I was looking for some simple cheap desktop speakers, you know the kind: AC powered, jack goes into the back of your computer. But apparently those are now as obsolete as non-LED flashlights, incandescent light bulbs or CRT monitors. Apparently now all speakers absolutely must be completely portable, charging from a USB port and connecting via Bluetooth. I would really prefer the old kind but I can’t find any.
I still have the old kind. Mine are Logitech brand and they still have some models.
I see plenty of wired speakers on Amazon. Many of them, however, use a USB plug rather than a standard two-prong electrical plug to get power. You could plug it into a USB port on your computer, or plug it into the wall with a USB adapter.
Logitech 3.5mm Jack Compact Laptop Speakers, Black (Z130)
One of the first results on amazon for “computer speakers” and amazon’s choice for “computer speakers logitech” with 4.5/5 stars over 8700 ratings.
If you check “wired” you get 464 results for computer speakers on amazon. I’m sure most are USB at this point, though. Scrolling some more I saw 3.5 jacks from bose, Sanyun, and some other brands but the logitech seem the most basic and the brand I’ve mostly bought for PC speakers.
I’ve seen many that have both options. Just because it’s wireless doesn’t mean there is no headphone jack also. See https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Soundcore-Bluetooth-Exclusive-Water-Resistant/dp/B01MTB55WH/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=speakers&qid=1613327946&sr=8-10&th=1.
It appears there is no headphone jack but question #3 shows yes it has it. Many are not even advertising it even if it has them. This is just one example.
I would say about five to seven years ago. BestFutureShack used to sell lots of varieties. You’d have to look carefully now and probably wouldn’t find them there at all.
I don’t understand. Why would speakers have a headphone jack? A receiver or computer has a headphone jack but speakers? Or are there powered speakers you can plug headphones into the amp? Like an aux output?
I’m pretty sure “headphone jack” is being used here to refer to the thing you plug in (the “male” plug), whereas you seem to be interpreting it as the place you plug it into (the “female” receptacle).
Isn’t a headphone jack always female? And a headphone plug is always male? If the poster was referring to a “plug” as a “jack” then there’s bound to be confusion, I think.
And even if it was a headphone ‘plug’ instead of a headphone ‘jack’, shouldn’t speakers be driven by a normal line output and not a headphone output? Don’t they have different impendences and all that?
The speakers connect to the computer, and the headphone jack is so you can plug a pair of headphones into the speaker.
Yeah, I suggested that here:
But what does that have to do with wireless? Kanicbird’s post didn’t seem to be about auxiliary head phone jacks but about how the speakers connect to the audio source.
Bought these just recently, $30: Logitech Z200 Stereo Multimedia Speakers with Tone Control
They’ve cleverly hidden or erased all of the wires in most of those photos, but it’s very much a wired set.
I think you’re right, but when I googled “headphone jack,” most of the pictures that came up were of plugs.
In my experience, the type of (powered) speakers used with computers nowadays can be plugged into the headphone jack (outlet) of a computer, phone, etc.
And the OP did say, “jack goes into the back of your computer.”
Speaking of confusion, “wireless speakers” in the thread title means speakers that connect via Bluetooth, but not too long ago, if someone had said “wireless speakers” I would have thought they meant the kind where you have to supply your own speaker wire.
I don’t know the answer to your question, but as an amusing bit of information, the 1985 SF novel Eon (by Greg Bear) featured people from 2005 being amazed at the wireless speakers they find on the mysterious spacecraft that comes to Earth in that year.
About a year ago I switched over to BT speakers and headphones for my computer. Something I found right away was a delay between videos and the sound from both the speakers and headphones, The delay between with the headphones was tolerable at about half a second. The delay in the speakers was about 2-3 seconds. It made watching people talk a pain and the pregnant pause when talking to people online. Reinstalled my old speakers, living with the delay with the headphones.
I did finally find a store where I could buy a set of Logitech Z150 speakers. Inexpensive, AC powered, plugs into my Android’s headphone jack. Definitely not as common as they used to be. Thanks all!
Yeah, I’ve found that issue as well. I have some JBL Charge 3 speakers, and I love 'em, but there is a slight delay between the video and the sound. Luckily, they do have an aux port where you can plug them in directly to the audio source if this is an issue. It was never on the level of 2-3 seconds delay, though. We’re talking, I dunno, tenth of a second? Fine for most things, but if I’m trying to use it as a speaker while playing my keyboard, that delay is enough to completely mess me up. It’s just awful playing and hearing the sound just a hair delayed. Ugh. Luckily, as I said, I can plug them in directly. My other Bluetooth speakers also have that option.
Heck, back in 1968 The Prisoner postulated every dwelling having a wireless speaker (with no off button). #6 ended up putting his in the refrigerator to get some relief from the cheerful PSAs.
If you want wired speakers search for “wired computer speakers”. They’re easy to find. If you don’t want USB speakers (I recommend them but I understand if your preference differs) make sure that you search for “3.5mm jack” which is what the old headphone-style plug is called.