Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

CONNECTING MONITOR SPEAKERS TO A MAC


tom1946
 Share

Recommended Posts

As title, I bought a pair of passive speakers that were on offer and as they only have the black and red connectors on the back I'm not sure how to wire them up so they'll work on my mac.

Mac only has a 3.5mil stereo jack input.

Anybody got any thoughts please?

Thanks.

Just noticed that the speakers each have 2 x quarter jack inputs too.

IMG_3349.JPG

Edited by tom1946
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From your computer to the amp - a signal cable with a mini jack on one end and 2 x phono plugs on the other. The black and red sockets on your speakers are for banana plugs, but you can also use bare wires. So, standard speaker cable between the amp output and the speakers. Bare wire at both ends I'd guess (without seeing the Denon).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What are the speakers for?

Just a better/louder reproduction of audio from iTunes/Spotify/YouTube etc.?

Or as part of a home recording set up?

In the case of the first stevie has already answered you question. In the case of the second you should really be looking at an audio interface with better D/A convertors between the Mac and the amp.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another option is to get a bluetooth mini hifi so you can cut down on wires and keep a headphone socket on the computer. I got an own brand 'Sandstrom' one from Currys and it's great - can't complain at all.

This is also useful as you can tell system notifications like email sounds and so on to play from the computer speaker and not through the hifi, so you don't get super loud text alerts at 3am, which can make you jump let me tell you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bluetooth is fine if all you want to do is get the audio out of computer to better speakers than the built-in ones, but if you require synchronisation to video displaying on the monitor or you are going to be playing an instrument also routed through the computer along with a track then the latency is simply too high. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, BigRedX said:

Bluetooth is fine if all you want to do is get the audio out of computer to better speakers than the built-in ones, but if you require synchronisation to video displaying on the monitor or you are going to be playing an instrument also routed through the computer along with a track then the latency is simply too high. 

It will sync with video on the monitor (for example playing a YouTube video or a game) but agree with anything more specific. But I believe the OP said that wasn’t the case. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think latency probably depends on the Bluetooth device that you transmitting to. I've had to ditch a pair of Bluetooth headphone for watching video on my Mac because there was a noticeable delay between the images on screen and the sound from the headphones.

Also with a Bluetooth mini-hifi you are dependant on the quality of the D/A conversion in the hifi. 

Personally I'm not convinced by unnecessary wireless connections. In my house at any one time I can see 15-20 different wifi networks not including my own and any that have their SSIDs hidden. All those routers and the devices connected to them are fighting for bandwidth and dominance, and invariably there are problems with dropouts and some devices losing their wireless connection.

And depending on the Mac the OP may have more options than just the headphones out socket. Most Macs also have a digital audio output as well as the analogue one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Ped and everyone else, I think the way to go for me is my Denon amp connected to my Mac and thus on to the speakers.

As a footnote to this, I unpacked these speakers . 

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/QTX-QT6-65-Passive-PA-Speakers-Pair/2C3R

And found they didn't work so I contacted GFM and told them so I'm getting refunded and they said not worth collecting them so keep them and see if you can fix them!

So I took the grilles off and took the driver out and lo and behold, the wires were all there, just not connected to the driver unit. So I connected them and voila!

Thanks very much for your help. It's people like you who are prepared to dive in and help that make Basschat the great place that it is.  B|

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...