Audio is an afterthought on most monitors, and that's understandable: a thin panel has very little room for speakers. But it still causes confusion. People plug in a console and get no sound, find a headphone jack that seems to do nothing, or buy a monitor expecting decent speakers and get something tinny.
This guide explains how audio travels over display cables, what built-in speakers can and can't do, and the practical ways to get good sound at a desk.
Quick answer
- HDMI and DisplayPort carry audio, and so does USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. VGA and most DVI connections don't.
- Built-in monitor speakers are fine for calls and notifications, but are usually small and lack bass. Don't buy a monitor for its speakers.
- A headphone jack on the monitor outputs whatever audio arrives over the video cable. It's handy for consoles.
- For better sound, use desktop speakers, a soundbar or headphones connected to your computer or console directly.
How audio travels to a monitor
Modern digital video connections can carry audio alongside the picture. When you connect a computer or console to a monitor, the monitor tells the source what it supports, and the source can send sound down the same cable.
| Connection | Carries audio? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI | Yes | The usual connection for consoles, streaming boxes and many laptops |
| DisplayPort | Yes | Common on PC graphics cards; audio is supported in the standard |
| USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) | Yes | Carries the DisplayPort signal, including audio |
| Thunderbolt | Yes | Carries DisplayPort video and audio |
| DVI | Usually no | Some GPUs send audio over DVI-to-HDMI adapters, but it's not reliable |
| VGA | No | Analog video only; needs a separate audio cable |
If your monitor has speakers or a headphone jack and is connected by HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C, it can play sound from your device without any extra cables, as long as it's selected as the audio output.
No sound from your monitor? Check these first
- Select the monitor as the output device. On Windows, click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose the monitor. On macOS, choose it under Sound settings. Computers often keep sending audio to their own speakers by default.
- Check the monitor's volume and mute. Monitors have their own volume control in the on-screen menu, separate from your computer's.
- Confirm the audio source setting. Some monitors with multiple inputs or an analog audio input have a setting to choose which source's audio to play.
- Check the cable path. Adapters (especially DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI and older DVI converters) don't always pass audio.
- Update or reinstall the GPU driver. Display audio is usually delivered through the graphics driver's audio component.
- For consoles: check the console's audio output setting is set to send sound over HDMI.
Built-in monitor speakers: honest expectations
Monitor speakers are usually small drivers firing down or backward from a slim enclosure. Physics limits what they can do: small drivers in small spaces produce little bass and limited volume before sounding strained.
Good enough for
Video calls, system sounds, background videos, a monitor in a meeting room, or a secondary screen where you just need some audio.
Not good for
Music you care about, movies, games where sound cues matter, or anything you'd normally use headphones or real speakers for.
Some monitors aimed at offices or creators include larger speaker systems or a built-in microphone array for calls. Those can be genuinely useful for meetings and save desk clutter, but they still don't replace a decent pair of speakers for music or games. If a monitor advertises an audio wattage, treat it as a rough indicator of loudness, not of quality.
Our advice: treat built-in speakers as a convenience feature, not a reason to choose one monitor over another. A monitor with excellent picture quality and no speakers, plus a modest pair of desktop speakers, beats a monitor with mediocre picture and "integrated audio" almost every time.
The monitor's headphone jack (audio out)
Many monitors without useful speakers still have a 3.5 mm audio output. It plays the audio that arrives over the HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C connection. This is more useful than it sounds:
- Consoles: If you connect a console to the monitor over HDMI, the monitor's jack is often the easiest way to add headphones or powered speakers. Consoles also typically support headphones through their controllers.
- Clean cable routing: Your speakers can connect to the monitor instead of trailing back to a computer under the desk.
- Laptop docks: With a single USB-C cable to the monitor, speakers on the monitor's jack become part of your one-cable setup.
Two caveats. First, the monitor's volume control may affect this output, and on some models the jack is fixed-level, so check both. Second, sound quality depends on the monitor's built-in audio circuitry, which is usually basic. It's fine for most listening, but a dedicated USB audio interface or DAC will typically be cleaner if you're particular.
Better ways to get good sound at a desk
| Option | Best for | Connects to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powered desktop speakers | Music, general use, movies | Computer, or monitor's audio out | Takes desk space |
| Computer soundbar | Clean look under the monitor | USB, 3.5 mm or Bluetooth | Narrower stereo image than separate speakers |
| Headphones (wired) | Gaming, focus, late nights | Computer or controller | Can get warm over long sessions |
| Wireless headset | Gaming with freedom to move | USB dongle or Bluetooth | Charging; Bluetooth may add delay |
| USB DAC / audio interface | Better quality, mics | Computer via USB | Another box on the desk |
A note on Bluetooth and audio delay
Bluetooth audio is convenient, but standard Bluetooth connections can add noticeable delay. For music, it doesn't matter. For games and some video, you may notice sound lagging behind the picture. Gaming headsets with their own USB wireless dongle are designed to reduce this, and wired connections avoid it entirely.
If you see lip-sync problems on video with any audio setup, check whether your video player or OS has an audio delay adjustment.
The same principle applies when you route audio through the monitor. The monitor's own audio path is generally designed to stay in sync with its picture, so a console or PC sending sound over HDMI or DisplayPort to the monitor's headphone jack usually lines up well. Problems tend to appear when audio takes a different route from the video, for example a TV in Game Mode with sound going to a separate receiver that adds its own processing. If sound and picture drift apart, simplify the chain first: send audio and video to the same device, then add components back one at a time.
Audio checklist when buying a monitor
- Decide whether you'll use monitor speakers at all. If not, don't pay extra for them.
- If you use a console with the monitor, look for a 3.5 mm audio output.
- If you want a one-cable laptop setup with speakers, check whether the monitor's USB hub or audio jack fits that plan.
- Check the monitor has the port your device outputs audio over (HDMI for consoles, DisplayPort or USB-C for PCs and laptops).
- If you use a webcam and mic, consider whether a separate USB microphone or headset makes more sense than monitor-integrated audio.
For tidy cabling around a speaker setup, see our cable management guide, or grab a few reusable cable ties to keep audio and video cables separate.
FAQ
Do all monitors have speakers?
No. Many monitors, including a lot of gaming and creative models, have no speakers. Check the specs for "built-in speakers" or an audio wattage figure.
Can I get sound from a monitor without speakers?
If it has a 3.5 mm audio output, yes: plug in headphones or powered speakers, and it will play audio sent over HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C.
Does DisplayPort carry audio?
Yes. DisplayPort supports audio. If you hear nothing, select the monitor as the output device on your computer and check the monitor's volume.
Why is my monitor's headphone jack not working?
Common causes are the computer not sending audio to the monitor, the monitor's volume or mute setting, or an adapter that doesn't pass audio. Select the monitor as the audio output first.
Are monitor speakers good for gaming?
They work, but they're usually thin-sounding and lack bass and positional detail. Headphones or desktop speakers give a much better experience.
The bottom line
Treat monitor audio as plumbing, not a feature. HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C will carry sound to your screen, and a headphone jack on the monitor is a genuinely useful extra, especially for consoles. But when it comes to how things sound, choose the monitor for its picture and spend a small part of your budget on headphones or desktop speakers.