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Connecting stereo speakers to computer

post #1 of 4
7/17/10 at 5:02pm
Thread Starter 

 

I have some fairly good older stereo speakers.  They connected to the stereo via speaker wires.  There were two terminals on each speaker to which you would attach the bare wire end.  I now would like to see if there is any way to connect the speakers to the laptop computer.  

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post #2 of 4
7/17/10 at 5:46pm

It seems that you have passive speakers, meaning that they need an external amp. An active speaker has an internal amp and can be connected directly to most any analog source such as a computer headphone jack, CD player, etc. or a digital output if the active speaker has a built-in DAC(digital to analog converter).

 

If this is the case, you cannot directly connect your speakers to your computer.

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post #3 of 4
7/17/10 at 7:06pm

If you happen to have an unused stereo receiver (many homes have one kicking around in an attic or basement), you could use this to take the line-out from your PC and connect it to the receiver, and have the receiver drive the speakers. Otherwise you would need to buy a small integrated amp. Not sure what  your budget is, but I'm sure members could make a recommendation if you told us if and how much you'd want to spend (and exactly what speakers you're thinking of using).
 

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post #4 of 4
7/17/10 at 7:48pm
You'll want to get a cable with a 1/8" jack on one side and RCA jacks on the other end. Plug the 1/8" into the headphone out on your computer and connect the RCA jacks to your stereo. That will let you play what's on the laptop through the speakers.

You have to have the speakers connected to an amp of some type. A laptop will not have the power to drive them.
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