Does the AOpen 27HC5R Have Speakers?
Some variants do, and one letter in the model code tells you which. Here is how to decode an Acer model suffix, and what to use for sound instead.
It depends on which 27HC5R you have, and the letters after the model number tell you. Acer sells this monitor in several variants, and some include a pair of 2 watt speakers while others do not. The convention across Acer and AOpen monitors is that an m in the suffix indicates built-in speakers, so a 27HC5R Zbmiipx has them and a 27HC5R Pbiipx does not.
That suffix is more useful than it looks, because it decodes the whole specification.
Reading the model suffix
Acer monitor names carry a string of lowercase letters after the model number, and each letter indicates a feature. It is not documented prominently, and once you know it you can read any Acer or AOpen monitor at a glance.
| Letter | Usually indicates |
|---|---|
| b | Black housing |
| m | Built-in speakers, the multimedia designation |
| i | An HDMI input, repeated for each one |
| p | A DisplayPort input |
| d | A DVI input |
| x | A high refresh rate panel |
So 27HC5R Zbmiipx reads as black, speakers, two HDMI, DisplayPort, high refresh. The same panel as Pbiipx, which reads as black, no speakers, two HDMI, DisplayPort, high refresh.
The convention is consistent enough to be genuinely useful and not guaranteed across every generation and region, so confirm on the manufacturer specification page for your full code.
Find the code on the label on the rear of the monitor, on the box, or in the on-screen menu under Information.
What the speakers are like where fitted
Two drivers of 2 watts each, which is the standard fit across this class.
They are adequate for system sounds, video calls and background video. They are not adequate for music, films or games in any meaningful sense.
This is physics rather than a shortcoming of this particular monitor. Producing low frequencies requires moving air, which requires cone area and enclosed cabinet volume, and a bezel a couple of centimeters deep has neither. The drivers also fire backward or downward, since the front is all screen.
Treat them as a convenience that saves you plugging something in, not as an audio solution.
Every variant has audio connections
Regardless of whether speakers are fitted, the 27HC5R range includes an audio input and an audio output.
The audio output is a 3.5 mm socket that takes headphones or powered speakers. Audio arrives at the monitor over HDMI or DisplayPort, the monitor extracts it, and the socket carries it out.
That matters most if a games console is connected, since the monitor’s audio output is the console’s only route to your speakers.
The audio input, on models that have it, exists so an analog source can feed the built-in speakers. It is only useful on variants that have speakers, and on those it needs selecting in the menu rather than being detected automatically.
There is also a VGA input on this model, which carries no audio at all. If you are connected by VGA and expecting sound, that is the whole explanation.
Making the audio work
- Right click the speaker icon in the Windows taskbar and open Sound settings.
- Under Output, select the entry naming your monitor, which may appear as AOpen, Acer or as High Definition Audio Device.
- Check the monitor’s own volume in the on-screen menu, which is a separate control that frequently sits at zero from the factory.
- On a variant with an audio input, confirm the menu is set to the digital source rather than the analog input.
If no monitor entry appears in Windows at all, check the cable. VGA and DVI carry no audio, and some inexpensive adapters strip it from HDMI.
Windows will list the monitor as a playback device on any HDMI or DisplayPort connection, whether or not speakers exist inside it, because the connection is capable of carrying audio. Selecting it on a variant without speakers produces silence, which looks like a fault and is not.
Better options than the built-in speakers
Powered desktop speakers connected to the PC directly, which skips the monitor’s very basic audio conversion and is the best result for the money.
Powered speakers on the monitor’s 3.5 mm output, which is the right choice if a console shares the monitor.
A USB sound adapter or USB speakers, which bypass both the monitor and the motherboard, the two weakest links in a typical desk setup.
Headphones in the monitor jack, which works and can be quiet, since monitor headphone outputs are built to a very low cost and struggle with higher impedance headphones.
Our guide on choosing desktop speakers covers what to look for.
Common complaints explained
Monitor listed in Windows but silent on a variant without speakers: expected, since Windows lists the connection rather than the hardware.
Speakers present but no sound: the on-screen volume is at zero, or headphones are plugged in, which mutes the internal speakers.
Audio drops when the monitor sleeps: the audio device disappears with the display and Windows falls back elsewhere.
Hiss from the headphone output: the audio circuitry in a monitor is built to a minimal budget. Use the PC’s output or a USB adapter.
Very low volume through headphones: the output has limited drive capability. A USB adapter or small headphone amplifier resolves it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Acer AOpen 27HC5R have speakers?
Some variants do and some do not. Check the letters after the model number: an m in the suffix indicates built-in speakers across Acer and AOpen monitors, so 27HC5R Zbmiipx has a pair of 2 watt drivers while 27HC5R Pbiipx does not. Confirm on the specification page for your exact code.
What do the letters in an Acer monitor model number mean?
Each indicates a feature. Commonly b is a black housing, m is built-in speakers, i is an HDMI input repeated per port, p is DisplayPort, d is DVI and x is a high refresh panel. The convention is consistent enough to be useful, though it is worth confirming against the specification for your model.
How do I get sound from a 27HC5R without speakers?
Use the 3.5 mm audio output on the monitor for headphones or powered speakers, and select the monitor as the output device in Windows sound settings. If only a PC is connected, plugging speakers into the computer directly gives better quality by skipping the monitor’s audio conversion.
Why does Windows show my monitor as a speaker when it has none?
Because HDMI and DisplayPort are capable of carrying audio, so Windows lists the monitor as a playback device regardless of what is inside it. Selecting it on a variant without speakers gives silence. Use the monitor’s headphone output instead, or select a different output device.