Connect Computer Speakers To TV Without Headphone Jack
By Robert Jones · 2021-01-02
Got some decent computer speakers and a TV that's ditched the old headphone jack? No worries, mate. You can absolutely hook 'em up for a serious boost in sound, often with just one simple gadget. I'll show you how.
Right then, let's be honest. We've all been there, haven't we? You've got a decent pair of computer speakers – maybe some proper active monitors you picked up for your desktop, or even just some good quality desktop multimedia speakers – and you think, "Hang on, these sound a damn sight better than the tinny rubbish built into my TV." You want to hook 'em up, get a bit more oomph for your movies or the football, but then you flip the TV round and... no headphone jack. Nada. Just a bunch of weird digital bits and bobs. Annoying, isn't it? It's a common enough problem, mind. Modern TVs, especially the thinner, sleeker ones, are all about digital connections these days. The trusty old 3.5mm headphone jack, that analogue workhorse, is often the first thing to get the chop. But don't despair! You absolutely can get those computer speakers singing with your telly. It just takes a bit of know-how and, sometimes, a cheap adapter or two. I've cobbled together more makeshift audio setups in my workshop than I care to remember, so trust me on this. ### **Quick Verdict** **Don't let a missing headphone jack stop you; digital-to-analogue converters are your best mate here.** ### Who it's for: * Anyone with good computer speakers they want to repurpose for TV audio. * Folks looking to improve their TV's sound without buying a full soundbar or home cinema system. * Those on a tighter budget who already own suitable speakers. * Anyone who appreciates a bit of DIY audio tinkering. ### Who should skip it: * People expecting true surround sound from a stereo speaker setup. * If your computer speakers are genuinely rubbish, save up for a proper soundbar instead. * If you want a completely wireless solution without any cables. * Those who prefer a single-box, plug-and-play solution without any fuss. ***  *Connect Computer Speakers To TV Without Headphone Jack — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## The Problem: No Headphone Jack, All Digital So, your TV's got optical, HDMI ARC, maybe a coaxial digital output, but no familiar 3.5mm jack. And your computer speakers, bless 'em, probably just have a standard 3.5mm aux input, or maybe a pair of RCA phono jacks (red and white). They're built for analogue signals. This is where the magic (and a bit of faffing about) comes in. You need something to translate the TV's digital burblings into a language your speakers understand. ## The Main Solution: Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) This is your go-to gadget. A DAC, or Digital-to-Analogue Converter, does exactly what it says on the tin. It takes a digital audio signal from your TV and converts it into an analogue signal that your computer speakers can handle. Think of it as a universal translator for your sound. I've had a few of these knocking around the workshop over the years, some really cheap and cheerful, others a bit more serious. For this job, you don't need to break the bank. ### How a DAC Works with Your TV and Speakers 1. **TV Digital Out:** Your TV sends its audio out via an optical (Toslink) cable or sometimes a coaxial digital cable. This is a stream of ones and zeros, digital data. 2. **DAC In:** The DAC receives this digital signal through its optical or coaxial input. 3. **DAC Out:** Inside the DAC, a clever chip converts those digital bits into an analogue electrical signal. This signal then comes out of the DAC via RCA phono jacks (red and white) or sometimes a 3.5mm headphone-style jack. 4. **Speakers In:** You then connect the analogue output of the DAC to the input of your computer speakers, usually with a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, or an RCA to 3.5mm cable, depending on what your speakers have. Sounds a bit complicated, but honestly, it's mostly plug-and-play once you've got the right cables. The biggest faff is usually rummaging around behind the TV. ### Choosing the Right DAC For most computer speakers, you don't need an audiophile-grade DAC costing hundreds. A decent, basic unit will do the trick nicely. I've seen them online for as little as £10-£20. Here's what to look for: * **Input Type:** Make sure it matches your TV's digital output. Most modern TVs use optical (Toslink), so an optical input on the DAC is key. Some older or higher-end TVs might also have coaxial digital. * **Output Type:** It needs RCA stereo outputs (the red and white ones) or a 3.5mm headphone-style output. RCA is more common on these little boxes. * **Power:** Most small DACs need power, usually via a USB cable (which you can often plug into a spare USB port on your TV, or a USB wall adapter) or a small DC power supply. Check what's included. I recently grabbed a little FiiO D03K for a mate who wanted to connect some old Edifier R1280DBs to his new Samsung telly. Worked a treat. It's a solid, budget-friendly option. Other brands like PROZOR or Tendak do similar bits of kit on Amazon. Just search for "Optical to RCA converter" or "Toslink to RCA DAC." ### What you'll need: * **The DAC itself:** As discussed above. * **Optical (Toslink) cable:** To go from your TV to the DAC. Often not included with the DAC, so make sure you grab one. Get one that's long enough but not excessively so – no point having metres of coiled cable behind the TV. * **RCA to 3.5mm cable:** To go from the DAC's RCA outputs to your computer speakers' 3.5mm input. If your speakers have RCA inputs, then you'll need an RCA to RCA cable instead. * **Power source for the DAC:** Usually a USB cable and possibly a USB wall plug (if your TV doesn't have a spare USB port). ## Step-by-Step Guide: Connecting with a DAC Right, let's get hands-on. This is pretty straightforward, even if you're not a tech wizard. 1. **Locate TV's Digital Audio Out:** Spin your TV around (carefully!) and find the optical audio output. It's usually a square-ish port with a little flap, often labelled "Optical Out," "Digital Audio Out," or "Toslink." 2. **Connect Optical Cable:** Plug one end of the optical cable into this port. You'll probably hear a little click. Be gentle, these can be a bit fragile. Connect the other end into the optical input on your DAC. 3. **Connect RCA to Speakers:** Take your RCA to 3.5mm cable. Plug the red and white RCA plugs into the corresponding red and white outputs on the DAC. Then, plug the 3.5mm jack into the headphone/aux input on your computer speakers. 4. **Power the DAC:** Connect the DAC's power cable (usually USB) to a USB port on your TV or a wall adapter. Most modern TVs will supply power to their USB ports when they're on. 5. **Turn Everything On:** Fire up your TV and your computer speakers. Make sure the speakers are turned on and the volume is down initially. 6. **Adjust TV Audio Settings:** This is a crucial step that people often miss. Go into your TV's audio settings menu. You'll need to tell the TV to send its audio out via the optical port. Look for options like "Audio Output," "Digital Audio Format," or "Sound Output." You want to select "Optical" or "External Speaker." Sometimes you also need to set the "Digital Audio Format" to "PCM" (Pulse-Code Modulation) if your DAC is a basic stereo one, which most are. If it's set to Bitstream or Dolby Digital, you might get no sound or weird noises. PCM is usually the most compatible. 7. **Test and Adjust:** Play something on your TV and slowly turn up the volume on your computer speakers. You should hear sound! If not, double-check all connections and the TV's audio settings. ### A Quick Note on TV Volume Control Most TVs won't control the volume of an optical output directly. This means you'll likely be controlling the volume using the knob on your computer speakers. A bit old-school, but it works. Some clever DACs or TVs *might* allow control, but don't count on it. My general advice is to set the speakers to a comfortable maximum and then use the TV remote to adjust the source volume if available, or just get used to adjusting at the speaker end. It's not ideal for convenience, but it's a compromise you make for better sound. *** ## Alternative 1: HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) - A Bit More Advanced If your computer speakers are a bit more sophisticated – perhaps active monitors with RCA inputs and you've got a soundbar-style setup in mind – and your TV has HDMI ARC, this *could* be an option, but it's often overkill for standard computer speakers and requires a more advanced DAC or an HDMI audio extractor. HDMI ARC allows your TV to send audio back down an HDMI cable to an ARC-compatible device (like a soundbar or AV receiver). To use this with computer speakers, you'd need an "HDMI ARC audio extractor" or "HDMI ARC DAC." These are a bit more expensive than a simple optical DAC, usually in the £30-£60 range. ### How it works: 1. **TV HDMI ARC Out:** Your TV sends audio via the HDMI ARC port. 2. **Extractor In:** The HDMI ARC audio extractor receives this signal. 3. **Extractor Out:** It then outputs the audio as analogue RCA, and often passes through the HDMI video signal if you have another device connected (like a Blu-ray player or games console). 4. **Speakers In:** Connect the RCA outputs to your computer speakers. ### Why it's often not the best for computer speakers: * **Cost:** More expensive than a simple optical DAC. * **Complexity:** More connections and more things to potentially go wrong. * **Features:** Many computer speakers don't really benefit from the extra features HDMI ARC offers (like TV remote volume control, though some extractors support this). * **Power:** These often require their own power supply, adding to cable clutter. I'd only really recommend this if you specifically need to use HDMI ARC, perhaps because your optical port is already in use, or you have a truly high-end pair of active speakers that warrant it. For the average pair of desktop speakers, stick with optical. *** ## Alternative 2: Bluetooth Transmitter (If Your Speakers Have Bluetooth In) This is a bit of a niche one, but if your computer speakers *already have built-in Bluetooth receiving capabilities*, and your TV *doesn't* have Bluetooth output, you can get a Bluetooth audio transmitter. It's not quite "no headphone jack" for the TV, as these transmitters usually plug into the TV's optical out, but it offers a wireless link to the speakers. ### How it works: 1. **TV Digital Out:** Your TV sends audio out via optical (or sometimes 3.5mm if it has one). 2. **Bluetooth Transmitter In:** The transmitter takes this digital (or analogue) signal. 3. **Bluetooth Transmitter Out:** It converts the audio to a Bluetooth signal and broadcasts it. 4. **Speakers In:** Your Bluetooth-enabled computer speakers pair with the transmitter and receive the audio wirelessly. ### Things to consider: * **Latency:** Bluetooth can introduce a slight delay (latency), meaning the sound might be slightly out of sync with the picture. Some transmitters and speakers use aptX Low Latency to combat this, but it's not guaranteed. * **Quality:** While Bluetooth audio has improved, it's still generally compressed, so you might lose a tiny bit of fidelity compared to a direct wired connection. * **Cost:** Good quality Bluetooth transmitters aren't dirt cheap, often £20-£40. * **Battery/Power:** Some are battery-powered, others need a USB power source. If your computer speakers *don't* have Bluetooth, you could also add a Bluetooth receiver to them, then connect the transmitter to the TV. That's two extra boxes and more potential for issues. Honestly, I'd stick to the DAC for most situations if you're going for a wired connection from the speakers to the TV. *** ## What About Old TVs with RCA Outputs? If you're dealing with an older TV that *does* have the familiar red and white RCA audio outputs (and no headphone jack), then you're in luck, you don't need a DAC! You just need an RCA to 3.5mm cable. Connect the red and white RCA plugs from the TV's "Audio Out" to the 3.5mm jack on your computer speakers. Simple as that. No digital conversion needed. ## Speaker Choices: What Works Well? I've had plenty of computer speakers pass through my hands. Some are brilliant, some are absolute dross. For connecting to a TV, you ideally want something with its own power supply (active speakers) and a decent sound profile. * **Edifier R1280DB/R1700BT/R2000DB:** These are consistently good value. They're active, sound surprisingly full for their size, and often have multiple inputs (RCA, optical, Bluetooth). The 'DB' models usually have optical in, which bypasses the need for an external DAC if your TV has optical out. This is a brilliant, neat solution. I've got a pair of the 1280DBs in the spare room, and they're cracking for the money, especially when they drop to around £100-£120. * **Logitech Z-series (Z623, Z533):** Often come with a subwoofer. These can add a bit more punch to movies and games. They typically have a 3.5mm input and sometimes RCA. You'd use a DAC with these, or an RCA to 3.5mm cable if your TV has RCA out. The Z623 has THX certification, which usually means it can put out a fair bit of grunt. Not super refined, but fun. * **Creative Labs (various models):** Similar to Logitech, often good for gaming and multimedia. Check their specific inputs. They are often budget-friendly. * **Higher-End Active Monitors (e.g., Audioengine A2+, Klipsch R-41PM):** If you've already got a pair of these, you're probably getting into genuinely good sound. They often have optical inputs themselves, or excellent analogue inputs, making the connection straightforward. The Klipsch R-41PM, for example, has an optical input directly, making it a dream for TV hookups without a separate DAC. Expect to pay £200+ for these, but the sound quality jump is significant. ### What to avoid: * **Cheap, unpowered speakers:** Those little passive speakers that came with your old PC, powered only by the sound card? Forget 'em. No amp, no volume. Waste of time. * **Speakers without dedicated power:** If they rely solely on a USB connection for power and don't have a wall plug, they're likely underpowered for TV duty. * **"Sound card required" speakers:** Again, usually passive or require a specific PC connection. *** ## Comparison Table: Methods to Connect Computer Speakers to TV | Method | Pros | Cons | What you need (example) | Typical Cost (adapters/cables) | Best for | | :---------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | | **Optical DAC** | Widely compatible with modern TVs; good sound quality | Requires separate power; no TV remote volume control by default | Optical DAC, optical cable, RCA to 3.5mm cable | £20 - £50 | Most common scenario; reliable wired connection | | **HDMI ARC Extractor** | Can maintain video signal; potentially TV remote volume control | More expensive; more complex; often overkill for basic speakers | HDMI ARC extractor, HDMI cable, RCA to 3.5mm cable | £30 - £70 | Advanced setups; when optical is unavailable | | **Bluetooth Transmitter** | Wireless connection to speakers (if speakers have BT in) | Potential latency issues; compressed audio; adds another device | BT transmitter, optical cable (to TV) | £25 - £55 | Wireless convenience; speakers already have Bluetooth | | **Direct RCA (old TV)** | Simplest, no extra boxes or power needed | Only works with older TVs that have RCA audio outputs | RCA to 3.5mm cable | £5 - £15 | Older TVs with analogue RCA out | | **Speakers with Optical In** | Simplest, cleanest solution; one cable, no separate DAC | Requires specific speakers; often more expensive initially | Optical cable | £5 - £15 (for cable) | Best sound; cleanest setup; a bit more initial outlay | *** ## Troubleshooting Tips: "No Sound!" It happens. You've plugged everything in, followed the steps, and... silence. Don't fret, it's usually something simple. * **Check all connections:** Are cables fully seated? Optical cables can be a bit finicky; make sure they're pushed in until they click. Ensure the red and white RCAs match up. * **DAC Power:** Is the DAC actually powered on? Check the LED. If it's plugged into the TV's USB port, is the TV on and supplying power? * **TV Audio Output Settings:** This is the big one. Go back into your TV's sound settings. Is "Optical" or "External Speakers" selected? Is "Digital Audio Format" set to "PCM"? If it's on "Bitstream" or "Dolby Digital" and your DAC only supports stereo PCM, you'll get nothing. Change it! * **Speaker Input/Volume:** Is your computer speaker's input selector set to the correct input (e.g., "Aux," "Line In")? Is the volume turned up (not just a tiny bit, but enough to hear)? Is it muted? * **Test with another source:** If you have another device with a 3.5mm output (like a phone or MP3 player), try plugging it directly into your computer speakers to confirm the speakers themselves are working. * **Swap cables:** If you have spare cables, try swapping them out one by one to rule out a faulty cable. ## FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered ### Q: Will I get surround sound using this method? A: Not really, no. Most computer speakers are stereo (two channels: left and right). A basic DAC will convert a digital stereo signal from your TV into an analogue stereo signal. While your TV might output a surround sound signal digitally, the DAC will usually downmix it to stereo. You'll get a much fuller, richer sound than your TV's built-in speakers, but it won't be true multi-channel surround sound like you'd get from an AV receiver with five speakers and a subwoofer. ### Q: Can I use my TV remote to control the volume? A: Generally, no, not with a simple optical DAC. The optical output typically has a fixed volume level. You'll need to adjust the volume using the controls on your computer speakers themselves. Some fancier HDMI ARC extractors or certain smart TVs *might* offer some level of control, but it's not the norm for a basic optical DAC setup. It's a slight inconvenience, but for the improvement in sound, it's often worth it. ### Q: My TV has an "audio out" via RCA (red and white) but no headphone jack. Do I still need a DAC? A: Excellent question! No, you don't. If your TV has those red and white RCA "Audio Out" ports, it's already putting out an analogue signal. You just need a simple RCA to 3.5mm cable to connect directly to your computer speakers. Save yourself the tenner for the DAC! ### Q: What's the difference between optical and coaxial digital audio? A: Both are digital audio connections, but they use different cables. Optical (Toslink) uses a fibre optic cable and transmits audio using pulses of light. Coaxial digital uses a single RCA-style electrical cable. Sonically, for typical home use, there's no discernible difference in quality. It's just a matter of what connections your TV and your chosen DAC (or speakers) have. Optical is more common on modern TVs. ### Q: Will using computer speakers damage my TV or speakers? A: Unlikely, as long as you connect things properly and don't crank the volume to distortion levels. The DAC is simply converting a signal, and the speakers are designed to play audio. Just be sensible with your volume levels, especially when first testing, to avoid any sudden loud noises. Always make sure the speakers are active (have their own power) and don't try to connect passive speakers directly to your TV without an amplifier; that won't work. ## Final Word So there you have it. Don't let the lack of a dinky little headphone jack stop you from getting proper sound from your TV. For the vast majority of you, a simple, inexpensive optical DAC is the way to go. It's a cheap and cheerful upgrade that can make a world of difference to your TV viewing experience. You've already got those computer speakers, gathering dust or just doing desktop duty, why not put 'em to better use? With a bit of fiddling, you'll have a much more immersive soundscape for your favourite programmes and films. Give it a go; you might be surprised at the improvement for so little outlay. It's definitely one of those little tweaks that, for a few quid, genuinely improves your day-to-day enjoyment. Right, time for a cuppa.