Hooking speakers to computer?

[cowguy]

I have a pair of speakers that have the black and red connectors that you use speaker wire to connect to your stereo.  Is there a way to be able to hook these up to your computer?

[bfauska]

Computers don't output "speaker level" audio.  You can run basically headphones or an amplifier from the computer.  The PC speakers that most people use are simply speakers with little amplifiers built into them.  I think that many people around here use car amps to power their speakers, I am using PC speakers.  Depending on where you are putting your speakers, PC speakers are probably the simplest solution.  If you really want to use speakers that don't have a built in amp it will be more work, but it can be done.

[cowguy]

Could I possibly take the amp out of some cheap computer speakers and wire it to my speakers that don't have an amp?

[bfauska]

You could do that, but it may be difficult to find the ratings on both the amps and the speakers.  It is fairly important to match the components up well.  Chances are that the amp in the computer speakers will be low power so you probably won't damage your speakers, but it is hard to say, the impedance of the speakers also comes into play, if it is too low, and the amp is rated only for high impedance speakers then you could damage the cheap amp.  Nearly all speakers are going to perform better when built into a box.  I just mounted my computer speakers into my arcade cabinet last night and I left them in their little cases, they sound great and it was simple.  I think that is the cleanest solution unless you are installing the speakers in such a way that they will be seen.

[Apollo]

If you don't want to just put a pair of decent PC speakers in your cab then Happ have a very good little amp that will work for you.

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/jukebox/495140100.htm

I use this amp and a pair of 3" shielded 8 ohm 30w speakers and the sound is awesome however if I was building again I would probably just use PC speakers to save hassle and cash.

[cowguy]

Alright I opened the cheapy speakers and disconnected the wires from the speaker and hooked them up to my other ones and it works fine.  Not super loud, but works.

[Zebidee]

Thing is, most hifi-stereo speakers are hi power and 8-16Ohm, and but your PC speakers are most likely low power and 4Ohm and the amp is driving a signal for that.  That s why the volume is so low.  And the impedance is wrong.  So this setup will only ever sound OK, but never great.

I suggest that you try to find an old stereo amp and use that with those speakers of yours.

Otherwise, a cheap option is to find some good quality PC amp/speaker units or other 4 Ohm speakers.

If you have some old PC speaker units around, get the best sounding ones (I like using Harmon-Kardon units) and pull the amp out of that.  My cab needed 4" speakers and the HKs only have 3" speakers, but I found another PC speaker unit that 4" speakers and cannabalised that.

PC speakers are a good choice because they usually have magnetic shielding built in, which means it won't f*ck with you monitor.  You can often find them cheap at auctions and garage sales, or even people giving them away.  You can do some chopping and changing between amps and speakers, so long as they are roughly the same ratings (like most desktop PC speaker units would be). 

As long as there isn't an extreme difference in their power ratings, You won't blow your speakers by attaching a 4ohm amp to 8 or 16 ohm speakers.  But you can do it the other way around, eg by connecting 4 ohm PC speakers to a hifi amp designed to drive 8ohms+.

[SteveJ34]

Another option if you want to use existing speakers is to pick up an inexpensive amp like:

http://tinyurl.com/379ng8

I used a similar unit for jukebox setup to power existing speakers I had onhand.

You will  need to make or buy an rca jack to mini phono jack cable and use the line out of your sound card or motherboard.

Good Luck!

[cowguy]

Thanks for all the help, but is there any way to hack the speakers that I have already to output higher?  I'm very short on cash and can't afford to spend anything.

[Zebidee]

Thanks for all the help, but is there any way to hack the speakers that I have already to output higher?  I'm very short on cash and can't afford to spend anything.

Without spending money? Turn the volume up?

Seriously, you should try to buy an old stereo amp for about $10, just like SteveJ34 amd I suggested.  I use an amp similar to that on my cab with 8 ohm speakers, and it sound fantastic!  You might even find something like this at a garage sale or recycling centre for almost nothing.  Get an old stereo complete if you need to.  It doesn't have to be fancy, just cheap and functional.

[AcidArmitage]

Check goodwill, they most of the time have old $10 amps

[SteveJ34]

A free option might be to sign up and place a wanted post on freecycle.org.

Looks like you are closest to Cleveland...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClevelandOhioFreecycle/

This is entirely hit and miss but might be a freebie option for you to find what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

[BobA]

Our freecycle just had a home theatre DVD system that did not play DVDs anymore but would have made a great 5 speaker and amp system.

[cowguy]

You will  need to make or buy an rca jack to mini phono jack cable and use the line out of your sound card or motherboard.

Could I pick on of these up at radio shack?

[bfauska]

Yes, Radio Shack will have it.

Here is an example, they have "fancy" versions too, you don't need those.

[cowguy]

Alright thanks for all the help, I'm gonna buy the cable from radio shack and the amp off of eBay that some gave me the link too.