The equipment of the previous generation usually had a configuration consisting of a record player, a tape recorder and an amplifier with speakers. In each passport that was attached to the audio equipment of that period, there was a clear drawing diagram, which indicated the sequence of connecting the amplifier and columns.
How to connect the amplifier to a computer? Yes, as easy as shelling pears! After all, any CD-ROM of past years has a linear output for connecting a power amplifier to play CDs.
Now the question of how to connect the amplifier, we will consider in a slightly different aspect (because in all modern computers, from stationary PCs to laptops, the audio device has at least two-channel stereo output, with the same standard level and line output impedance).
A feature of computer audio, which is practically inaccessible in amateur analog systems of the past, is that an inexpensive sound card is able to synthesize programmatically even quadraphonic effects, reverb, etc. For this reason, computer sound cards have up to seven output channels.
To answer the question of how to properly connect the amplifier, as well as to be able to use all the features of the sound card, you need to determine how many outputs it has.
The simplest case is two channels. This is a normal stereo, and a simple stereo amplifier with speakers is suitable here. If you have a four-channel sound card, then you can use two stereo amplifiers to get a quadraphonic effect. Five outputs - this is the ability to connect a subwoofer.
Usually they are active, that is, with built-in power amplifiers. One subwoofer is enough, because a person’s hearing does not distinguish between the direction of the bass source, the stereo effect loses its meaning.
So, your sound card has, say, five outputs. You can bravely acquire 5.1 acoustics, which means that you will be given equipment consisting of six items: five speakers and a subwoofer. Now, right before you are the question of how to connect the amplifier to a computer.
A wire with a plug departs from each speaker. And on the back wall of the subwoofer there are outputs for them - just five pieces. If you purchase a 4.1 speaker system , then the subwoofer will accordingly have only 4 outputs for plugs, and only four speakers will be issued by the seller.
The connection order does not matter, that is, any speaker can be connected to any output. But the input wire should be carefully considered. The subwoofer also has two inputs of different colors on the back wall, usually red and white. The subwoofer wire has one plug on one end and two on the other. And one of them is red, and the other is white. Here you can’t make a mistake: the red plug is connected to the red input, and the white to white.
Now, for those who do not know how to connect an amplifier, the question arises of correctly determining the channel of the subwoofer on the computer. After all, it is in him that you need to insert the plug with which the wire is crowned from the other end! You can find this channel using the instruction manual of the “smart machine”. But most often in modern computers, this input is located on the front side of the system unit.
Only a little remained - to arrange the remaining columns in the corners of the room, hiding the wires. How best to do this, the practice will tell you and your own taste. But the best effect is obtained with a symmetrical equilateral installation of devices.
Modern audio systems are usually designed to directly connect active speakers, each of which is equipped with its own power source, to the outputs of the computer's sound card.
The sound is completely regulated by the sound card driver software, the built-in regulators of the operating system and, for quick and convenient adjustment, from the program of the audio player, for example, WinAmp.