Soundbar speakers are becoming increasingly popular due to their appealing design, inexpensive price, and ability to emit sound for a more immersive entertainment experience. In this post, Casual Living USA will explain How to Connect Soundbar Speakers To Your Computer in 3 simple ways.
1. What is a soundbar speaker?
A soundbar is a speaker system that is used to enhance the audio experience of a television or other audio device. It is a long, thin speaker enclosure that stands in front of or under a television and contains numerous angled speakers to provide a wider sound field.
Soundbars come in a range of sizes and configurations, but they all include a single device with many speakers, an amplifier, and audio processing technology to increase music quality. Some soundbars also have a subwoofer for richer, more powerful bass.
Several current soundbars use advanced audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or virtual surround sound to simulate a multi-speaker surround sound system. They also commonly include many connectivity options, such as HDMI, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, allowing them to connect to a wide range of audio devices, including computers, cellphones, and game consoles.
Overall, a soundbar may provide a more immersive audio experience than standard built-in TV speakers, as well as a straightforward and space-saving solution for boosting the audio quality of your home entertainment system.
Why Should You Use a PC Soundbar?
You may be wondering why you would use a soundbar with a Computer at all. That appears to be a significant inconvenience, especially if you have to obtain an extra-long 3.5mm or optical wire that will eventually dangle across the room.
In reality, PCs simply have a much wider assortment than any streaming service. Cable, streaming sticks like Fire TV and Roku, and even smart TVs with built-in streaming apps all have one fundamental flaw in common: they’re closed ecosystems that limit your options to what they believe you need.
The open sandbox of a computer, where you can have multiple windows open, stream from all of the services mentioned above but also simply play files yourself, or even conduct a video call, simply allows you to do what you want, when you want, on what is probably the most expensive screen in your house.
However, laptop and computer speakers aren’t designed to fill a room, let alone support a home theatre, so you’ll need an audio solution to get the full effect of liberating your home theatre by running it from a computer, and the quickest and easiest is likely to be connecting the computer to a soundbar.
2. How to Connect a Soundbar to a Computer
Method 1: Use Bluetooth wireless technology
Step 1: Switch on your soundbar and go into pairing mode. This is often achieved by pressing and holding the Bluetooth button on the soundbar until the LED light starts flashing.
Step 2: Enable the pairing mode on the soundbar.
Depending on the device, you can engage Bluetooth connection mode on the soundbar by pressing a button on the speaker or the remote.
The Bluetooth light indicates that the soundbar is looking for a device to connect to.
Step 4: Connect the soundbar to the PC.
Under your computer’s Bluetooth settings, look for accessible Bluetooth devices. Choose your soundbar from the list of devices supported and press the “Pair” button. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the pairing operation.
Step 5: Configure the sound output: After pairing your soundbar with your computer, go to the sound settings on your computer and select the soundbar as the default audio output device. This ensures that all PC audio is directed to the soundbar.
Finally, test your computer’s sound by playing some music or a movie. Adjust the volume on your soundbar as needed to achieve the desired sound level.
It’s important to remember that the specific methods for connecting your soundbar to your computer through Bluetooth may vary based on the brand and model of your soundbar and computer. Detailed instructions should always be found in both devices’ manuals.
Method 2: Use a 3.5 mm drill bit. AUX cable connection
To connect in this method, a 3.5mm AUX cable, as shown below, is necessary.
Here’s an overview of how to connect a soundbar to your computer using a 3.5mm AUX cable:
Step 1: Turn off your computer and soundbar before you begin the connection procedure.
Step 2: Locate your computer’s 3.5mm headphone jack: Locate your computer’s 3.5mm headphone jack. It is typically situated on the computer’s side or front, however, it can also be placed on the back.
Step 3: Connect one end of the AUX cable to the soundbar: Plug one end of the 3.5mm AUX cable into the AUX port on your soundbar.
Step 4: Connect the other end of the AUX cable to your computer: Plug the other end of the AUX cable into the headphone port on your computer.
Step 5: Turn on your soundbar and select AUX mode. This is usually achieved by pressing the Input or Source button on the remote control of your soundbar until the word “AUX” appears on the screen.
Step 6: Configure the sound output: Under your computer’s sound settings, make the soundbar the default audio output device. This ensures that all PC audio is directed to the soundbar.
Finally, test your computer’s sound by playing some music or a movie. Adjust the volume on your soundbar as needed to achieve the desired sound level.
It’s important to note that the specific ways for connecting your soundbar to your computer via a 3.5mm AUX wire may vary based on the brand and model of your soundbar and computer. Detailed instructions should always be found in both devices’ manuals.
Method 3: Make use of an optical audio cable (Toslink)
Here’s an overview of how to use an optical audio cable to connect a soundbar to your computer:
Step 1: Turn off your computer and soundbar before you begin the connection procedure.
Step 2: Locate your computer’s optical audio output. It is frequently a small, square-shaped port with an inside red light. An adapter may be required on some PCs to convert the optical output to a standard Toslink connection.
Step 3: Connect one end of the optical cable to the soundbar: Put one end of the optical cable into the optical input port of the soundbar.
Step 4: Connect the other end of the optical cable to your computer: Put the other end of the optical cable into the optical output port on your computer.
Step 5: Power on your soundbar and select optical mode: Power on your soundbar and select optical mode. This is generally achieved by pressing the Input or Source button on your soundbar’s remote control until “OPTICAL” or “TOSLINK” appears on the display.
Step 6: Configure the sound output: Under your computer’s sound settings, make the soundbar the default audio output device. This ensures that all PC audio is directed to the soundbar.
Finally, test your computer’s sound by playing some music or a movie. Adjust the volume on your soundbar as needed to achieve the desired sound level.
It’s important to note that the specific ways for connecting your soundbar to your computer via an optical audio connection may vary based on the brand and model of your soundbar and computer. Detailed instructions should always be found in both devices’ manuals.
3. Soundbar speakers are recommended for PC use
Therefore, here are some quick assessments of the previously listed computer-compatible soundbars:
Creative Stage Air
This is a small and affordable soundbar with the good sound quality for its size. It’s a wonderful alternative for those looking for a portable soundbar that can be easily connected to their PC via Bluetooth. Sadly, it may not deliver the best sound quality for more demanding activities like gaming or watching movies.
Bose Solo 5
This is a well-known soundbar that produces clear and powerful audio for movies, TV shows, and music. It has a Bluetooth connection and straightforward remote control. While it is slightly more expensive than other options, it produces excellent sound quality and is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a premium audio experience.
JBL Bar Studio
This is a stylish soundbar with Bluetooth connectivity and JBL’s signature sound quality. It boasts good sound quality, with a clear voice and balanced bass, and is a wonderful choice for watching movies and listening to music. It’s also easy to set up and use, making it a fantastic choice for those searching for a hassle-free soundbar.
Yamaha YAS-108
This is a 2.1-channel soundbar that produces clear, strong sound for movies, music, and gaming. It includes Bluetooth connectivity as well as a fantastic built-in subwoofer that provides sound with strong bass and sharp speech. It is slightly more expensive than other options, but it offers higher sound quality and is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-end audio experience.
FAQs
To connect your soundbar speakers to your computer, you’ll need an audio cable. Connect one end of the audio cable to the soundbar’s input and the other end to the computer’s audio output. Connect your computer’s HDMI output to the soundbar’s HDMI input if it has one.
Use a 3.5mm audio cable or an HDMI cable to connect your soundbar speakers to your computer. If your soundbar has an optical input, you may also use an optical cable.
Make your soundbar speakers the default audio output by going to the Sound settings in your computer’s Control Panel or Settings app. Make the soundbar your primary audio source.
If your soundbar does not create any sound after being connected to your computer, ensure that it is turned on and that the volume is turned up. Ensure that the right input is chosen on the soundbar. If the issue persists, double-check the connections and cables to confirm that everything is properly connected.
- Check that your soundbar is properly connected to your computer.
- Check the volume on both your computer and the soundbar.
- Check that your computer’s audio settings are adjusted appropriately.
- Try playing audio from a different source to see whether the problem is with the soundbar or the Computer.
- Restart your computer and/or soundbar to see whether the issue has been fixed.
Hopefully, the information on this page has helped you know How to Connect Soundbar Speakers To Your Computer. Read Casual Living USA articles to remain up to date on the latest technology gadgets. Thank you for your time reading this!