Very often a situation arises when the solution of a seemingly simple problem turns out to be too difficult for a person who is not knowledgeable in subtleties. For example, on forums on the Internet every now and then there are threads in which the question is considered: "How to connect the speakers correctly?"
To some extent, people who are interested in this are right, because errors in connection can lead to failure not only of the sound reproducing device, but also of the amplifier. It is especially important to have a good understanding of how to connect speakers to a laptop or personal computer. Only the correct connection allows you to maintain the performance of the sound card, the replacement of which in some cases costs a significant amount. In this article, we will point out the key features, without the knowledge of which it is not recommended to connect. On the Web, you can sometimes find stories about how, when trying to connect oversized speakers with a computer, the sound failed in the latter. Alas, these topics are often lost among others, and the following home craftsmen, instead of looking for information on how to connect speakers, are experimenting with their own laptops.
Electric and sound power
Before directly pointing out how to connect the speakers, you need to touch on the topic of the energy consumed by the device. One of the characteristics of a sound reproducing device is its power. By the way, do not confuse sound and electrical - these are different things, albeit interrelated. The first can be roughly determined by the dimensions of the diffusers installed in the column: the larger their diameter, the higher the power. Sound cards of all modern computers contain an amplifier. It is this circuit that allows you to adjust the sound level. One of its characteristics is the permissible current that can be passed through the circuits. Since electrical power is the product of current and voltage, it is obvious that with the latter being constant, only the first two parameters can change. That is, a speaker connected to the output of the sound card, for example, 10 W, will create ten times more current passing through the amplifier than an alternative 1 W. Thus, the direct connection of a large speaker system to the low-power output of the audio adapter (which is designed for headphones and small "tweeter" speakers) leads to an excess of the permissible current and the combustion of the amplifier elements. This is exactly what is described in the topics "how to connect speakers" as a warning. However, there is a solution. It consists in using an intermediate element - an additional amplifier. That is why most modern speaker systems for computers are connected to an electrical network - this is necessary for the built-in signal amplifying circuits to work.
How to connect speakers from the music center
Having found a ready-made speaker system anywhere, it is difficult to resist the temptation to pair it with a computer. As we have already indicated, this cannot be done directly. The simplest solution is to use the built-in amplifier of a music center or tape recorder. It is necessary to carefully examine the back panel of the center case and find the connector marked as "line in" - this is the signal input. It can be designed as a connector for a plug or four clips. Next, you need to prepare a three-core wire with a 3.5 mm plug (standard for computers). Connect it to the output of the sound card, and connect the other end in a certain way (depending on the type of connector) to the center. After that, it remains to switch the system amplifier to the desired mode (usually "Recording"; it is recommended to read the instructions) and turn on playback on the computer. After that, all the load from the speakers will fall on the center circuits, due to which powerful systems that would burn the card with a direct connection will work.
