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Resolved Question

Connecting computer speakers to TV

by Dec 8, 2012 3:10AM PST

I hook my ps3 up to my lcd vizio tv via hdmi to play movies/video games. The speakers on the Vizio aren't the best so I use my 2.1 computer speakers instead. I plug the speakers into the headphone jack on the tv, but no sound plays through the subwoofer, just the satellite speakers. How do I get sound to play out of the subwoofer?

The subwoofer is definitely not broken as it works when I plug my speakers into my laptop.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

gongy61 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
5 Posts
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Best Answer

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Re: speakers
by Forum moderator Dec 8, 2012 3:15AM PST

A headphone is 2.0 (one for each ear, no more). So why should a headphone connector support 2.1?

Kees

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Oh...
by gongy61 Dec 8, 2012 3:34AM PST

Oh, well that makes sense... Plain Is there any other way to hook the speakers to the tv that would support the subwoofer? Would a 3.5mm to RCA cord work?

Thanks

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Re: subwoofer
by Kees_B Forum moderator Dec 8, 2012 3:37AM PST

I'm afraid you need an amplifier in between. Find a shop like Radio Shack and ask for advice.

Kees

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Answer
How do you connect the sub to your computer?
by Dec 13, 2012 4:16AM PST

With respect, I don't believe Kees to be correct here, but I'll get to that later.

Back to the sub...How do you connect the sub to your laptop? Many of my friends have "2.1" computer speakers and the sub connects to the PC and the speakers connect to sub. Can you do this? Look for two "headphones"-sized jacks on your sub. You'll have to figure out which one is which. Mischief Plug the speakers into the "output", and then connect the sub to the TV via the "input" on the sub. I'd also suggest turning down the volume on the sub/speakers first before connecting anything, even if the "volume" is on one of the speakers itself (the sub has it's own volume, although it's downstream of the speaker/master volume).

Re: the headphones jack, it's completely analog, and so it has no idea what's being plugged into it, be it speakers, headphones, a dishwasher, whatever you can get to fit into that hole. Additionally, I've never met a TV that has a high-pass crossover applied to the headphones jack. Also, most "computer speaker" systems come with a powered sub; in fact I can think over very few passive subwoofers available, and none of them are sold as "computer speakers' (they're hundreds of dollars). I bet that it already has an amp, and if you can connect the sub to the tv (anyway you can: 3.5mm to 3.5mm, 3.5mm to RCA, whatever) it's gonna make sound.

Let me know.

Best,
Ben

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Hmm
by gongy61 Jan 15, 2013 10:49AM PST

Sorry for the delayed response, I didn't think anyone would post after I got an "answer".

The sub has two inputs on it: one for the satellite speakers and another to a "control pod" that has a headphone jack, an "aux in" jack, and a volume control on it. Also there is a cord that leaves the sub and is plugged into an outlet for power.

The input on the sub for the satellite speakers is 3.5mm and the input on the sub for the control pod is an odd pin majigger (no idea what it's technical term is).

I tried plugging a male 3.5mm to female RCA cable (going from the "Aux In" port on the control pod to the tv), but I haven't been able to get any sound from it...

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