How to connect old stereo speakers to computer
I have a set of stereo speakers (Creative Inspire T7900) that I would like to use with my laptop. I've connected all the smaller speakers to the main speaker (excuse my lack of speaker terminology) but now I can't connect the main one to my laptop. It has a 4 audio jacks! (Each jack is for a different set of speakers – front, rear, side, and center subwoofer.) How do I connect that with my laptop's 1 audio jack? Do I need an external sound card? Or will a splitter do?
Also, I've tried connecting just one of the jacks to my laptop, but the sound won't work. When I plug it in, any sound that was playing from my laptop speakers is muted, but I can't hear anything from the connected speakers.
windows windows-10 audio speakers sound-card
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
add a comment |
I have a set of stereo speakers (Creative Inspire T7900) that I would like to use with my laptop. I've connected all the smaller speakers to the main speaker (excuse my lack of speaker terminology) but now I can't connect the main one to my laptop. It has a 4 audio jacks! (Each jack is for a different set of speakers – front, rear, side, and center subwoofer.) How do I connect that with my laptop's 1 audio jack? Do I need an external sound card? Or will a splitter do?
Also, I've tried connecting just one of the jacks to my laptop, but the sound won't work. When I plug it in, any sound that was playing from my laptop speakers is muted, but I can't hear anything from the connected speakers.
windows windows-10 audio speakers sound-card
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
add a comment |
I have a set of stereo speakers (Creative Inspire T7900) that I would like to use with my laptop. I've connected all the smaller speakers to the main speaker (excuse my lack of speaker terminology) but now I can't connect the main one to my laptop. It has a 4 audio jacks! (Each jack is for a different set of speakers – front, rear, side, and center subwoofer.) How do I connect that with my laptop's 1 audio jack? Do I need an external sound card? Or will a splitter do?
Also, I've tried connecting just one of the jacks to my laptop, but the sound won't work. When I plug it in, any sound that was playing from my laptop speakers is muted, but I can't hear anything from the connected speakers.
windows windows-10 audio speakers sound-card
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
I have a set of stereo speakers (Creative Inspire T7900) that I would like to use with my laptop. I've connected all the smaller speakers to the main speaker (excuse my lack of speaker terminology) but now I can't connect the main one to my laptop. It has a 4 audio jacks! (Each jack is for a different set of speakers – front, rear, side, and center subwoofer.) How do I connect that with my laptop's 1 audio jack? Do I need an external sound card? Or will a splitter do?
Also, I've tried connecting just one of the jacks to my laptop, but the sound won't work. When I plug it in, any sound that was playing from my laptop speakers is muted, but I can't hear anything from the connected speakers.
windows windows-10 audio speakers sound-card
windows windows-10 audio speakers sound-card
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
asked Dec 28 '18 at 13:51
RolodophoneRolodophone
34
34
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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You have a 7.1 surround speakerset, but a stereo output on your laptop.
7.1 are 8 channels. In a pair of 2 channels, the pair is sent over a wire, that has a coloured jack plug.
Green is the front left and front right speaker. Orange is the rear left and rear right, black is the sub and center speaker, and the remaining plug (forgot what color it has, blue?) is the sides left and right.
You can always connect only the green speakercable, but obviously the other channels will not have any sound.
Ideally, you would want to purchase a USB 5.1 or 7.1 surround soundcard so you can fully utilize the speakerset, but some speakers have a button to upmix a stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1 surround. I am not entirely sure, but I do believe yours has this. If this is the case, you can just connect the green cable only, set it to upmix, and all speakers will work correctly.
EDIT: It seems this speakerset also has a stereo line-in connection. You can use a simple male to male minijack cable to connect the laptop. you may have to change the input selector to line in on the speakerset for this to work.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
|
show 7 more comments
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1 Answer
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You have a 7.1 surround speakerset, but a stereo output on your laptop.
7.1 are 8 channels. In a pair of 2 channels, the pair is sent over a wire, that has a coloured jack plug.
Green is the front left and front right speaker. Orange is the rear left and rear right, black is the sub and center speaker, and the remaining plug (forgot what color it has, blue?) is the sides left and right.
You can always connect only the green speakercable, but obviously the other channels will not have any sound.
Ideally, you would want to purchase a USB 5.1 or 7.1 surround soundcard so you can fully utilize the speakerset, but some speakers have a button to upmix a stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1 surround. I am not entirely sure, but I do believe yours has this. If this is the case, you can just connect the green cable only, set it to upmix, and all speakers will work correctly.
EDIT: It seems this speakerset also has a stereo line-in connection. You can use a simple male to male minijack cable to connect the laptop. you may have to change the input selector to line in on the speakerset for this to work.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
|
show 7 more comments
You have a 7.1 surround speakerset, but a stereo output on your laptop.
7.1 are 8 channels. In a pair of 2 channels, the pair is sent over a wire, that has a coloured jack plug.
Green is the front left and front right speaker. Orange is the rear left and rear right, black is the sub and center speaker, and the remaining plug (forgot what color it has, blue?) is the sides left and right.
You can always connect only the green speakercable, but obviously the other channels will not have any sound.
Ideally, you would want to purchase a USB 5.1 or 7.1 surround soundcard so you can fully utilize the speakerset, but some speakers have a button to upmix a stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1 surround. I am not entirely sure, but I do believe yours has this. If this is the case, you can just connect the green cable only, set it to upmix, and all speakers will work correctly.
EDIT: It seems this speakerset also has a stereo line-in connection. You can use a simple male to male minijack cable to connect the laptop. you may have to change the input selector to line in on the speakerset for this to work.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
|
show 7 more comments
You have a 7.1 surround speakerset, but a stereo output on your laptop.
7.1 are 8 channels. In a pair of 2 channels, the pair is sent over a wire, that has a coloured jack plug.
Green is the front left and front right speaker. Orange is the rear left and rear right, black is the sub and center speaker, and the remaining plug (forgot what color it has, blue?) is the sides left and right.
You can always connect only the green speakercable, but obviously the other channels will not have any sound.
Ideally, you would want to purchase a USB 5.1 or 7.1 surround soundcard so you can fully utilize the speakerset, but some speakers have a button to upmix a stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1 surround. I am not entirely sure, but I do believe yours has this. If this is the case, you can just connect the green cable only, set it to upmix, and all speakers will work correctly.
EDIT: It seems this speakerset also has a stereo line-in connection. You can use a simple male to male minijack cable to connect the laptop. you may have to change the input selector to line in on the speakerset for this to work.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
You have a 7.1 surround speakerset, but a stereo output on your laptop.
7.1 are 8 channels. In a pair of 2 channels, the pair is sent over a wire, that has a coloured jack plug.
Green is the front left and front right speaker. Orange is the rear left and rear right, black is the sub and center speaker, and the remaining plug (forgot what color it has, blue?) is the sides left and right.
You can always connect only the green speakercable, but obviously the other channels will not have any sound.
Ideally, you would want to purchase a USB 5.1 or 7.1 surround soundcard so you can fully utilize the speakerset, but some speakers have a button to upmix a stereo source to 5.1 or 7.1 surround. I am not entirely sure, but I do believe yours has this. If this is the case, you can just connect the green cable only, set it to upmix, and all speakers will work correctly.
EDIT: It seems this speakerset also has a stereo line-in connection. You can use a simple male to male minijack cable to connect the laptop. you may have to change the input selector to line in on the speakerset for this to work.
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
edited Dec 28 '18 at 15:35
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
answered Dec 28 '18 at 15:01
LPChipLPChip
35.8k55185
35.8k55185
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
|
show 7 more comments
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
Connecting just the green cable makes no sound at all
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:20
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
It should. Can you plug in headphones into that same plug and verify that you have sound on the headphones?
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:30
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yep, the headphones worked fine, but connecting any of the speaker cables made no sound at all. However, the laptop did mute the inbuilt speakers so it must think something is connected.
– Rolodophone
Dec 28 '18 at 15:36
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
Yes, but it does that only due to a cable being plugged in. It has a sensor that knows a cable is being present regardless of whether it works or not.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:39
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
See my edit though, you should be able to use the line-in too.
– LPChip
Dec 28 '18 at 15:40
|
show 7 more comments
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