Bookshelf speakers are ideal for amplifying the sound of your television and allowing you to immerse yourself in whatever is happening on your screen.
If you’ve recently purchased one of these incredible speakers, then your next question might be: “How to connect my bookshelf speakers to the TV?”
Whether you bought them for watching movies or listening to music, these speakers are going to ensure you don’t miss a single moment of entertainment.
This article will walk you through some easy steps on how to connect bookshelf speakers to the audio output on your television.
Table of Contents
What to Know Before Connecting Your Speakers
First things first, always keep your manuals close at hand. After setting up their speakers, many people simply throw their manuals away. These guides will come in handy if you don’t know the correct audio port or what to do with your speakers.
If you’ve put the manuals in the bin, or you don’t know where they are, not to worry, you can still download them online from the manufacturer’s website.
Remember that you’ll need to configure your TV settings and prepare it to use your speakers instead. In case you don’t find these options on your television, not to worry, you can still use your speakers without the settings.
Bookshelf Speakers Specifications
If you want to use these bookshelf speakers as your primary speakers, it’s important to know their technical terminologies and what they mean. So, here’s are some key specifications to keep an eye out for when shopping for a bookshelf speaker:
Hertz
If the hertz of the speakers isn’t that high, know that the speakers are going to produce a lot of booms. In a nutshell, lower hertz equals heavier bass.
Watts
If you require more outputs, look for speakers with high watt numbers. You can expect more output if the number is higher. These outputs will come in handy when connecting these speakers to an amplifier or TV.
Drivers
The woofers (the bass producers) and tweeters (the high-frequency producers) are the two primary components of a bookshelf speaker.
Expect better quality and full-range sounds if your speakers include a third mid-range driver attached to them.
How to Connect Bookshelf Speakers to TV Without a Receiver?
The first thing you should know is that bookshelf speakers come as either wireless or wired. If your bookshelf speaker supports Bluetooth connectivity, then the connection process will be a breeze.
If you’ve got a pair of Bluetooth speakers, all you have to do is turn them on and pair them with your television. To do that:
- Turn on the speakers and make sure they are in pairing mode.
- Head to your TV settings, go to the Bluetooth settings options and search for a new device.
- Select your speakers on the list to pair them and hook them up with your TV.
- Your speakers should work perfectly now. If there’s no sound from your speakers, try changing your TV’s default audio option.
How to Connect an Older TV to Your Bookshelf Speakers
As complex as this might sound, connecting a wired speaker to your TV takes more time and requires more effort to get it done.
The set-up process will be much easier if you have a modern TV because most modern TVs include an optical input port for connecting various devices. Fortunately, most bookshelf speakers support this input too.
If both devices support optical cables, all you need to do is plug in one end of the cable to the back of your speaker and the other end to your TV. Double-check the ports on your speakers/ TV before making a purchase.
If you have an older speaker or TV, it’s possible they do not support optical cables. In that case, then here’s how to connect both devices easily:
- Depending on the cable availability of your speaker, you may need either a 3.5mm stereo plug or an RCA cable.
- If you’ve got the right cables, next, you need to hook them to the right audio port.
- Connect one set of inputs on your speaker cabinet to the proper audio output from the back of your TV (usually green).
- If your speakers support both front and back outputs, then connect that same audio output to the front inputs on your speaker cabinet.
- The other set of connectors will go directly to your speaker’s cabinet or directly into an amplifier (in case you are using one)
- Now take your yellow RCA cables and connect one end to your TV and the other end to your speaker.
- If you still have any red or white wires left, then match the cables on both devices to the input labeled “Video” or “TV.”
To avoid the hassle of tracing cables while connecting your bookshelf speaker to the television, choose a speaker that supports Bluetooth connectivity. They’re a lot easier to set up, and you can connect them to your smartphone or any other Bluetooth device with ease.
How to Connect Bookshelf Speakers to TV with a Receiver?
Using a receiver to connect both devices is way more straightforward, and it gives room for future upgrades. Make sure that your receiver supports standard speaker outputs.
Both receivers and AV receivers typically include Left and Right outputs on the back of the unit and a Subwoofer output.
If all of these are available, connect each side to one of the corresponding speakers via speaker wire (Left should match the left one, and Right should match the right one).
Now, if your receiver or other devices support only a Front Speaker Output, you will need to use your wires to match the left input from this output into the LFE’s left input. Make sure you do the same for the right outputs too. And you’re done!
If you mix things up by mistake and put the Left to the Right, don’t worry, as your speaker will still produce the sound you need.
How to Position a Bookshelf Speaker?
Is there a general rule for positioning these speakers? Well, not really. Your speakers will work fine as long as you don’t treat them carelessly or allow anything to obstruct them.
Here are a few tips to help you get your speakers to work the way you want them to:
Stay Focused
The first thing to think about is where you want to put these speakers. Do you want them close to a large window or near your sofa? Whatever the location, make sure they are not too close to a wall or window.
Use your Clock Hand
Most people angle their speakers at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock – this works perfectly and gives you the ideal height and sound.
Leave Spaces
Keep your speakers at least 50 cm away from your walls as a general rule of thumb. Similarly, if the speakers are on a shelf, try to leave some air and space around them to minimize undesirable changes in the low frequencies.
Conclusion
The best way to maximize the sound of whatever content you are streaming on your TV is to connect your bookshelf speakers to your TV. These speakers are a great way to experience the thrill of whatever you are watching or listening to.
Connecting both devices is easy as most TVs use optical ports, making the connection process a breeze. You can connect your speakers to your TV via Bluetooth or using wires, and a receiver is also another alternative to make the connection process more straightforward. However, if you don’t feel like getting one, your speakers will still work great anyway.
John Fleming is the senior editor for Audiophilez.com, covering everything from headphones to smart speakers. He is a graduate of Music Production and Technology. Before Audiophilez, John began his career as a staff writer for two different magazines, where he became a skilled storyteller across different mediums. When he isn’t writing, he can be found biking, reading books, and playing the piano.