Computer speakers, or multimedia speakers, are
speakers
Speaker most commonly refers to:
* Speaker, a person who produces speech
* Loudspeaker, a device that produces sound
** Computer speakers
Speaker, Speakers, or The Speaker may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Speaker (song), "Speaker" ( ...
marketed for use with computers, although usually capable of other
audio uses, e.g. for a
shelf stereo or
television
Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
. Most such speakers have an internal
amplifier
An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It is a two-port electronic circuit that uses electric power from a power su ...
and consequently require a power source, which may be by a mains power supply often via an
AC adapter, batteries, or a
USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard, developed by USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), for digital data transmission and power delivery between many types of electronics. It specifies the architecture, in particular the physical ...
port. The signal input connector is often an analog
3.5 mm jack plug (usually color-coded lime green per the
PC 99 standard);
RCA connectors are sometimes used, and a USB port or
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...
antenna may supply a digital signal to an onboard
DAC (some of which work only on computers with an appropriate
device driver
In the context of an operating system, a device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer or automaton. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabli ...
). Battery-powered wireless speakers require no cables at all. Most computers have speakers of low power and quality built in; when external speakers are connected they disable the built-in speakers by default.
Altec Lansing claims to have created the computer speaker market in 1990.
Computer speakers range widely in quality and in price. Computer speakers packaged with computer systems are typically small, plastic, and have mediocre sound quality. Some computer speakers have equalization features such as bass and treble controls. More sophisticated computer speakers can have a
subwoofer unit to enhance bass output. The larger subwoofer enclosure usually contains the amplifiers for the subwoofer and the left and right speakers.
Some discrete
computer display
A computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial or textual form. A discrete monitor comprises a visual display, support electronics, power supply, housing, electrical connectors, and external user controls.
T ...
s have rather basic integrated speakers, or accommodations for mounting matching satellite speakers or a
soundbar externally.
Laptop computer
A laptop computer or notebook computer, also known as a laptop or notebook, is a small, portable personal computer (PC). Laptops typically have a Clamshell design, clamshell form factor (design), form factor with a flat-panel computer scree ...
s have built-in integrated speakers, usually small and of restricted sound quality to conserve space.
See also
*
PC speaker
*
Loudspeaker enclosure
A loudspeaker enclosure or loudspeaker cabinet is an enclosure (often rectangular box-shaped) in which speaker drivers (e.g., woofers and tweeters) and associated electronic hardware, such as crossover circuits and, in some cases, power am ...
References
{{Basic computer components
American inventions
Computer peripherals
Loudspeakers
Boombox culture
tl:Speaker