Connect an iMac 27" Retina (mid-2017) to an old subwoofer with a 3.5mm jack

Question

Level 1

8 points

Connect an iMac 27" Retina (mid-2017) to an old subwoofer with a 3.5mm jack

In December 2018 I purchase the iMac 27" Retina. I would like to connect my 2009 Creative iTrigue 3400 subwoofer to it (I like the system and don't want to spend money on a new one right now). The subwoofer has the old 3.5mm audio input jack. I've looked online and everything I find is about connecting to headphones, not to a subwoofer. I'm not an audiophile and am new to Apple products. Does it matter if I'm connecting to a subwoofer or headphones? Any guidance is much appreciated.

Posted on Jan 25, 2019 3:59 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 26, 2019 4:17 AM in response to NHevergreen

It seems like this system is quite similar in configuration as the

Bose System I have connected to my system, so simply plug

the 3.5mm connector into the iMac. In System Preferences=>Sound,

simply select the headphone port as the output. Then adjust

sound on the iMac and on the speaker system to get the range/performance/

control that you want.

FWIW, the "headphone out" is quite capable to be used as line level

or just a headphone out.

Reply

Answer 2

NHevergreen Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2019 12:04 PM in response to woodmeister50

Thank you for the guidance. Setting the Spotify volume control at the maximum level and turning the external speaker volume way up solved the problem. On my PC, I couldn't turn the speaker volume above halfway without blasting myself out of my chair. I was expecting the same thing on the iMac :)

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 26, 2019 1:26 PM in response to NHevergreen

Don't forget about the iMacs system volume control! It is accessible in System Preferences->Sound

and there is a check box that will let you display the adjustment on the menu bar.

Reply

Connect an iMac 27" Retina (mid-2017) to an old subwoofer with a 3.5mm jack

Similar questions