Using a soundbar with your PC

Soundbars are most commonly used to improve the quality of TV sound, but they can also be connected to your PC to provide high-quality sound for movies and gaming. We explain when using soundbars with your desktop computer or laptop can be useful, and what you should consider when thinking about buying a soundbar for this reason.

Are soundbars too big for your PC?

One of the main arguments against using a soundbar with your computer is their size. Most commercially available soundbars designed for TV sets are often about 1 metre wide. These soundbars are just too big, both in terms of the space you might have on or under your desk and how they look in your living space, to be placed in front of or under a 21-inch monitor (approx. 50 cm). You should therefore definitely consider the size requirements, as well as your available space, when looking at soundbars.

The next important aspect concerns the interfaces and connection options in the combination of PC and soundbar.

Connection options

When connecting external speakers or soundbars to a PC, it is important to distinguish where the audio information is processed. There are two possible constellations, the first being much more frequent: Usually the processing is done by the sound card installed in the PC; alternatively the external audio device can be equipped with a sound card (and D/A converter).

1. The connection can be made via common analogue and digital audio interfaces such as AUX, TOSLINK or HDMI. Depending on whether the data was transmitted analogue or digital, the D/A converter of the computer or the external audio device will be used.
2. The interface with which the external sound card is controlled is crucial for it to be used at all. As a rule, USB is intended for this purpose.

A natural question: what’s the point of an additional sound card if there’s already one built into your PC? The answer has to do with the quality of the sound cards and converters that computers are equipped with. In most cases, there’s a sound chip integrated on the motherboard. But a built-in PC sound card can be the reason why high-quality speakers fall far short of their full potential when connected to a PC.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as wireless connection standards are a standard feature for many soundbars and especially practical for external players such as smartphones. In principle, an external sound card can also be controlled for the wireless transmission of audio data.

Teufel soundbars

Sound requirements for network audio

The pure power requirements for PC soundbars can sometimes be quite low, since often only a small listening space needs to be filled with sound. But that doesn’t mean that computers generally place low demands on sound quality. For music in good quality, clean playback at high volumes and across a wide frequency range is essential. Sound also plays a major role in gaming, after all the elaborately produced game soundtrack should be able to fully unfold. On top of that, spatially differentiated sound effects can add a whole new dimension to the gaming experience.

Soundbars offer particularly great possibilities for playing surround sound on a PC. Multi-channel transducers architectures can be implemented in these soundbars, capable of delivering far more than just a solid stereo panorama. Through modulation techniques and targeted tuning of the drivers, authentic virtual surround sound can be created. That’s exactly what our in-house technology Dynamore® Ultra achieves.

Cinebar One – tailor-made for strong PC sound

Opens in new tab

▶ With a width of just 35 centimeters, the CINEBAR ONEOpens in new tab is a true sound giant. In this compact soundbar, we’ve integrated not only four innovative full-range speakers with side-firing alignment, but also all the key connections, a powerful sound card, virtual surround sound from a soundbar thanks to Dynamore® Ultra technologyOpens in new tab, and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX transmission standard for CD-quality streaming sound.

▶ With an external subwoofer, you can upgrade your CINEBAR ONE to the CINEBAR ONE+Opens in new tab for stronger bass in gaming sound.

Our solutions for PC and gaming sound

Conclusion: Combining soundbars and PCs

• Compactness is an important factor when it comes to soundbars that will be used on a desk for PC sound.
• Soundbars are usually compatible with a PC/laptop via various interfaces.
• An additional soundbar can significantly improve the computer sound.
• Soundbars are particularly well suited for creating surround sound simulations.

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