computers and speakers

spaminator

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Oct 26, 2009
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are computers supposed to come with a built in amp to amplify the speakers?
 

tay

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May 20, 2012
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are computers supposed to come with a built in amp to amplify the speakers?
No.

Have you downloaded Real Tek HD Audio Manager? That may help somewhat.

I recently bought one of these for $30.00 but I see they have gone up to $40.00. It's better then the tinny Altec type

Canada
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
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Regina, SK
are computers sand microphonesupposed to come with a built in amp to amplify the speakers?
Most computers these days are built with an audio chip and jacks for speakers, microphones, and headphones, but they're not high quality stuff. An audio purist would scorn them and get an add-in audio card, or more likely spend $5000 or more on a completely separate audio system. But my aged ears can't reliably detect any difference in sound quality between the Realtek audio chip on my desktop system's main board and the set of stereo components on the shelves in my study. The only real difference I can detect is that I can crank the latter up to a volume that'll rattle the windows and make the neighbours complain.
 

Danbones

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Sep 23, 2015
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Best thing: get a small POWERED system with a sub for bass; Logiteck is a good example.
(about 80 some odd bucks new for a good starter sized system)
https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Spe...71,p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin:2883362011
(here is a list of examples to give you the idea)

Your computer has a headphone amp only and will drive head phones or similar sized speakers.
You could also go with surround ( 5.1 ) for a couple bucks more, but I find even stereo with a sub (2.1) does a fine job.

Newer computers have HiDef sound and with even a reasonable output system you can get pretty good sound cheap if you want to.

You want super sound, look into a software player like "Fubar 2000" which will play SACD sound files which are often "better then tape", and plug in some decent speakers.
http://www.foobar2000.org/

Any questions, feel free.
 
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spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
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Most computers these days are built with an audio chip and jacks for speakers, microphones, and headphones, but they're not high quality stuff. An audio purist would scorn them and get an add-in audio card, or more likely spend $5000 or more on a completely separate audio system. But my aged ears can't reliably detect any difference in sound quality between the Realtek audio chip on my desktop system's main board and the set of stereo components on the shelves in my study. The only real difference I can detect is that I can crank the latter up to a volume that'll rattle the windows and make the neighbours complain.
do computers come with the audio card?
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
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Regina, SK
Not often, except in the high end "gamer" systems, usually all you'll get is an audio output jack on the mainboard that'll handle headphones. To drive a set of external speakers from it you need purpose-built computer speakers that incorporate an amplifier.
 

Hoid

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Oct 15, 2017
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The answer is that all computers come with the ability to make some sort of sound. In order to produce that sound they must have some sort of amplifier.

if you mean can you plug external speakers into a computer and play something loud the computer will not necessarily have that feature.

Most speakers these days have their own amplifiers.