Yes, absolutely. The Audient EVO 4 has dedicated 1/4″ TRS monitor outputs on the back specifically designed for connecting to active speakers or studio monitors. Just plug your speakers directly into these outputs using the appropriate cables.
The sound from my laptop speakers was flat. Lifeless. I was listening to a track I’d loved for years, a song full of intricate layers and deep, resonant bass.
But on my computer, it felt like a ghost of the real thing. The warmth was gone, the details were smeared together, and the emotional punch was completely lost. It was a hollow, tinny echo of the artist’s vision.
This familiar frustration is what sends many of us down the path of better audio. We want to hear music the way it was meant to be heard. This journey often leads to a small, sleek box like the Audient EVO 4.
But a question quickly follows: can you use the Audient EVO 4 with speakers?
The answer is a clear and resounding yes. In fact, connecting speakers is one of its most important jobs. This small device is not just for headphones or microphones.
It is the central hub designed to bridge your computer with the world of high-quality sound, unlocking a level of clarity you might not have thought possible. It’s about finally hearing the whole picture.
The Heart of Your Sound: Understanding the EVO 4’s Role
Before we plug anything in, it helps to know what the Audient EVO 4 actually does. Think of it as a professional translator for sound. Your computer speaks a digital language, a series of ones and zeros.
Your speakers, however, speak an analog language, the language of physical sound waves that travel through the air to your ears. The EVO 4 is the expert that facilitates this conversation.
When you play a song on your computer, the digital file travels through the USB cable to the EVO 4. Inside the box is a high-quality component called a Digital-to-Analog Converter, or DAC. This is the magic ingredient.
The EVO 4’s DAC is vastly superior to the basic one built into your computer’s motherboard. It translates the digital signal into a clean, detailed, and accurate analog signal.
This pristine analog signal is then sent out of the EVO 4, ready to be amplified and turned into music by your speakers. Without an interface like the EVO 4, you are relying on your computer’s internal hardware, which is often built with budget constraints and is susceptible to electronic noise from other computer parts. The EVO 4 isolates this entire process, ensuring the sound you hear is pure and uncompromised.
Making the Connection: A Simple Guide to Hooking Up Speakers
Getting your speakers connected to the EVO 4 is straightforward. There are no complex menus or confusing settings. The design is intentional, meant to get you listening to great audio as quickly as possible.
The Physical Outputs on the Back
If you turn the EVO 4 around, you will see two main outputs labeled L (Left) and R (Right). These are 1/4-inch TRS jacks. This type of connection is standard in professional audio because it provides a balanced signal.
A balanced connection uses three wires to transmit the audio, which cleverly cancels out unwanted electronic noise and interference picked up along the length of the cable. The result is a much cleaner and quieter signal, especially with longer cable runs. This is a significant step up from the typical 3.5mm headphone jack on a laptop.
Choosing the Right Cables
The key to a good connection is using the right cables. Since the EVO 4 has TRS outputs, you will need cables that match the inputs on your speakers. Most studio monitors, which are the recommended type of speaker for this setup, will have either TRS or XLR inputs.
- If your speakers have 1/4-inch TRS inputs: You will need two TRS to TRS cables.
- If your speakers have XLR inputs: You will need two TRS to XLR cables.
Using the correct balanced cables ensures you get the full benefit of the EVO 4’s clean output. It is like having a perfectly paved, private road for your audio to travel on, free from the traffic and potholes of electrical interference.
A Step-by-Step Hookup
Let’s walk through the process. It only takes a minute.
- Power Down: Before connecting anything, turn off your speakers and unplug the EVO 4 from your computer. This prevents any loud, potentially damaging pops or clicks.
- Connect the Speakers: Take your first cable and plug the 1/4-inch TRS end into the L (Left) output on the back of the EVO 4. Connect the other end to the input of your left speaker. Repeat this process for the right side, connecting the R (Right) output to your right speaker.
- Connect to Computer: Plug the USB-C cable into the back of the EVO 4 and the other end into a USB port on your computer. The EVO 4 will power on.
- Power Up: Now, turn on your speakers. It is always good practice to turn your speakers on last and off first.
That is it. The physical connection is complete.
Beyond the Cables: Getting the Best Possible Sound
With everything connected, a few final steps will ensure you are getting the full, rich audio experience the EVO 4 is capable of delivering.
The Big Knob and Setting Levels
The large knob on top of the EVO 4 is your master control. When the speaker icon is lit up, this knob controls the volume going to your speakers. When you first play audio, start with the volume turned all the way down.
Press the speaker button (the little monitor icon) so it’s illuminated, then slowly turn the knob clockwise to bring the volume up to a comfortable listening level. This simple habit protects both your speakers and your ears from sudden loud bursts of sound.
Configuring Your Computer
Your computer now needs to be told to send all of its audio through your new setup. The EVO 4 uses what are known as class-compliant drivers, which means you typically do not need to install any software for it to work.
- On a Mac: Go to System Preferences > Sound. Under the “Output” tab, select “EVO 4.”
- On Windows: Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and open Sound Settings. Under “Choose your output device,” select “EVO 4.”
Once this is set, all sound from your computer, whether it is music, videos, or games, will be routed through the EVO 4 and out to your speakers.
Why This Setup Sounds So Much Better
The first time you play a familiar song through this new setup, the difference can be startling. It is not just louder; it is clearer. The experience is like cleaning a dirty window you never knew was there.
You can suddenly hear the subtle reverb on a vocalist’s track, the gentle scrape of a pick on a guitar string, and the distinct separation between the kick drum and the bass guitar.
This profound improvement comes from the quality of the EVO 4’s internal components. The superior Digital-to-Analog Converter provides a more faithful and detailed translation of your music. The dedicated, balanced outputs deliver that signal without degradation.
You are no longer listening to a compromised signal from a noisy computer environment. You are hearing a clean, powerful, and accurate representation of the original recording, just as the artist and engineer intended. For more technical details, Audient provides a full specification sheet for the device.
FAQ
Can I use regular computer speakers with the EVO 4?
Yes, you can connect standard computer speakers, which usually have a 3.5mm plug. You will need an adapter cable that splits the 3.5mm stereo connection into two 1/4-inch plugs for the EVO 4’s left and right outputs. However, while this works, you will not experience the full audio upgrade.
Computer speakers are not built to the same standard as studio monitors and will not reproduce the sound with the same accuracy and detail that the EVO 4 provides.
Do I need powered (active) or passive speakers?
You must use powered speakers, also known as active monitors. These speakers have their own amplifier built-in, which is why they need to be plugged into a wall outlet for power. The Audient EVO 4 sends out a line-level signal, which is not strong enough to drive passive speakers on its own.
Passive speakers require a separate, external power amplifier to function, which would sit between the EVO 4 and the speakers.
What is the difference between the speaker and headphone outputs?
The speaker outputs on the back are line-level TRS jacks designed to send a clean signal to your powered monitors. The headphone output on the front is a completely separate circuit with its own dedicated amplifier. It is specifically designed to provide the power needed to drive a wide range of headphones correctly.
You can switch control between them by pressing the speaker and headphone buttons on the top of the EVO 4.
Will using the EVO 4 with speakers reduce latency when I record?
Absolutely. The EVO 4 has a fantastic feature called Monitor Mix. By turning the big knob while holding the input button, you can blend the sound from your computer (playback) with the live sound going into the interface (your microphone or instrument).
This direct monitoring sends the live signal straight to your speakers and headphones before it even goes to the computer, resulting in zero-latency monitoring. This is essential for recording without a distracting delay.
Can I control the speaker volume and headphone volume independently?
Yes. The large volume knob controls whichever output is currently selected, indicated by the lit icon (speaker or headphone). To set your speaker volume, press the speaker icon and adjust the knob.
Then, to set your headphone volume, press the headphone icon and adjust the knob again. The EVO 4 cleverly remembers the level you set for each output, allowing you to switch between them without having to readjust the volume every time.
Conclusion
Connecting your Audient EVO 4 to a pair of proper speakers is more than just a technical step. It is an act of rediscovery. It transforms your computer from a simple device for casual listening into a high-fidelity sound system.
The process is simple: a couple of balanced cables and a quick setting change on your computer are all it takes to unlock a world of audio detail. The clean power and pristine conversion of the EVO 4 reveal the depth, space, and emotion hidden within your favorite recordings. You are no longer just hearing a song; you are experiencing it.
Now that the path to better sound is clear, what will be the first piece of music you listen to with truly open ears?
