The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[MicShazam]

Originally Posted by Man like Monkey

Anyone know how I can use stereo speakers with a laptop?

I just plug my speakers into my laptop and there's stereo.

Is there something I'm missing here?

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by MicShazam

I just plug my speakers into my laptop and there's stereo.

Is there something I'm missing here?

yes

http://gandhiappliances.com/wp-conte...-MHCEC99-1.jpg

Speakers like that. Not desktop/laptop speakers.

Oh ffs that link

New link put in

[MicShazam]

Originally Posted by Man like Monkey

yes

http://gandhiappliances.com/wp-conte...-MHCEC99-1.jpg

Speakers like that. Not desktop/laptop speakers.

Oh ffs that link

New link put in

Ok that's different. My first thought would be that there's going to need to be some extra unit in between. Then I googled it and found this thread:

https://www.techspot.com/community/t...-thanks.61179/

Especially this part seems worth noting:

"You cannot connect the speakers directly - your wee soundcard just doesn't have the output power needed. Well, unless the speakers have a builtin amplification system.

So instead you have to connect your monsterspeakers to some amplifying unit and then feed that from your laptop. You probably need a 3.5mm stereo male to dual RCA male cable to make the link from your lappy to the sound system. "

[MicShazam]

Plus, at least where I live, speakers can have quite a few types of connectors. The stereo I'm using for CD's right now just has these clamps where you stick the exposed wire from the speakers straight into the clamps and shut them. I'd have no way of hooking those speakers up to my computer unless I found an amplifier with clamps - which probably would be difficult.

[Cuthbert]

Thought so. Hoped there would be a simpler way.

Cheers.

[Trollheart]

Yeah I would buy a cheap amp, hook that to your PC via a 3.5 to RCA jack (or whatever way the speakers are connected but it's usually through RCAs) and it should work. I used to blast my PC music through my amp till it died, bought another, it died, so I said **** it and just used a pair of speakers with a subwoofer connected directly to the PC.

Note: if there's a line-out on your computer use that rather than the headphone socket, as the latter tends to give less volume.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yeah I would buy a cheap amp, hook that to your PC via a 3.5 to RCA jack (or whatever way the speakers are connected but it's usually through RCAs) and it should work. I used to blast my PC music through my amp till it died, bought another, it died, so I said **** it and just used a pair of speakers with a subwoofer connected directly to the PC.

Note: if there's a line-out on your computer use that rather than the headphone socket, as the latter tends to give less volume.

Logged off before I saw this yesterday. Cheers TH

How much are we talking for a cheap amp?

I'll probably post pics of the jacks and connecty thingies.

[Trollheart]

Maybe something like this? Though you do of course have to buy speakers, or, if you have ones already, make sure they connect up.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Skytronic-St...cAAOSw6GJaGNNP

[OccultHawk]

Is it hard to make a guest log in for your WiFi?

[Trollheart]

Interesting....

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Steepletone-...gAAOSwvqlZeidB

This is something like what I have now though (no amp required, and very good sound)

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/2-1-HIFI-HOM...YAAOSw241YY7Xp

Or maybe these

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/70W-RMS-HOME...4AAOSwnDxUfwX3

TBH mate, if there's a Richer Sounds near you, go in there. They'll be best able to advise you and probably give you a good deal too. I used to deal with them a lot and I really trust them to know what they're talking about.