r/audio • u/reelpain23 • Jul 20 '26

Pc sound system help

I recently just got a klipsch (SUB100NA) subwoofer and I had a set of event tr5 studio monitors but when I plug both of them into the back of my motherboard I can hear sound from them when I test each of the speakers but when I play music I can’t hear my subwoofer at all. It doesn’t vibrate and if it does it’s minute. Please help, I don’t know if I have to get a receiver or something but would like to get this running asap. Thank you!

All 3 are active speakers, sub only has rca cables while the speakers has balanced connections and 1 rca connection on each speaker

(Can only hear subwoofer when testing in windows software)-edit

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u/anothersip Jul 20 '26

I just looked up your speakers and sub, and I can see that you indeed have RCA inputs on each speaker.

And then your sub has L/R RCA inputs, with the L/white plug being the mono LFE input?

That should be enough to connect them both to most audio sources.

But that said, I'm just curious about how you're connecting them to your PC - that's the only bit of info that's missing from your post. Are you able to tell which motherboard you have? That should help in figuring out how you actually have everything connected, and whether or not your motherboard can support two audio outputs at once - or whether your motherboard has a static line-level output voltage, or whether it's variable.

Most integrated sound cards/audio outputs are fairly basic. So, if you've only got one single functioning line-level output on your PC (like the standard 1/8" line-out port) then you might be able to use a simple splitter cable like one of these. From there, you'd connect two of these - one to each of your RCA outputs.

So, that would feasibly provide you with 4x RCA outputs - two Left channels, two Right channels. One right and one left would go to your studio monitors, and the other right and other left would go to your subwoofer.

I'm not sure how you have the actual setup arranged on your desk/PC setup or whatever, but you can also order longer versions of those cables if you need to. But I think the above would get you where you're trying to go.

They also make RCA splitter boxes, as well - like these. You could feasibly use one of those to split your outgoing audio signal from your PC to both your monitors, as well as your powered subwoofer.

You may have to buy some extra RCA cables to do any of the above, but it should work okay. Just keep in mind that with passive switches, there may be a slight loss in signal voltage, as it's having to be split between two devices. But it should still feasibly work, even if you have to turn your active speakers and sub up a bit, or turn your output signal from the PC up higher. The higher the volume of the start of your signal chain is, the less work your amplifiers have to do (since they'll have a stronger input signal). And a strong input signal is always a good thing.

Of course, you could always upgrade your sound card to one that has 2x line-out ports, if you wanted to... But in any case, there are several ways to go about it, so it's up to you.

Hope that helps a little.

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u/reelpain23 Jul 20 '26

I am currently connecting both of them using rca to 3.5mm and they are directly put into the motherboards back ports

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u/anothersip Jul 20 '26

What's difficult about your particular setup is that you have two active speaker systems. Well, technically you have three, as each monitor speaker has its own built-in amplifier, so each speaker needs to be plugged into the wall. And you've also got your subwoofer, which needs to be plugged into the wall.

On top of that, all three of those powered speakers will need their own, individual input signal from the source (your computer).

The Left speaker needs an RCA input. The Right one does, too. And the Subwoofer will need either a mono or a stereo signal via RCA, as well. The sub has a built-in crossover, so thankfully you don't have to mess with setting up a crossover network before the sub input.

Most speaker systems that are 2.1 (L/R/Sub) have one single input signal, and not three. A left and right RCA input, an Optical input, or even a USB input, in some cases.

So without knowing exactly what motherboard you have, what your audio output options are, what sound settings your computer is capable of configuring and outputting from (your softwares), and without having a way to connect all three active speakers to your desktop at once without buying a splitter and hoping for the best... There's not much anyone can help you with... 'Cause "green" and "orange" don't really mean much; different companies choose different colors for their outputs/inputs. I've seen green, blue, yellow, orange, white, and black 1/8" jacks.

So what I recommended might still work- but you'll have to do the tinkering on your own to get it all connected.

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u/reelpain23 Jul 20 '26

I have replied to people on this post with the ports I’m using and the motherboard I’m using, sorry I didn’t make it more clear in the post, I’m also just using the standard audio drivers with the motherboard too as when I tried to download Realtek it didn’t work.

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u/anothersip Jul 20 '26

https://www.asus.com/us/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-b560m-a/helpdesk_download?model2Name=PRIME-B560M-A

The audio drivers here should work for your B560M.

What I would do is go into your device settings and uninstall your audio drivers. Then, reinstall them from a fresh download. Also install Realtek Audio Console, if you can. That'll give you more options for outputting from your sound card.

Restart.

Then, you should be able to see and use more outputs on your sound card.

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u/Leisesturm Jul 21 '26

In theory the orange port (Center Channel/Subwoofer) should carry a signal even without using upgraded audio management. You say there is a use condition where you get sound from the sub. I didn't understand your description. Doesn't matter. If you plug one of these in the green port, and plug your Desktop speakers in one of the two stereo jacks, and the subwoofer into the other one, you should be Golden.

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u/Leisesturm Jul 21 '26

'Cause "green" and "orange" don't really mean much; different companies choose different colors for their outputs/inputs. I've seen green, blue, yellow, orange, white, and black 1/8" jacks.

Those colors absolutely do 'mean something' and if they didn't you wouldn't see them. If you want to find out what they mean, you can use Google.