It is tempting to connect speakers to your computer and monitor to get the best sound quality possible. Computers rarely come with good speakers or even any speakers at all most of the time these days. Understandably, many people struggle with how to connect speakers to a monitor.
You can connect speakers to a monitor and computer with an aux cord if you have a free “Line Out” port. Run an aux cord from your PC into your speakers and enable them as the audio source on your computer. Otherwise, you can connect speakers to a monitor with an HDMI cable, audio extractor, or with Bluetooth connection.
Bluetooth is a great option if you want mobile speakers that you can take with you on the go. Otherwise, an aux cord is the best option because they are widely available and cheaper than HDMI cables. Follow along as we explore how to connect speakers to a monitor.
How To Connect External Speakers To Monitor
You can connect speakers to a monitor in several ways whether you use an aux cord or not. Modern technology makes it easy and affordable to pair devices such as audio equipment and monitor screens. The easiest and quickest way to connect speakers to a monitor is with an aux cord, but that’s not your only option.
With that said, it can be misleading to say that you are connecting your speakers to the monitor. In most cases, you are simply connecting speakers to the computer that your monitors are connected to. Let’s take a look at how to connect speakers to a monitor using several different methods.
With Aux
An aux cord is a great and convenient way to connect speakers to a monitor. That is because most people have aux cords already, and if not, they are readily available. Before you get started, you need to make sure that you have enough outlet space to plug in your speakers.
This is not a problem if your speakers are battery-powered, however. Plug in your speakers or turn them on along with your computer to get started. It only takes a few simple steps to connect speakers to a monitor and computer with an aux cord.
A notification should appear on your screen letting you know that an external audio source is connected. Open your settings menu, scroll down to audio, and select your external speakers if you don’t get a notification. Now, play a song or video to make sure that your speakers work and sync up with your monitor and computer.
Plug The Aux Cord Into Your Computer
First, you need to plug the aux cord into your computer. Look for the “Line Out” output back on your computer. It may not say “Line Out”, but you should be able to see that the opening is the same size as the male end of the aux cord.
Look for the microphone port if you struggle to find the aux port because they are typically right by each other. Typically, an aux port will have a headphones insignia beside it. Plug the aux cord into the 3.5mm input jack to get started.
Connect To Your Speakers
Look for the aux cord on your speakers following the same criteria as the previous step. Most modern speaker systems feature an aux cord that you can use to connect to an external source, such as a phone. Now, plug the other end of the aux cable into the 3.5mm jack on your speakers.
Turn your speakers on and listen to make sure there are no hissing sounds. If there are, then this can indicate that there is something wrong with the connection or the cable.
Test The Audio
Now, you need to test the audio quality to make sure that your speakers are adequately connected. Watch out for a notification to appear on your screen indicating that your Aux cord is connected to your computer. Your speakers will either automatically connect to your computer or you will need to manually accept them.
Search for your computer’s settings and scroll down to the audio tab if no notification appears. Switch the audio setting from your stock laptop or PC speakers to the external speakers that you connected. Now, the images on your monitor will correspond with the audio that comes out of your speakers.
Without Aux
The two most popular ways to connect speakers to a monitor without an aux are with an HDMI cable or Bluetooth connection. Of course, you can only use an HDMI cable if your monitor or speakers have an HDMI port. Otherwise, you will have to either use an aux cord or connect speakers to your monitor via Bluetooth. Let’s take a look at how to connect speakers to a monitor without an aux cord.
HDMI
You can connect speakers to a monitor as long as both devices feature an HDMI port. This works whether you use an HDMI splitter or plug directly into the monitor from your speakers. Not all monitors have built-in speakers, however, and this solution won’t work in that case.
Typically, a 3.5mm cable is enough to connect speakers to a monitor. Simply run either end of an HDMI cable from your speakers to the PC or Mac that your monitor is connected to. Your PC itself also must have an HDMI port as well or else it won’t accept this connection.
Luckily, that shouldn’t be a problem because nearly all modern computers feature at least one HDMI port. If this does not work, then you likely need to use an audio extractor to connect speakers to your monitor with HDMI.
Audio Extractor
An audio extractor can let you connect speakers to a monitor with an HDMI cable. This is a way to circumvent additional HDMI ports that you simply may not have. Audio extractors are useful if your PC and monitor have HDMI ports, but your speakers don’t.
That is because it is impossible to skip the PC and plug speakers directly into a monitor with an HDMI cable. An audio extractor lets you circumvent the direct connection and instead it extracts the audio for you. Simply plug one end of the HDMI cable into the audio extractor and the other end into the PC that your monitor is connected to.
Now, run a stereo or optical output cable from your speakers to the audio extractor. The extractor will play the audio that corresponds with the video on your screen through the speakers. Audio extractors vary widely in cost between $20 and $150 or more. With that said, it’s not worth skimping on an audio extractor that will underperform and won’t stand the test of time.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth has slowly become the standard for external speakers, and it is no mystery as to why that is. The mobility and clarity that Bluetooth speakers have to offer are often better than hardwired speakers. Luckily, you can easily connect Bluetooth speakers to a computer for the best audio experience.
Make sure that you have Bluetooth enabled on your computer before you get started. Now, turn on your Bluetooth speakers and place them near your monitor and computer. Turn the speakers on and open the tab that says “Settings” on your computer.
Scroll through the list until you find the Bluetooth tab and click on it. Wait for your Bluetooth speakers to appear on the list of devices that are available for you to connect to. Click on your Bluetooth speakers and confirm that you want to connect to them. The audio that corresponds with your monitor screen and PC should play through your Bluetooth speakers now.
Do Monitors Have Speaker Ports?
Not all monitors have speaker ports, but many of them do. If your monitor has a headphone port, then it typically has a speaker port, however. That is because auxiliary ports for headphones and external speakers are essentially interchangeable.
In other words, you can connect speakers to any monitor that you can connect headphones to most of the time. You can still connect speakers to your computer even if your monitor doesn’t have a speaker port. Whether you use an aux cord, audio extractor, or HDMI cable, your monitor will correspond to the speakers if you connect it to the computer.
How Do I Fix The Audio Delay On My Computer?
You can fix the audio delay on your computer if you adjust the audio settings. Open the settings menu, click on sound or audio, and select your external speakers. Adjust the settings to high quality or advanced if there is a lag between your speakers and monitor.
Otherwise, you may need to unplug your aux cord or HDMI cable from your computer, monitor, and speakers. Plug the cord or cable back in to see if the audio delay between your monitor and speakers goes away. The same fixes apply if you use an audio extractor to connect your speakers to a monitor.
Turn off your Bluetooth connection if that is how you connected your speakers to your monitor and computer. Wait a moment, then turn the Bluetooth function back on and pair your speakers to your monitor. Otherwise, you may need to move your Bluetooth speakers closer to your computer and monitors if the connection is weak.
Why Don’t My Monitors Work On My PC?
Your monitors won’t work on your PC if they are incompatible. For example, new speakers with high-end technology may be incompatible with an old PC. This can also happen if your computer is compatible but the firmware is outdated so your speakers won’t work.
Otherwise, you may want to check to make sure that your aux cord or HDMI cable is tightly connected. It’s easy for cables and wires to come loose, especially if your computer and speakers are in an area with heavy foot traffic. I accidentally muted the audio on my computer several times by touching the wrong key on my keyboard more than once.
If all else fails, simply tap the mute button to see if that fixes the problem. Check the manual for your speakers or monitor to make sure that they are compatible, and get a new set if they aren’t.
So, What’s The Best Way To Connect Speakers To Monitor?
The best way to connect speakers to a monitor is with an aux cord. Look for the headphone or “Aux” label on the audio jacks on your speakers and computer. Run the aux cord from your computer into the speakers, then turn them on to test them out. Enable the speakers from the settings menu on your PC or from the home screen.
Otherwise, you can connect speakers to a monitor with an HDMI cable. You can also use an audio extractor to play sounds from your computer and monitor through your speakers. Connect your speakers to a monitor via Bluetooth through the settings menu on your PC.