How to Connect a PC Speaker to a Home Stereo

PC speakers can be connected to some home stereos.

Home stereo speakers and PC speakers differ in a very important way. Most home speakers are "passive," designed to be powered by the amplifier of the home stereo. You connect the speakers to the amplifier with speaker wire, and the amplifier sends the signal to the speakers, already amplified.



PC speakers are powered, or "active" speakers. They receive an un-amplified signal from the computer and use an internal amplifier to boost the signal before it reaches the speaker. They are connected to computers via a cable equipped with a stereo mini-jack, and they must be plugged into a wall outlet for a power source. Despite this difference, it is possible to use PC speakers with some home stereos, if the stereo has the proper output.

Things You'll Need

• Dual male RCA to female stereo mini-jack adapter cable

Instructions

1. Examine your stereo for a line-level or tape monitor output. This will be a set of RCA jacks, labeled accordingly, on the back of the receiver. If you don't have this, go to Step 2. If you do have RCA jacks, go to Step 3.

2. Look for a headphone jack on the front of your stereo. If you don't have this, you cannot connect PC speakers to your stereo. If you do have a headphone jack, go to Step 4.

3. Plug your adapter cable's RCA plugs into the jack. Connect your computer speakers' audio cable into the other end of the adapter cable. Go to Step 5.

4. Plug the computer speakers' audio cable into your headphone jack.

5. Set your computer speakers in the desired location and plug them into a wall outlet for electricity. Turn on the computer speakers and set the volume to the desired level.

References

• "PCs For Dummies Quick Reference;" Dan Gookin; 2007
• "Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems"; Mark Fleischmann; 2009)