter, while a coaxial input uses a standard 75-ohm RCA cable. SPDIF output jacks require a Toslink optical cable. Most stereo receivers support all three of these types of inputs, but not all sound cards do. Both coaxial and SPDIF methods offer better sound quality than using the headphone jack, so use them if available.
If your speakers provide their own amplifier, they likely have red and white RCA jacks on one of the speakers or the subwoofer. Connect the 1/8-inch stereo adapter to those jacks instead of the receiver. You also need to connect these to a wall outlet or USB port for additional power.
