# Can I hook up regular speakers to my PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000 "2011-09-12T00:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caverject](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@caverject](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caverject)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/1 "2011-09-12T00:33:14Z")
Hi, I am installing a PC in my kitchen (much like this one [http://www.studio-lights.com/blog/iphone-inspired-kitchen-touchscreen-computer.htm](http://www.studio-lights.com/blog/iphone-inspired-kitchen-touchscreen-computer.htm)) and would like to have the speakers mounted in the ceiling. The problem is that the only ceiling-mounted speakers I can find are all the regular types, connected with speaker wire. Can you just splice the speaker wires and attach a 3.5 mm jack to plug into the PC, or is there any sort of adapter that you could use? I think I would have to use an amp to make this work as the speakers don’t have power - any suggestions on how to hook up an amp to this configuration? Failing that, are there any computer speakers specifically made to be ceiling-mounted? thanks ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/2 "2011-09-12T00:38:37Z")
Your PC won’t put out enough power to run large speakers. Get a cheap power amp, plug the PC output into the line input of that, and power the speakers from the amp. Size the amp to the number and size of speakers you have. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/3 "2011-09-12T01:02:32Z")
You need an amplifier. Something like this: [http://www.amazon.com/PCA2-40-Watt-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B001P2VV50/ref=sr\_1\_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1315789295&sr=1-6](http://www.amazon.com/PCA2-40-Watt-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B001P2VV50/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1315789295&sr=1-6) ---
**Author:** ![caverject](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@caverject](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caverject)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/4 "2011-09-12T01:13:56Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Get a cheap power amp, plug the PC output into the line input of that, and power the speakers from the amp. Size the amp to the number and size of speakers you have. Would this kind of amp work [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle\_Pro\_PHA25\_PHA25\_300W\_Stereo\_Audio.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle_Pro_PHA25_PHA25_300W_Stereo_Audio.html) if I’m trying to power something like this [http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx](http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx)? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/5 "2011-09-12T01:18:21Z")
> [@caverject](#): > > Would this kind of amp work [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle\_Pro\_PHA25\_PHA25\_300W\_Stereo\_Audio.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle_Pro_PHA25_PHA25_300W_Stereo_Audio.html) > > if I’m trying to power something like this [http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx](http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx)? Looks like it would. However, you might have an amplifier already as part of a stereo or even a boombox, as long as it has an “aux in” jack and a place to connect those speakers you already have. That’s the arrangement I have in my home office. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-hook-up-regular-speakers-to-my-pc/596000/6 "2011-09-12T01:26:13Z")
> [@caverject](#): > > Would this kind of amp work [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle\_Pro\_PHA25\_PHA25\_300W\_Stereo\_Audio.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763204-REG/Pyle_Pro_PHA25_PHA25_300W_Stereo_Audio.html) > > if I’m trying to power something like this [http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx](http://www.thedeepdiscount.com/p-4553-pyle-pro-phskit8-300-watt-8-2-way-in-wallceiling-speaker-system.aspx)? That looks like a pretty good combo to me – the amp will power 2 speakers at 4 ohms and the speakers are rated 4-8 ohms, so the impedance matches. Just don’t try to wire up multiple speakers in series or parallel, or you’ll be sorry! As long as you don’t expect really hifi sound from a ceiling setup with only 2 8" speakers, you should be OK. A THX home theater it isn’t.