Connection via aux to computer

Nowadays, ordinary viewing of TV does not give people as much pleasure as the additional features that become available when connecting, for example, a home theater. This miracle of technology has a huge number of functions, in addition to directly viewing various films and videos. You can connect a microphone to your home theater and use the karaoke function. However, at this stage many people have difficulties, because connecting a microphone is not pressing a button. It's actually not that difficult!

Connecting a music center to a PC

Connecting a speaker system to a computer is not much different from a similar process with a home theater or subwoofer. In addition, all the steps described throughout the article will allow you to connect the music center not only to a PC, but also to other devices, for example, a phone or laptop.

Step 1: Preparation

In order to connect a computer and a music center, you will need a “3.5 mm jack – RCA x2” cable, which can be purchased at almost any electronics store. Also, the necessary wire is often included with the speaker system.

Note: If you use a cable with three or more plugs, the sound will be less than normal.

Sometimes a standard cable may have three or more RCA plugs instead of two. In this case, it is better to get the cord mentioned above or remake the existing one.

If you install the required cable yourself, you can use special plugs, the connection of which does not require soldering the contacts. The same can be done with a soldering iron, but then do not forget to insulate and check the contacts for short circuits.

Step 2: Connection

When the necessary components are ready, you can proceed directly to connecting the computer to the music center. Please note that some actions may differ from those described by us during the instructions, since each device is unique in its own way.

Note: It is recommended to use gold-plated RCA plugs as they provide much better audio transmission.

Unplug the speaker system or use the dedicated button.
Connect the 3.5 mm jack plug to the speaker jack on the computer or laptop case. Typically this nest is marked white or green.

Connect the red and white RCA plugs to the corresponding colored jacks on the speaker cabinet.

Note: If the required connectors are missing on the case, connection cannot be made.

Now you can turn on the power to the music center.

When connecting the speaker system and computer, you must adhere to safety rules. And although incorrect actions do not pose a physical threat, this may damage your sound card or stereo system.

Step 3: Check

After completing the connection of the music center, you can check the functionality of the connection by simply turning on the music on the computer. For these purposes, use one of the music players or special websites on the Internet.

Sometimes in the speaker system settings you need to manually activate the “AUX” mode.

If the system does not work correctly, make sure that the music center connected to the network is set to an acceptable volume level and that additional modes, such as radio, are turned off. If necessary, you can also ask us for help in the comments.

Possible difficulties

Even the simplest things can break, and the reason for this can be anything:

Inappropriate connectors.

If you purchased a microphone with a Mini-jack connector, but your home theater only supports Jack, you can purchase an adapter.

Adapters can be very different, so when purchasing them, it is important to carefully consult with the seller. This is what a standard microphone adapter looks like:

However, purchasing it does not guarantee that the device will start working. Perhaps the cause of the malfunction was something else, so you should purchase an adapter as a last resort, when no other actions could help.

Malfunctions at the physical level.

If the microphone cannot be brought to a working condition, it may be due to a breakdown:

it is necessary to check the cable for visible damage;
sometimes the contacts connecting the cord to the microphone or to the plug come off;
the device itself could be damaged during transportation, falling or in other situations;
The cable can be easily damaged (especially in cheap models) by normal bending.

Having special skills, it is permissible to try to correct the situation yourself. But if there are none, then the device should be taken for repair, otherwise it will not be possible to use it in principle.

Technical issues.

Another form of manufacturing defect is a breakdown during the creation of the device. If there is no warranty, you will have to pay to repair the microphone yourself.

Inattention.

It is possible that errors were made during the connection due to insufficient attention to detail:

connection to the wrong connector;
incorrect settings in the system;
accidentally pressing the OFF button on the microphone, etc.

The first step is to double-check several times to ensure that no errors were made during the connection process. It happens that due to initial incorrect actions, the microphone breaks, and subsequent attempts do not allow the home theater to detect the device.

Device incompatibility and repair.

When absolutely no action has corrected the situation, then the most reasonable thing to do is check the microphone for functionality in any other device:

if the microphone does not work with the computer, then the malfunction lies in it;
but even if the microphone works perfectly on any other devices other than a home theater, the problem will be a malfunction of the latter.

Sometimes microphones, even if compatible at a technical level, refuse to work properly. The issue may involve a lot of things that only a specialist can figure out.

In this case, it would be wise to contact a service center for help. Given the opportunity, it is best to bring both a microphone and a home theater system at once. Thus, experts, having not found faults in one device, will find them in another and immediately repair everything.

The first way to connect the center and computer

What you need to connect

music center in working order;

computer;

connecting cable Jack 3.5 mm.

Technology for connecting the center to a computer

Insert the one-plug end of the connection cable into the computer (into the central socket).
The end with two plugs must be connected to the stereo.
Find the AM/FM switching frequencies and turn on the signal type - AUX.
If you encounter difficulties when connecting using the described method, click the “Start” button on your computer and select the “Run” command. Or press the Windows key + R key combination.
In the command line, enter the word “soundman” and click the “Ok” button.
In the window that appears, set the necessary settings, and then click the “Ok” button.

Why is a home theater connected to a computer/laptop?

As a rule, pairing a home theater and a computer solves one of the following problems:

significantly improve the sound of a computer game;
replace a failed TV by displaying the image on a PC monitor (without loss of sound quality);
compensate for the lack of the “SMART” option on TV, and view the content of online cinemas or other servers / websites with surround sound;
connect karaoke.

Home theater can be connected to a computer and laptop

The second way to connect the center and computer

Here we will look at the option of making a connecting cord with your own hands.

What you need to connect

music center in working order;
computer;
Jack 3.5 mm connecting cable or headphone/speaker cord;
AV cable (RCA connector);
metal and plastic bases for audio/video input;
electrical insulating tape;
soldering tool.

Technology for connecting the center to a computer

Wire making process

Strip the insulation from the 3.5mm wire.
Next, you need to twist the copper strands of the wire.
Then tape the coiled wires to the metal base of the audio/video input. The best fastening will be to solder the elements, so if possible, work with a soldering tool.
Two wires must be connected to the contacts. Likewise, solder the connection if possible.
Connect the metal and plastic bases of the audio/video input with electrical insulating tape.
If you used old headphones to make this cord, then before starting work you need to slightly burn the wire (if it has a fiber weave).
If the connector fits, the cord can also be connected to a mobile phone.

The cord made using this technology is similar in function to the cord from a DVD player.

Equipment connection process

Find two AUX outputs on the back panel of the system unit.
Next, you need to connect the AV cable on one side to the cord you made earlier, and on the other side to the computer.
Next, you need to connect the cord to the music center.
Then you need to turn on the music center.
Next, you need to press the AUX button located in the center.
Turn on the music player on your computer.

In addition to the music center, you can connect regular speakers. For connection instructions, see our article How to connect speakers to a computer.

You can also connect a home theater to your computer. You will find a detailed description in our article How to connect a home theater to a computer.

Music centers became widely available in the early 1990s. These were powerful sound machines with a radio, cassette deck and CD drives. Despite the fact that cassettes are no longer available for sale, and CDs are rapidly going out of fashion, the music center is not outdated today: a high-quality amplifier with speakers can easily provide the sound of both a formal evening and a wild party. How to properly connect a music center to a computer, TV or laptop?

Connecting wireless Bluetooth speakers

Step 1. Make sure that the laptop is equipped with a Bluetooth radio module, which can be used to connect wireless speakers. To do this, press the “Win + R” keys, type “devmgmt.msc” in the line and click “OK”.

If you see a category called “Bluetooth Radios” in the Device Manager tree, click on it to expand the list of devices. If there are any devices in the list, then Bluetooth is installed on the laptop.

Step 2: Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. To do this, look in the tray (bottom right) for the presence of a blue icon.

If the icon is missing, you will need to enable it.

Press the button with the image of a wireless connection in the form of a Bluetooth or antenna icon on the laptop. Usually this is one of the “F1–F12” buttons (depending on the laptop model), pressed together with the “Fn” button.

Step 3: Find a suitable location to place the Bluetooth speakers (speaker).

When installing speakers you need to consider:

the speakers must be connected to a nearby power source;
To easily turn the speakers on and off, place them in an easily accessible place;
the presence of a wall between the laptop and the speakers is not necessary, but may reduce the sound quality;
Consult your speakers' manual to find out how close they should be to your laptop.

Reference! Typically, Bluetooth speakers can be up to 10 meters away from the receiving device, but some models may have a closer range.

Step 4: Turn on the speaker, making it discoverable. Whether the speakers are turned on depends on the speaker model. They often have a button that must be held down for a few seconds to put the device into "discovery" mode.

Note! If the information on how to enable detection of a Bluetooth speaker printed on its body is not enough, you should refer to its instruction manual.

Step 5. To connect the laptop to the Bluetooth speakers, press “Win + R”, type “control printers” and click “OK”.

Step 6. In the window that opens, select “Add a device.”

Step 7. The search for devices will begin. When the speakers appear, select them with a mouse click and click Next to pair the devices.

Setting up a laptop to play audio via Bluetooth

Step 1. Press the “Win+R” keys, type “control” and click “OK”.

Step 2. In the “Control Panel”, select “Large icons” at the top right and click on the “Sound” icon.

Step 3. Click on the “Playback” tab, click on “Bluetooth Speakers” and click on the “Default” button. Click "OK".

Sound should start playing through the new Bluetooth speakers.

Step 4: Left-click on the sound icon in the tray. Adjust the volume in the controls to 75%. When different sliders appear, use the slider labeled “Applications”.

Step 5: Minimize the volume on your Bluetooth speaker. If your speaker has a hardware knob, turn it all the way to the left to turn off the volume.

If there is no hardware volume setting on the speaker, click the “Sound” icon in the tray and move the volume level down (to the left).

Step 6: Test the sound by playing a song, video, or audio file.

Step 7: Slowly increase the volume on the Bluetooth speaker until it is loud enough for comfortable listening.

This completes the setup of Bluetooth speakers on the laptop.

Video - How to connect a wireless speaker to a laptop

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The speakers built into your laptop don’t produce as much bass as you want? Then you definitely need acoustics with a subwoofer. The article explains how to choose one and how to connect it to a laptop.

What is a music center

As a rule, a music center is understood as a device combined in one housing for reproducing sound from different sources, as well as an amplifier. Cassette decks and CD drives are a thing of the past, but power amplifiers and speakers continue to improve. Large speakers, which are equipped with music centers today, operate in the power range from 90 to 150 W and satisfy the requirements of the most demanding music lover. The frequency range of the emitters has expanded significantly, and their acoustic characteristics have reached perfection. That is why many people try to connect other home equipment to the music center - a TV, computer, DVD player.

The old centers, released 10–20 years ago, were not left out either. It’s easy to connect a tablet, phone or laptop to the music center via standard AUX, line-in or microphone input connectors. Your favorite music will sound in your apartment, office or country house. Switching is usually not a big problem. You just need to be careful and follow simple safety rules. Let's look at the most commonly used methods of connecting to a music center.

Soundbars with wireless subwoofers LG BB5530A and BB5430A

Price – 26,990 rub. (LG BB5530A)

RUB 22,999 (LG BB5430A)

When you want to improve the quality of sound offered by your TV, but you have neither the desire nor the opportunity to build a home theater, entangling the living room with wires and cluttering it with speakers, buying a soundbar is an excellent solution. And if it is one of the modern models from LG, then as a bonus you will receive a very useful and varied set of network functions.

Soundbars have long evolved from an improved version of a TV audio system into full-fledged virtual surround sound components, endowed with additional functionality and quite capable of competing on an equal footing, if not with large cinema installations, then certainly with single-box solutions. They have retained and increased their main advantages - compactness, ease of installation and configuration, as well as the ability to mount on the wall directly under the flat panel display. Of course, the small dimensions and shallow depth of the cabinet limit the soundbar's potential for reproducing the lower part of the sound spectrum, so most often this part of the frequency range is entrusted to a separate subwoofer. The bass module is not too critical to its location in the cinema hall, so such strict restrictions are not imposed on its shape and size. Using a wireless channel to connect the soundbar with the subwoofer makes installation of the equipment easier - you just need to ensure that there are electrical outlets near the components.

If the characteristics of the room do not allow the full potential of virtual surround sound to be fully realized, then real rear speakers will help out. The LG BB5430A model offers just such a rare soundbar configuration option. Two small rear satellites are connected by cables to a wireless subwoofer, which is best placed on the wall opposite the TV. In the main unit, each of the two channels operates a pair of wideband dynamic heads and a dome tweeter.

In addition to expanding the capabilities of the TV speaker system, modern LG soundbars are equipped with universal source functions, which allows you to do without a separate multimedia or BD player in most cases. The optical disc player plays Blu-ray releases and is also capable of playing 3D video on 3D Blu-ray discs. The built-in media player reads content from both external USB drives and file storage on the network via the DLNA protocol. Many multimedia formats are supported, including the popular MKV and M2TS, in which Blu-ray disc images are recorded. In this parameter, LG soundbars can easily compete with specialized external devices. If for some reason you need to connect an external player or game console, then for this the older model has two HDMI version 1.4 inputs, while the younger one is content with one input port.

Using a wireless channel to connect the soundbar to the subwoofer makes installation of the equipment easier - you just need to ensure that there are electrical outlets near the components.

Both soundbars are equipped with high-performance video processors that can scale video to 4K resolution. There are still few televisions with such a resolution, but the emergence of new models is just around the corner. In addition, a powerful computing platform allows for high-quality real-time conversion of ordinary two-dimensional material into 3D.

The equipment can be integrated into a home computer network either in the usual way via an Ethernet cable, or wirelessly - thanks to the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. Support for Wi-Fi wireless networks and advanced LG technologies opens up many possibilities that are worth dwelling on in more detail.

First of all, the new LG soundbars give your TV the capabilities of a Smart TV, even if it was originally devoid of this modern functionality. Among the convenient functions offered by LG Smart TV, I would like to note access to video portals IVI.ru and Disney, as well as the ability to receive video on demand and delayed viewing of such popular TV channels as First, channels presented by VGTRK Rossiya and STS.

In addition to things that have already become familiar to modern AV equipment, such as working with content from network storage, access to numerous LG Smart TV Internet services and control from a smartphone or tablet thanks to LG AV Remote, new LG soundbar models offer several interesting wireless technologies . You can connect a smartphone or tablet to the soundbar not only via Bluetooth, but also using Wi-Fi. Moreover, support for Wi-Fi Direct technology makes it unnecessary to have an active wireless network—the soundbar itself can act as an access point. And if only music tracks are transmitted via Bluetooth, then video is also transmitted via Wi-Fi.

Other interesting LG technologies also use the Wi-Fi wireless network as a data transmission channel between portable gadgets and the soundbar. For example, Miracast allows you to duplicate the screen of a smartphone or tablet on a TV, which is useful for games or presentations, and sometimes it’s convenient to watch a movie. It is clear that a mobile device must also support this technology; These are, for example, LG Optimus G smartphones and Nexus models. Private Sound technology provides another useful opportunity - listening to the soundtrack of a movie or concert through headphones connected to a smartphone; This way you won’t disturb anyone at home.

Those who like to sing at a party will be pleased with the karaoke function with support for two microphones and a performance rating system. Microphones and a CD with songs must be purchased additionally.

Music lovers will be interested in support for the popular lossless audio compression format FLAC, and the system reproduces material with parameters up to 24 bit / 192 kHz, even over the network from DLNA servers.

The older LG BB5530A model has higher power amplifiers and a full web browser with support for Flash 10 and HTML 5, which is especially useful in combination with the ability to work with an external USB keyboard and mouse. In addition, the LG BB5530A supports streaming audio files via Bluetooth. The younger model LG BB5430A is distinguished by the presence of a pair of rear speakers, that is, the implementation of a real 5.1 circuit.

Both new products pleasantly surprise not only with their rich functional equipment and luxurious design. First of all, you pay attention to the scale and thoroughness of the elaboration of the sound canvas formed by these compact sets. They are capable of creating sound images with stunning detail and high resolution. The bass modules included in them, despite their relatively modest size and weight, are clearly coordinated with the rest of the acoustics and accurately reproduce their part of the range within the strict limits of their own capabilities. The result is crystal clear sound, devoid of characteristic hum and low-frequency resonances.

LG BB5530A measurement results

The non-linearity of the frequency response of the main unit of the LG BB5530A system is worthy of praise. At medium frequencies, fluctuations (Fig. 1) do not exceed ±1.2 dB; at high frequencies this range is slightly wider (±1.8 dB). The disadvantages include low overload capacity. At a sound pressure level of 88 dB, nonlinear distortions already reach a level of distinct audibility (Fig. 2). The first octave of the midrange suffers especially. The subwoofer is designed to compensate for the losses in this area. It successfully takes charge at frequencies below 200 Hz, while forgetting about the lower bass. Its cut-off frequency (at roll-off –10 dB) is 46 Hz. But at this point the products of nonlinear distortions become distinguishable (Fig. 3). The bass machine will operate effectively in the range from 50 to 200 Hz, where the average SOI value at a sound pressure level of 90 dB is 1.8%.

LG BB5430A measurement results

The behavior of the amplitude-frequency response graph of the LG BB5430A soundbar can be characterized as stable (Fig. 1). The unevenness in the high frequency region does not exceed ±2.1 dB, in the working area of the middle frequencies - ±1.4 dB. There are two points to note here. The soundbar does not completely cover the midrange range - the lower limiting frequency of this component is 200 Hz (at a level of –10 dB). The characteristic has a pronounced positive imbalance, but this can be compensated for by electronic adjustment of the spectrum.

Name – LG BB5530A | Disc Drive – Blu-ray | 3D Compatible - Yes | Built-in surround decoder – yes, up to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA | Auto-calibration system - no | Output power RMS (10% THD), W – 70 x 4 + 150 | Video inputs – HDMI v.1.4 (2) | Video output – HDMI v.1.4 | Audio inputs – mini-jack, digital optical | Audio outputs – no | Data exchange – USB 2.0 Host, Ethernet RJ-45, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Additionally - karaoke function, FM radio tuner, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, Private Sound, DLNA, web browser, 2D to 3D conversion, Smart TV, scaling to Ultra HD resolution Soundbar

Dimensions, cm – 95.0 x 13.5 x 7.4 |
Weight, kg – 4.6 Subwoofer
Type – wireless active subwoofer | Dimensions, cm – 22.1 x 35.2 x 28.1 | Weight, kg – 7.6

Name – LG BB5430A | Disc Drive – Blu-ray | 3D Compatible - Yes | Built-in surround decoder – yes, up to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA | Auto-calibration system - no | Output power RMS (10% THD), W – 60 x 4 + 30 x 2 + 150 | Video input – HDMI v.1.4 | Video output – HDMI v.1.4 | Audio inputs – mini-jack, digital optical | Audio outputs – no | Data exchange – USB 2.0 Host, Ethernet RJ-45, Wi-Fi | Additionally – karaoke function, FM radio tuner, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, Private Sound, DLNA, 2D to 3D conversion, Smart TV, scaling to Ultra HD resolution Soundbar

Dimensions, cm – 95.0 x 13.6 x 7.5 |
Weight, kg – 4.5 Rear speaker systems
Dimensions, cm – 9.7 x 14.0 x 8.0 |
Weight, kg – 0.5 Subwoofer
Type – wireless active subwoofer | Dimensions, cm – 19.6 x 39.0 x 35.6 | Weight, kg – 7.6

Having a home theater, you can not only watch your favorite movies with high-quality sound, but also use the karaoke function. To do this, just connect the microphone and find your favorite song. But the connection process is not always simple, and sometimes unpleasant difficulties and even errors may arise.

How to output computer sound from a laptop

Most “computer” speakers do not have high sound quality, and the built-in tweeters of a laptop are designed to reproduce system sounds. To enjoy a movie, enjoy your favorite songs or multimedia presentation, it is better to output the sound card signal to the music center.

To connect a computer to a music center, you will need a special cable, at one end of which there is a 3.5 mm Jack connector, and at the other - two RCA (tulip) connectors, usually white and red. The connection principle is that the linear input of the music center is connected to the linear output of the computer sound card. To do this, a 3.5 mm Jack plug is inserted into a socket on the computer (usually green), and two tulip connectors are inserted into the corresponding sockets on the body of the music center. In most devices, the linear input needs to be activated - turn on LINE-IN or AUX mode, check according to the instructions of the center.

If the music center does not have a linear RCA input, a cable with two identical 3.5 mm Jack connectors at the ends will help connect it to the computer. This wire connects the output of the sound card of a computer or laptop to the Jack socket on the front panel of the music center, labeled AUX or IN. When making connections, it is recommended to turn off both devices.

Before turning on the sound, it is recommended to turn down the volume of the music center, and then gradually increase the sound from zero to the desired value.

Both the main and auxiliary line inputs must be activated for audio to be sent to the amplifier. Check the instructions for your center.

Video: connecting an audio system to a computer

Possible problems

Even if the connection is correct, sound from the microphone may not be output to the speakers.

The following reasons contribute to this:

Manufacturing defects. Check the functionality of the device on another PC or DVD. If the device does not function after connection, it is faulty.
Lack of drivers. To check, download special software. It finds and updates audio system drivers.
Incorrect connection. Each connector has its own purpose. Sometimes the color is non-standard (this information can be found in the instructions).

Sometimes the voice produced by the speakers is faintly audible. In this case, re-connect and configure.

How to boost TV sound

For ten years now, the main federal channels have been broadcasting in stereophonic mode. To make your favorite series sound brighter, it is recommended to connect a TV to the music center. Depending on the TV receiver model, you will need an RCA-RCA, RCA-Jack or Jack-Jack cable. To connect the TV to the music center you must:

Turn off the TV and stereo.
Find the AUDIO-IN connectors on the TV and select an adapter.
Connect the cable at one end to the TV.
Plug RCA “tulips” into the stereo.
Carefully route the cable.
Turn on the devices.
Activate center line input.
Check for sound.

How to connect 5.1 speakers to a laptop

Connecting a multi-channel set to a PC or laptop is practically no different from connecting a stereo pair or any other type of speaker system.

How to connect the speakers:

1. By cable or wireless connection. It depends on the type and capabilities of the speaker.

2. Direct connection - no additional amplifier and no need to use other equipment. Relevant for active type kits.

3. Indirect connection - relevant for passive speakers, like the FC550. In this case, you will need cables to connect the speakers to the amplifier and another cord - an adapter with “tulips” (RCA) on one side and a standard mini-jack on the other - to connect directly to the audio jack of the laptop.

How to listen to music from a smartphone on a music center

Music recorded in a smartphone will sound in its entirety if the signal is output to the speakers of a music center.

Traditional wired phone connection

Absolutely all phones have only one sound output - to headphones. To connect devices, you need a Jack-RCA cord. A single 3.5 mm Jack plug is inserted into the socket on the phone. And two RCA “tulips” at the other end of the cord are connected to the linear input of the music center. When you turn it on for the first time, it is recommended to reduce the sound level to a minimum.

Modern alternatives: wireless connection via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

In some new generation stereo systems, the phone is connected using a wireless connection, this can be Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Some models are equipped with a telephone jack on the dashboard. The smartphone plays music and charges at the same time. The center together with it can work as an alarm clock.

Unfortunately, stereo systems with such a connector depend on the phone model - you won’t be able to connect an Android phone to an iPhone device. And only manufacturers producing non-standard devices should be blamed for this. A detailed description of the center's capabilities is provided in the operating manual.

Video: phone and music center

Bass is out!

When choosing a subwoofer, you should also consider what connections your system's amplifier has. If it does not have a preamplifier output, then you must definitely look for a model equipped with high-level inputs - not everyone has them. But almost every sub has linear inputs.

The LFE input is useful for connecting to an AV receiver or cinema processor. It is supplied with a low-frequency signal specially recorded in the soundtrack, which these devices separate into a separate channel during decoding.

If your speakers are in a minimalist system with a single electronic component, such as a network or stereo receiver, then it may well be that it has a subwoofer output.

Connecting an electric guitar

Any guitar must be connected through a special amplifier; musicians call it a “combo”. Without it, the sound will be terrible - buy a guitar amplifier so as not to torture yourself or those around you.

If a courier with an amplifier is stuck in a traffic jam, but you really want to try out the new Stratocaster, it is possible to connect the guitar to the music center. To do this you should:

Take an adapter from a large jack (6.35 mm) to RCA tulips.
Insert a large jack into the guitar's pickup.
Insert both “tulips” into the linear input of the center so as not to think about which column is correct.
Turn the center volume down to minimum.
Activate the center line input if necessary.
Play a chord while raising the volume.

The guitar is a monophonic instrument, so the sound will only come from one speaker.

How to Integrate a Turntable into a Sonos System

The streaming multi-room system and the turntable, at first glance, do not quite fit together; However, adding vinyl to Sonos is surprisingly easy—and once you do, you can listen to your records in any room of the house.

You'll need one of the Sonos devices with a pair of standard analog jacks: Play:5 (which requires an RCA to 3.5mm jack adapter), Connect (or older ZP80 or ZP90), Connect:Amp (or older ZP100 either ZP120) or the new Sonos Amp. None of them have a built-in phono stage, so you'll need a turntable or external module equipped with one.

For a Sonos system, we'd suggest the Sony PS-HX500 - especially if you're choosing a turntable for the Sonos Amp, whose sonic talents will highlight the Sony's musicality. Connect the player to any of the Sonos devices listed above, and songs from your favorite discs will be heard through every one of its brothers in your home.

But what should owners of multi-room systems from other brands do? Many of them offer similar ways to integrate players. Most Bluesound players have standard RCA inputs, as do the Audio Pro C5 and C10 speakers; Both speakers support playback of a signal from a vinyl player in a multi-room format.

Is it possible to put a stereo system in a car?

Those who spend a lot of time driving a car tend to equip their car with a good audio system. There is no better travel companion than your favorite music. It is quite possible to use a music center for this purpose. The only obstacle is the lack of 220 V alternating voltage, from which the audio center usually operates. For modern electronics there are no barriers that cannot be overcome.

Attention! Using non-standard equipment in a vehicle can be dangerous. Securely secure the case and never operate the audio system while moving.

There are converters on sale that provide a transition from 12 volts to 220. The only thing to remember when using such a transformer to power the center is that when the engine is turned off, the battery quickly discharges. As practice has shown, it is best to use the audio system while driving, when engine and generator speeds exceed 2000 per minute.

How to install a subwoofer in a stereo system

A subwoofer is a special speaker that produces low-frequency sound waves in the range from 20 to 120 Hz. This acoustic device is often used in cars to reproduce low bass. Since there is no stereo effect at low frequencies, the sound is not localized, but this creates a unique sound atmosphere.

If you want to upgrade your music center and connect a subwoofer to it, you need to read the center’s operating manual. Audio systems often have a special output, designated SUB. If there is no such output, the subwoofer can be connected to any line output. The circuit inside the device will itself “select” the sounds of those frequencies that it is intended to reproduce.

Active or passive subwoofer

The active subwoofer is equipped with its own amplifier; it is connected to the linear output of the center. You can set the operating frequencies and volume on the device body. If the subwoofer is passive, then it is connected to the gap between the center output and the standard speakers. The passive version is not equipped with an amplifier and is quite sensitive to the location in the room. It should not be placed in corners or niches, as this will make the sound extremely booming.

Soundbars with wireless subwoofers LG BB5530A and BB5430A

Price – 26,990 rub.
(LG BB5530A) RUB 22,999 (LG BB5430A)

Using a wireless channel to connect the soundbar to the subwoofer makes installation of the equipment easier - you just need to ensure that there are electrical outlets near the components.

LG BB5530A measurement results

LG BB5430A measurement results

Dimensions, cm – 95.0 x 13.5 x 7.4 |
Weight, kg – 4.6 Subwoofer
Type – wireless active subwoofer | Dimensions, cm – 22.1 x 35.2 x 28.1 | Weight, kg – 7.6

Connecting a flash drive

Modern new generation music centers, without exception, are equipped with a USB port. Through it you can listen to audio recordings saved on storage devices such as flash drives.

If the center is not the newest and does not have a USB port, a regular car FM modulator or transmitter will help you get out of the situation. To do this, you need a small electric current transformer that converts a voltage of 220 W to 12 W. It is usually designed in the form of a car cigarette lighter. An FM transmitter with a USB input is connected to it. The tuner display shows the frequency at which the modulator transmits the converted signal.

Another option that will help combine new technologies with the center, without a USB input, is to connect it to a computer via the “AUX IN” output, as described above. Each computer has several flash drive slots that can be used to play a sound signal. The playback quality with this connection will be significantly higher than when connecting a car FM modulator.

Video: how to connect an FM modulator

If there is no sound from the speakers

Reasons for lack of sound from speakers and ways to eliminate them:

You can test the sound output to the speakers by connecting headphones to the laptop. If there is sound in the headphones, the fault is in the speakers or their connections. Check speaker connections.

Reference! Restarting Windows can also help in many cases of adjusting the sound on your laptop.

Video - How to connect speakers to a laptop

Connecting color and light music

A good addition to a music center is a color music device. Accompanying the soundtrack with flickering lamps of different colors creates a beautiful halo and an indescribable atmosphere. In order to connect a color and music installation to the center, you need to use an adapter cord equipped with an RSA or DIN standard plug. If a connection to the line output is not available, you can modify the cord by creating a parallel connection to one of the channels.

Another way to connect light and music is to connect directly to the speakers using alligator clips. This method is possible if the cables running from the center to the speakers are located in an accessible place. Otherwise you will have to resort to soldering.

There are also color music installations equipped with a built-in microphone that “listens” to the music and transmits its vibrations to the lamps. This installation does not need to be connected; it is enough to place it directly from the sound source and plug it into a power outlet.

Connecting a wired and wireless microphone

Many audio systems are equipped with a karaoke function. In order to use it, you need to connect a microphone to the center. This is done very simply: insert one end of the cord into the socket marked with the MIC symbol or microphone icon.

Wireless microphone amplifier

There are also wireless microphone models that give the performer greater freedom of movement. To connect, you need to plug in the linear output of the receiving module into the same socket, and insert the power supply elements - batteries or accumulator - into the microphone itself.

The range of such a microphone can reach from 10 to 50 meters.

Is it possible to connect a microphone to a speaker?

There are many questions on the Internet about whether it is possible to connect a microphone to a JBL speaker. There may be several reasons for this desire:

Installing a karaoke program on your TV and using your portable device as a speaker.
Using a device to amplify sound from musical instruments or voices.
Carrying out events when there is no full-fledged equipment and you want to make do with the existing equipment.

Let us immediately note that in most cases, connecting a microphone to a JBL speaker is not possible due to the lack of the necessary connector or Bluetooth connection. But in some cases, you can try combining the two devices and pairing the Mic to your portable audio device.

Connecting a vinyl record player

It may seem strange, but today there is a resurgence in the trend of recording music on vinyl discs. Players of “giant” records began to appear on sale, operating on the basis of digital reproduction of analogue sound recordings.

New generation digital players are compatible with all modern audio systems and computer equipment. Such a player can easily be connected to a music center via a linear input.

Connecting old record players to modern equipment is often technically difficult. To do this, it is necessary to solder the connectors of the connecting cords, and the music center must have a line input function.

Connecting a mixer

Among other things, the music center is capable of working with a mixer. This allows you to customize the sound to suit your playback needs. For example, when combining guitar playing with singing, it is necessary to regulate the strength of one or another sound stream.

To make this possible, a microphone and a connector from the instrument are connected to the mixing console. Then the mixer is connected to the music center via the line input.

Depending on the model of the mixer and other audio equipment, the connection is made with various connecting cables, a description of which is given in the technical documentation.

Video: how to connect a mixer

Does size matter?

Subwoofers are equipped with drivers of various diameters, usually 8, 10 and 12 inches; The dimensions of the cases also depend on this. The larger the driver, the deeper bass it promises to create, but it's wise to take into account the size of the room where it will be working. In a small one, a large one will take up a lot of space, and this is perhaps the only contraindication for purchasing it, apart from the price. A large speaker will work with less load, and therefore with less distortion, creating a sound loud enough for such a room.

It is impossible to listen to a subwoofer in a hi-fi salon - in isolation from your stereo system and room, so you should rely on reviews in specialized publications, customer reviews or advice from experienced sellers.

Additional antenna for music center

One of the weak points of the first generation music centers were antennas with low sensitivity. This was due to the fact that not every outback of our vast Motherland had a stable FM signal. Through trial and error, craftsmen found ways to improve signal reception and invented various types of antennas. In practice, a simple copper conductor up to 5 m long gives a good result. One end of such a cable is stripped and connected to the socket of a standard antenna, the other is laid along the wall.

Another proven option is to make your own copper frame with a side of 60–70 cm. By experimenting, you can find the optimal place to place such an antenna.

There are also ready-made antennas produced by industry - you can buy them in the store.

When connecting various acoustic devices to the music center, you must remember to follow the rules of personal safety. The main recommendation when connecting cables is to completely disconnect the devices from external power sources.

Safety precautions

Even an ordinary microphone can cause dangerous consequences for human health. Safety precautions must always be followed to avoid injury.

The following recommendations should be followed:

A very high voltage passes through the cable, so it is important to make sure that the insulation on the cord is not damaged (100 percent chance of getting electrocuted if it comes into contact with a bare spot);
Do not expose the cord and the device itself to heat, high temperatures and especially water (you should immediately disconnect the home theater from the network);
there should be no third-party objects in the connectors;
abruptly pulling the plug out of the connector/socket can cause unforeseen consequences;
Avoid twisting the wires;
It is especially important not to subject the microphone to mechanical damage;
Without special skills, you should not disassemble and repair the device yourself.

Having a good, high-quality microphone that is fully compatible with the purchased home theater system will not be difficult to connect. It is enough to follow simple instructions and observe safety precautions, after which you can fully enjoy the full functionality of the devices.