Connect speakers to the Mac - Here's how
Your Mac already has built-in speakers. However, if you want to connect external speakers with better sound quality, this can be done in a few simple steps.
Connect active speakers to the Mac
How you connect the external speaker boxes to your Mac depends on the speaker connections. Mostly audio output and audio input are used, which are also used for the headphones. The outgoing jack connection is marked with a headphone symbol, the incoming jack connection can be recognized by a microphone illustration.
- The FireWire connection, the optical digital audio output or the USB connection are also possible as additional connection options for the Mac.
- If you have connected the speakers to the headphone output and still do not hear any sound, you should go to the system settings of your Mac.
- In the "System Settings" select "Sound" and check the "Output".
- Instead of the "internal speakers", the "headphones" should now be activated under "Output", which normally happens automatically.
Connect the Mac to passive speakers
If you want to connect the Mac to passive speakers, you also need an amplifier.
- The input of the amplifier is connected directly to the audio output of the Mac.
- Connect your speakers to the audio output of the amplifier.
- Finally, set the maximum volume on your Mac OS X if you want to control the volume using the amplifier. However, it is advisable not to set the volume on the Mac to the maximum in order to be able to regulate the volume more finely via the amplifier.
So that you can surrender to your music enjoyment completely undisturbed, we have prepared Mac OS X: Do Not Disturb - a good tip for you.