PC headphone jack to speakers direct?

[audi321]

Hi all, I just wondered if it's possible to connect my pc headphone jack (is it 3.5mm?) directly to my speakers? The speakers have both banana plugs and bare wire connections.

Searched Amazon and can't find one with 4 banana plugs, only phono plugs? Would it not be possible?

[oilslick]

audi321 said:

Hi all, I just wondered if it's possible to connect my pc headphone jack (is it 3.5mm?) directly to my speakers? The speakers have both banana plugs and bare wire connections.

Searched Amazon and can't find one with 4 banana plugs, only phono plugs? Would it not be possible?

Assuming they're passive speakers (i.e no internal amplifier), then no. You'd need an amplifier between them.

[cobra kid]

3.5mm male to bare leads? OR 3.5mm and snip off whatever is on the other ends?

Are the speakers powered elsewhere and just need a signal?

[sgrimshaw]

Generally speaking "no", unless your speakers have some form of amplifier built in.

At a guess they don't, otherwise you would have inputs on one of the speakers into which you plug either a 3.5mm plug or two phono plugs (other end being a 3.5mm plug ... and there would likely be a cable between the two speakers.

[sgrimshaw]

Are you looking to use some speakers currently doing nothing, or are they currently plugged into "something else" (like a music system) ?

If the latter, does the "something else" have an auxiliary input?

[audi321]

Ah right, so I thought headphones were just small speakers.

So I need an amp then.......don't suppose there's small matchbox sized ones of those lol?

Yes, I just have some speakers (decent ones) knocking around and thought I'd make use of them.

Edited by audi321 on Wednesday 24th January 12:52

[geeks]

audi321 said:

Ah right, so I thought headphones were just small speakers.

So I need an amp then.......don't suppose there's small matchbox sized ones of those lol?

Yes, I just have some speakers (decent ones) knocking around and thought I'd make use of them.

Edited by audi321 on Wednesday 24th January 12:52

I have one of these that was recommended in another thread a few years back and cant fault it. Also has a great product name too

https://amzn.eu/d/elAlaBX

Just connects to my PC via USB (it does have Bluetooth and an Aux in, both I have tested but don't use often) and does it's thing quite nicely I have a pair of Mordaunt Short M10 speakers that it powers and they sound great especially when firing lossless stuff through them. I do occasionally look at an upgrade but can't ever find anything that matches the convenience of the setup

[sgrimshaw]

audi321 said:

So I need an amp then.......don't suppose there's small matchbox sized ones of those lol?

Yes, I just have some speakers (decent ones) knocking around and thought I'd make use of them.

There are small amps available, but unless your speakers are something special it would be cheaper to just buy some PC Speakers.

[audi321]

Yeah and I don’t really want more plugs/leads knocking around at the back of the pc.

If I did just bare wire a 3.5mm cable and plugged it into the speakers isn’t it just going to be quiet (so just turn the volume up to max) or is it simply not going to work?

[geeks]

audi321 said:

Yeah and I don’t really want more plugs/leads knocking around at the back of the pc.

If I did just bare wire a 3.5mm cable and plugged it into the speakers isn’t it just going to be quiet (so just turn the volume up to max) or is it simply not going to work?

It wont work, honestly just buy the Nobsound I linked above, its exactly what you need

[audi321]

If it were 5v (ie USB powered) then I might consider it but I really don’t want more plugs and cables

[geeks]

Its the Amp part that is your problem there, AFAIK there are no USB powered Amps that will do what you want.

[Harpoon]

I might be due a large whoosh parrot here but...

I thought on a PC headphone out was amplified but line out wasn't. OP do you have headphone and line out on your PC?

[audi321]

No it’s an iMac and I can only see a headphone jack

[Captain_Morgan]

Try it.

If it works then good, if it doesn’t then buy a amp or don’t bother.

It won’t work well though.

[RizzoTheRat]

sgrimshaw said:

There are small amps available, but unless your speakers are something special it would be cheaper to just buy some PC Speakers.

This. Something USB powered like the Creative Pebble speakers will be about half the price of an amp to use your existing speakers

[clockworks]

audi321 said:

Ah right, so I thought headphones were just small speakers.

So I need an amp then.......don't suppose there's small matchbox sized ones of those lol?

Yes, I just have some speakers (decent ones) knocking around and thought I'd make use of them.

Edited by audi321 on Wednesday 24th January 12:52

Headphones ARE just small speakers, but the fact that they are small (and very close to your ears) means they don't need much power to drive them. The also tend to be much higher impedence (sort of like resistance) than freestanding speakers. If you plug speakers directly into the headphone socket, chances are you'll hear nothing at all, and might do some damage.

I use a pair of Quad bookshelf speakers with my iMac, powered by a Tangent amplifier.
Decent "hifi" speakers and a suitable cheap amplifier will sound much better than 99% of computer speakers

[mikef]

clockworks said:

I use a pair of Quad bookshelf speakers with my iMac, powered by a Tangent amplifier.
Decent "hifi" speakers and a suitable cheap amplifier will sound much better than 99% of computer speakers

Similar here. Probably more expensive and bigger than the OP is looking for, but I just bought a Denon Ceol N11 compact amp to do this and the sound is great. Two optical inputs so USB-C to Optical adapter from a Mac Mini, plus optical from gaming PC, also DAB+, FM and Internet Radio (and CD that I don't use). N11 prices are reduced now that Denon have launched their N12 with HDMI in (which I don't need)

[clockworks]

mikef said:

Similar here. Probably more expensive and bigger than the OP is looking for, but I just bought a Denon Ceol N11 compact amp to do this and the sound is great. Two optical inputs so USB-C to Optical adapter from a Mac Mini, plus optical from gaming PC, also DAB+, FM and Internet Radio (and CD that I don't use). N11 prices are reduced now that Denon have launched their N12 with HDMI in (which I don't need)

Doesn't the Mac Mini have a combined optical/headphone jack? My old iMac definitely had this, not sure about my current one.

[mikef]

clockworks said:

Doesn't the Mac Mini have a combined optical/headphone jack? My old iMac definitely had this, not sure about my current one.

Not the Mini M2, sadly