How to connect a subwoofer to a computer

The content of the article

• Ways to connect a subwoofer to a computer or laptop
• Active acoustics
• Passive speakers
• Connection Instructions
• How to set up sound on a computer

For avid music lovers, sound quality is paramount. Such people just need to hear all the nuances of the melody of their favorite song. So, you can’t do without a subwoofer. If you have purchased a powerful audio system and want to connect it to a PC, get ready for the difficulties. When connecting plugs to all ports, music sometimes does not sound or its quality leaves much to be desired. Let’s look at some simple ways to connect a subwoofer to a computer..

Ways to connect a subwoofer to a computer or laptop

Before choosing a sub, determine the sound card settings on the device. If you have a laptop with one headphone jack, the question of how to connect a home theater to a computer is automatically removed. The 5.1 system (i.e. 5 speakers plus 1 sub) cannot be connected to the laptop. The maximum that you can do is buy two ordinary speakers with a built-in receiver. If you want to connect the sub to the system unit, study the number of inputs on the sound card. A prerequisite is their coincidence in number with the plugs from the audio system..

Active acoustics

By choosing an active audio system as a user, you are not lost. The built-in amplifier in the speakers removes many of the nuances of the connection, which even a specialist does not always know about. Just plug the plugs from the speakers into the connectors of the sound card, and connect the sub to a special (signed) input. In the absence of such a sub is turned on through the speaker jack.

An antenna cable with RCA plugs (in the shape of a tulip) is used as connecting elements for connection. At one end, it plugs into the subwoofer, the other either into the analog panel on the power supply, or ports for speakers. In the latter case, the subwoofer and acoustics work in parallel at low frequencies of the sound range. Sometimes, active subwoofers are connected to an amplifier, which increases the workload on the system.

Passive speakers

For an audio system without an amplifier, an additional receiver is purchased, and the connection has a slightly different circuit. As the main parameter (except for the price) when buying an amp, its power is used. It must coincide with the characteristics of the subwoofer (columns), which are registered in the passport-instruction manual for the equipment. According to experts, passive audio systems have greater capabilities in sound settings than active.

How to connect a passive subwoofer to a computer? For this, a serial connection method is used by means of acoustic and antenna cables. The first is connected to the amp and subwoofer (speakers), the second – it is also the analog panel on the PC. Be sure to set the cutoff frequency, frequency limit. Adjust the volume exclusively for the entire audio system. Otherwise, you will ruin the sub, trying to add or turn down the sound with the amp control.

Connection Instructions

For active subwoofer:

1. Disconnect the PC from the network, prepare the audio system – buffer, speakers, wires.
2. Cables from the speakers are connected to the subwoofer and the panel on the back of the system unit. Manufacturers, for the convenience of users, often produce plugs and connectors of the same color, so connecting such audio systems is a pleasure.
3. Use a 3.5 mm Jack cable (white plug) to connect speakers and a sound card.
4. Connect the sub to the card connector labeled sub.woofer or sub. If not, then use the port for the side speakers.
5. Connect the system and system unit to the network.

For passive subwoofer:

1. Make sure your computer is turned off..
2. Connect the sub and amplifier, and then connect it to the analog panel with a 3.5 mm Jack cable. Insert the second tulip into the amp. The method is suitable if the receiver has a connector for low-frequency devices. Otherwise, see the section on how to connect speakers to a computer..
3. The sub is connected to the central input (yellow) on the rear panel of the system unit. Remember to connect the cables to the microphone and line jacks.
4. Connect the system to the network and boot the PC.

For passive speakers:

1. Turn off the PC and prepare the receiver, speakers.
2. Acoustics are connected to the amplifier with appropriate cables.
3. The receiver connects to the system unit.

How to set up sound on a computer

Once you have completed the connection, it is important to figure out how to install sound on your computer. If you have no doubt that all the cables are connected correctly, then it’s time to tackle the audio system settings. Before setting up the device, wait until the OS is fully loaded. Next, check that the driver for the speaker system is installed. Its presence is determined by the pop-up window in the bottom right (for Windows). If the buffer is new, then a driver disk is sold with it; if it’s old, then downloading the corresponding application from the Internet will not be difficult. Procedure:

1. Install driver.
2. Reboot.
3. On the taskbar, right-click on the speaker to open the context menu, go to “Volume Settings”.
4. Choose a sound device – your audio system.
5. Before turning on the sound on the computer, in the volume mixer (optional) set the sound level for the device.

Goal for fiction is cunning! Sound systems with good parameters have never been cheap, and now cost a lot of money. A non-standard approach allows us to solve this problem and use a car subwoofer as an audio system. Before you enjoy the depth of sound and bass, carefully watch the video on connecting such a seemingly inappropriate technique to your home PC.