Supersize may be exaggerating a bit, but PC speakers will, at least, double your audio output. You see, most flat screens are equipped with a pair of 10-watt speakers. It makes sense really. You're spending money on the high def video quality, not surround sound. If you want more oomph, you go after market. And while there are tons of options out there -- soundbars, home theater in a box, 5.1- and 7.1-surround -- what if you just want a little extra volume?
We, unfortunately, didn't dream up this idea, but rather caught a glimpse of it in the living room above. Glinting on either side of that white Samsung LCD are a pair of Harmon Kardon SoundSticks II.
We actually had these about 6 years ago and were quite impressed with the audio quality -- the kit includes a pair of satellites and a subwoofer. Each speaker puts out 10 watts of power, while the subwoofer can handle 20 watts. That would double the output of the Samsung's speakers, plus add some bass.
If you think about it, computer speakers make total sense in the media room if you're not looking for some crazy home theater set-up. They are small and relatively unobtrusive, as they're designed to jokey for space on desks, and it's relatively easy to find design friendly models without designer price tags.
Have any of you used computer speakers to pump up the volume on your TV?
Images: Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör and Harmon Kardon
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Bake a Potato: Three Easy Methods
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Thank you for the timing of this post. I am trying to figure out how to do this sort of hack right now. I just got a Sharp LC-22DV17UT LCD TV as a gift. It's speakers are so weak I can barely hear some channels/programs. I need some sort of external speakers but I don't have the resources (time, interest, $$) for a home theatre fancy-schmancy system just now. When I contacted Sharp Tech Support they agreed I need external speakers. They pointed out (verified on the spec sheet) the speakers on this puppy are 1.5 Watts!! Boy, I'd love the 10 watts you mention as "typical"!
So, my question to you and your readers is, how do I hook up computer speakers to this puppy? I looked at your link to the HK speakers. They are self-powered (good) and require a "3.5mm stereo mini-jack" for input. That seems to be the headphone jack the TV has. So . . . I should be good to go??
Cheers!
Dorothy
They also work great for other things. I keep a pair set up for my mp3 player. Just plug it in, and fill the room with music. No stereo system required.
I was actually contemplating this the other day while watching Transformers on my computer. My computer looked and sounded better than my TV But sometimes I want the sound louder on my tv when me and my wife are watching something together on the couch. hmm and its a excuse to buy new speakers!
@Dorothy: That's right. All you need to do is plug the computer speakers to your headphone jack and you should be good to go. I believe if you plug into the headphone jack all your audio will go to the computer speakers (which it sounds like wouldn't be a big deal since you've only got 1.5 watt speakers -- that's crazy btw), but if you wanted sound to come out of both the TV and the external speakers you'd want to get an RCA to stereo jack cord (http://www.amazon.com/CablesToBuyand-3-5mm-Stereo-Phono-Splitter/dp/B001FVFE1I).
Soniaz is right, and if you use the audio out on the back of your television you also won't need to see the wire coming out the front or side of your tv (where the stereo plug is). The wire from Amazon is okay, Monster makes a better one. One thing to keep in mind is that you may want to look for some PC speakers with the ability to adjust volume via remote control. Audioengine makes some really nice ones with an integrated iPod dock on the top, they sound great and would keep things very clean.
@brett: good tips! remote control is essential for when you want to mute commercials -- or in the case of Comedy Central -- want to turn down the commercials since they're aired at like twice the volume as the actual content.
Thank you so much for your helpful ideas!
And I agree, soniaz -- 1.5 watt speakers? I was flabbergasted with the Tech Support guy's comment. In a nutshell, "Yes, those are woefully inadequate speakers. You need to get external ones!"
AudioEngine! Freakin awsome sounding and looking.
For cables, check with BlueJeans for high quality at a good price. They are also a family company......a little more ethical then the "scary" brand mentioned above.
@Sciteach: Thanks for the store recommendation. I always prefer to buy from family owned, so it's nice to know where to go for cables!
I (and everyone who sees them) love my SoundSticks. Never thought about hooking them up to my TV though. 90% of the time (like right now) my iPod is hooked up to them. I've had them for a few years now and am still impressed with how great they sound.
I love my soundsticks. I've also had mine for 6 years. I recently hooked mine up to my tv, and its awesome.
I did not know SoundSticks would work with a TV - I thought they were meant for computers only. I have always thought they looked cool and futuristic. Hmmm where would one keep the subwoofer though - our entertainment center has glass doors - wouldn't the sub rattle the doors? I noticed most of these types of pics only ever show the smaller speakers on either side of the TV. Any suggestions?
Have two pair of them. Question: How do you select the source input for them? If I want to switch between TV input or DVD input or computer input, is there an easier way to do that than manually unplugging the input cable and moving it over to another source?
I have a pair of Bose multimedia speakers hooked up to my Samsung HDTV. There is also a small cable attached that you can plug into your laptop's headphone jack, so I use one set of speakers for the TV and playing music from my laptop.
I have these & love them! I'm likely to buy a second set soon. They're great.
I just hooked up my Logitech G51 soundsystem to my Samsung HDTV, and it's quite nice.
I hooked up bose companion 2 speakers to the headphone jack on my lcd tv. I have the volume on full but would like the speakers to be louder. Is there something I can do?