How to Connect Passive Speakers to Computer? | 5 Easy Steps

If you can afford all the arrangements, it’s pretty easy to connect passive speakers to your computer. This way you can turn the passive speakers into the computer speaker.

As modern computers don’t have quality in-built speakers, you need to buy external speakers to do the job. If you’ve passive speakers to use, you’ll also need an external desktop amplifier and a 3.5 mm to RCA adapter.

Have all of them? Then what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Procedure to Connect Passive Speakers to Your Computer

Before getting into the procedure, let’s get introduced to the additional components properly to make the process more convenient for you.

1. Passive Speakers

Passive speakers are those speakers that don’t have preinstalled amplification and usually build with a tweeter, a woofer (to adjust frequencies at high and low levels), and two drivers.

They’re manufactured in a way that you can easily use at any height, such as on a table or rack or shelf, etc. Therefore, they’re quite compatible use as computer speakers. For example, the Bookshelf speakers.

2. Desktop Amplifier

To connect both the speakers and the computers, you’ll have to make use of a desktop amplifier. You can connect it to your computer using 3.5mm or USB and also connect it to your speakers using the RCA wire.

3. 3.5mm to RCA Adapter

The 3.5 mm to RCA adapter is to connect your computer to the amplifier.

Now as you’ve got a basic idea of the components, it’s time to connect your passive speakers to your computer.

Final Procedure to Connect

The setup procedure is quite simple. Just follow the steps as instructed –

Step 1: First, plug the external amplifier into a power outlet.

Step 2: Turn on the amplifier.

Step 3: Then connect the amplifier to your computer with the 3.5 mm wire.

Step 4: After that, connect the speakers to the amplifier with the RCA wire.

Step 5: Now, head to your computer’s audio settings and ensure that the amplifier is selected as the audio output instead of the computer’s in-built speakers.

NOTE: When you restart your computer, there’s a higher chance that it can set the audio output by default to the computer’s speakers. If so, just go to the audio settings and alter it back to the amplifier.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is it possible to connect my passive speakers without an amplifier?

In order to connect your passive speakers without an amplifier, you need to connect them to an audio source that has an in-built amplifier. For instance, a portable music player. Just keep in mind that the audio source must have a high-quality output; so that it can improve the speakers’ audio quality.

How can I ensure a standard passive speakers connection?

The procedure is the same for both the right and the left channels. You should start by connecting the red positive (+) terminal of one passive speaker (suppose the left one) to the red positive terminal on the left channel of the amplifier. After that, connect the black negative (-) terminal of the left speaker to the black negative terminal on the left channel of the amplifier. That’s it!

What cable is required for passive speakers?

If you want to connect your passive speakers to a power amplifier, you’ve to use a dedicated speaker cable. They’re considerably durable and capable of transferring high-capacity electricity amplified by the external amplifier.

What is necessary to power up passive speakers?

In terms of powering up your passive speakers, you need external mixers or amplifiers to do so. Meanwhile, the amplifier requires suitable speaker cables for transmitting the sound signal to the speakers. Basically, most passive speakers have to use autonomous amplifiers to power them up.

Conclusion

That’s all about connecting passive speakers to a computer. If you successfully follow the steps mentioned above, there won’t be any problem to use the speakers as your computer sound system. If you find this post useful, don’t hesitate to share your feedback with us.