Setting Up Speakers

Computer systems that are equipped with sound cards usually come with a set of external speakers so that you can listen to music and other audio files. Some monitors come with built-in speakers that take the place of external speakers. If you're a real audiophile, you might want to purchase fancy surround-sound speakers for your computer. Or if you want to listen to audio output privately, you can connect headphones either directly to your computer or through the external speakers.

Most standard speaker systems consist of two speakers with one cord that connects them to each other, another that connects them to the computer, and a power cord that connects them to the power source. One speaker might have a volume control (independent of the computer's volume control) and a headset jack.

In this exercise, you will connect speakers to your Windows Vista computer and adjust the audio output levels. There are no practice files for this exercise.

1.	Remove the speakers from their packaging, if you have not already done so. Tip If you are using an alternate audio configuration, such as a headset microphone, connect the input and output cables appropriately and then skip to Step 6.
2.	Link the two speakers using the connector cable.
3.	Position the speakers to the left and right of your monitor to provide stereo sound quality.
4.	Connect the speakers to a power outlet by using the AC adapter cord.
5.	Plug the speakers into the speaker jack on the computer by using the connector cable. Tip The speaker jack might be indicated by a small speaker icon or the words Audio or Audio/Out.
6.	Open Control Panel, and then click Hardware and Sound. The Hardware And Sound window opens. [View full size image]
7.	In the Hardware and Sound window, click Sound. The Sound dialog box opens.
8.	Click each of the tabs, and explore the options available. [View full size image]
9.	On the Playback tab, click your speakers, and then click Configure. The Speaker Setup wizard starts. [View full size image]
10.	On the Choose your configuration page, select the appropriate audio channel, and then click Test. Test each of the channels to hear the different options, select the channel you want, and then click Next. If you choose any configuration other than Mono, the Select Full-Range Speakers page appears next. You can enable, disable, and test speakers from this page.
11.	If the Select full-range speakers page appears, click Next to complete the configuration, and then on the Configuration complete page, click Finish.