Sound Outputs

The sound system sends computer-generated sounds to the built-in speakers, the sound output jack, and the headphone jacks.

The sound system provides user-selectable enhanced sound. The enhancements include

Internal Speakers

The computer has two internal speakers. The computer turns off the sound signals to the internal speakers under the following conditions:

when headphones are plugged into either headphone jack
when a plug is inserted into the sound output jack
when external USB speakers are connected
during Sleep mode

External Sound Output

The external sound output jack is a 3.5-mm mini phone jack located on the I/O panel on the right side of the computer. It accepts a stereo miniplug-to-RCA cable adapter for connecting stereo equipment to the computer.

The sound output jack has the following electrical characteristics:

output impedance: nominal 68 ohms
maximum level: nominal 1 V rms (2.8 V peak-to-peak)

Headphone Jacks

Two headphone jacks are located on the front of the computer next to the left speaker. Each sound output jack provides enough current to drive a pair of low-impedance headphones.

The headphone jacks have the following electrical characteristics:

output impedance: nominal 68 ohms
maximum level: 1.0 V rms (2.8 V peak-to-peak)

Headphones should have an impedance not lower than the recommended minimum impedance of 32 ohms. Headphones with lower impedance can be used, but with some degradation in performance.