line out: passive/active speakers

wiwazevedo · 12-09-2008, 05:50 AM

Do line out jacks only work with active speakers (amplified) or can they work with passive and my sound card is just not working. This is probably a really stupid question but I want to make sure its not a problem with my sound card before I buy amped speakers.

diduknowthat · 12-10-2008, 02:21 AM

It works with passive speakers, the speakers just won't be as loud.

wiwazevedo · 12-10-2008, 05:47 AM

thats what I thought.
It had always been that way with every one of my other computers
i get no sound whatsoever out of my passive speakers.
im using the on board sound card from the mobo in my sig.
I have all the newest drivers and everything its just not workign at all.
all the inputs work liek the mic and line in. just the line out i get zero sound

PunterCam · 12-10-2008, 01:14 PM

So, are you going straight into passive speakers from the sound card? Is there an amp in the loop?

wiwazevedo · 12-11-2008, 03:08 AM

there is no amp. I wasnt intending on using these speakers permanently but I dont have anything better at the moment. and I get no sound at all out of them

diduknowthat · 12-11-2008, 11:47 AM

Make sure the line isn't muted. You might also have to set line-out to default in the sound control panel, and then restart w/e music playing program you're using.

PunterCam · 12-11-2008, 02:19 PM

Passive speakers need an amp, you won't get anything out of them running a cable directly from the sound card.

Either find a cheap integrated amp or get those active speakers

(for general reference: passive speakers need an external amplifier to produce sound, active speakers have the amplifiers built into the speaker casing)

wiwazevedo · 12-12-2008, 12:56 AM

im getting mixed responses haha
That makes sense that passive speakers need an amp but Im pretty sure I have been able to use these speakers on other computers and they hve worked fine. Im not sure if it was because there was somethign different about the sound card or if I plugged it into the headphone jack or whatever. When I plug them into the headphone jack I can hear the sound but its very soft.
I couldnt find where to set the line-out jack to default in the sound control panel as "didyouknowthat" suggested.

PunterCam · 12-12-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiwazevedo

im getting mixed responses haha
That makes sense that passive speakers need an amp but Im pretty sure I have been able to use these speakers on other computers and they hve worked fine. Im not sure if it was because there was somethign different about the sound card or if I plugged it into the headphone jack or whatever. When I plug them into the headphone jack I can hear the sound but its very soft.
I couldnt find where to set the line-out jack to default in the sound control panel as "didyouknowthat" suggested.

Do these speakers have a power switch on them? If they do, then they're active speakers, and should work plugged directly into the soundcard.

If they have no switch on them, and just have the cable from the soundcard plugged into them (ie, no power cable to speakers) then they are passive. The signal produced by any sound card is nowhere near loud enough to drive passive speakers directly.

If you can hear the buzz from tapping the mini-jack from the speakers on your palm (while switched on, if they have a power switch), then they're active, and the problem is one with your soundcard/drivers. Plug the speakers into an ipod or similar to check they're working.

To check the sound card is working, plug a set of headphones directly into the same lineout port you've been using on the soundcard - they'll be deafening, so don't wear them at the time (be certain you're not plugging into a line-in, or mic-in or something, obviously you won't hear anything if you are).

Then use your skills of deduction.

wiwazevedo · 12-13-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunterCam

Do these speakers have a power switch on them? If they do, then they're active speakers, and should work plugged directly into the soundcard.

If they have no switch on them, and just have the cable from the soundcard plugged into them (ie, no power cable to speakers) then they are passive. The signal produced by any sound card is nowhere near loud enough to drive passive speakers directly.

If you can hear the buzz from tapping the mini-jack from the speakers on your palm (while switched on, if they have a power switch), then they're active, and the problem is one with your soundcard/drivers. Plug the speakers into an ipod or similar to check they're working.

To check the sound card is working, plug a set of headphones directly into the same lineout port you've been using on the soundcard - they'll be deafening, so don't wear them at the time (be certain you're not plugging into a line-in, or mic-in or something, obviously you won't hear anything if you are).

Then use your skills of deduction.

no i know for a fact that they are passive. I am just getting mixed responses for if they will work or not. Im getting a speaker system for christmas so I'l make due with headphones for now

12-09-2008, 05:50 AM	#1
wiwazevedo Megabyte Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 506	line out: passive/active speakers Do line out jacks only work with active speakers (amplified) or can they work with passive and my sound card is just not working. This is probably a really stupid question but I want to make sure its not a problem with my sound card before I buy amped speakers. __________________ Case : Antec 900 Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P CPU : Q9650 @ 4.05GHz CPU Cooler : AC Freezer 7 Pro RAM : Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB Graphics : EVGA GTX 260 @730/1574/1230 PSU : OCZ GameXStream 700w HD : Seagate 500GB 3DMark06 Score : 20518

12-10-2008, 02:21 AM	#2
diduknowthat formerly liuliuboy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 22 Posts: 9,245	It works with passive speakers, the speakers just won't be as loud. __________________ HTPC AMD A10 5800k \| 8GB G.Skill DDR3 1866 Memory 60GB OCZ Agility SSD \| 1TB Hitachi 2.5" HD Antec ISK 300 Case \| PicoPSU 160xt PSU M-Audio AV 40 Speakers \| Polk Audio PSW10 Subwoofer

12-10-2008, 05:47 AM	#3
wiwazevedo Megabyte Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 506	thats what I thought. It had always been that way with every one of my other computers i get no sound whatsoever out of my passive speakers. im using the on board sound card from the mobo in my sig. I have all the newest drivers and everything its just not workign at all. all the inputs work liek the mic and line in. just the line out i get zero sound __________________ Case : Antec 900 Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P CPU : Q9650 @ 4.05GHz CPU Cooler : AC Freezer 7 Pro RAM : Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB Graphics : EVGA GTX 260 @730/1574/1230 PSU : OCZ GameXStream 700w HD : Seagate 500GB 3DMark06 Score : 20518

12-10-2008, 01:14 PM	#4
PunterCam Gigabyte Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Great Britain, birthplace of modesty, home of my good self. Age: 28 Posts: 1,020	So, are you going straight into passive speakers from the sound card? Is there an amp in the loop? __________________ Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.

12-11-2008, 03:08 AM	#5
wiwazevedo Megabyte Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 506	there is no amp. I wasnt intending on using these speakers permanently but I dont have anything better at the moment. and I get no sound at all out of them __________________ Case : Antec 900 Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P CPU : Q9650 @ 4.05GHz CPU Cooler : AC Freezer 7 Pro RAM : Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB Graphics : EVGA GTX 260 @730/1574/1230 PSU : OCZ GameXStream 700w HD : Seagate 500GB 3DMark06 Score : 20518

12-11-2008, 11:47 AM	#6
diduknowthat formerly liuliuboy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 22 Posts: 9,245	Make sure the line isn't muted. You might also have to set line-out to default in the sound control panel, and then restart w/e music playing program you're using. __________________ HTPC AMD A10 5800k \| 8GB G.Skill DDR3 1866 Memory 60GB OCZ Agility SSD \| 1TB Hitachi 2.5" HD Antec ISK 300 Case \| PicoPSU 160xt PSU M-Audio AV 40 Speakers \| Polk Audio PSW10 Subwoofer

12-11-2008, 02:19 PM	#7
PunterCam Gigabyte Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Great Britain, birthplace of modesty, home of my good self. Age: 28 Posts: 1,020	Passive speakers need an amp, you won't get anything out of them running a cable directly from the sound card. Either find a cheap integrated amp or get those active speakers (for general reference: passive speakers need an external amplifier to produce sound, active speakers have the amplifiers built into the speaker casing) __________________ Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.

12-12-2008, 12:56 AM	#8
wiwazevedo Megabyte Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 506	im getting mixed responses haha That makes sense that passive speakers need an amp but Im pretty sure I have been able to use these speakers on other computers and they hve worked fine. Im not sure if it was because there was somethign different about the sound card or if I plugged it into the headphone jack or whatever. When I plug them into the headphone jack I can hear the sound but its very soft. I couldnt find where to set the line-out jack to default in the sound control panel as "didyouknowthat" suggested. __________________ Case : Antec 900 Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P CPU : Q9650 @ 4.05GHz CPU Cooler : AC Freezer 7 Pro RAM : Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB Graphics : EVGA GTX 260 @730/1574/1230 PSU : OCZ GameXStream 700w HD : Seagate 500GB 3DMark06 Score : 20518

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