No, the Acer AOpen 27HC5R does not have built-in speakers. You will need to use external speakers or headphones, which can be connected to the monitor’s 3.5mm audio-out port.
The box arrives. It’s a moment of pure anticipation. Inside rests the key to a new visual world: a crisp, new gaming monitor.
I remember the feeling well, slicing through the packing tape on my own Acer display. You carefully lift the curved screen from its foam cradle, attach the stand with a satisfying click, and position it perfectly on your desk. The setup is complete.
You power it on, the logo glows to life, and your desktop appears with a clarity you’ve only dreamed of. It’s time. You launch your favorite game, the cinematic intro begins to roll, and… silence.
A flat, unnerving quiet. You check the cables, dive into the sound settings, and a simple, nagging question forms: does the Acer AOPEN 27HC5R have speakers? It’s a moment of confusion many new owners face, turning excitement into a frustrating search for answers.
This is the exact situation we are here to clear up. We will walk through the direct answer, explore why monitors are designed this way, and show you the simple, effective ways to get the rich audio experience your new display deserves.
The Short and Simple Answer
Let’s address the core question immediately and without confusion: No, the Acer AOPEN 27HC5R does not have built-in speakers.
If you are currently sitting in front of your new monitor wondering why no sound is coming out, you are not alone, and your monitor is not broken. This is a deliberate design choice made by Acer, and it’s a very common one in the world of dedicated gaming monitors. Manufacturers of performance-focused displays like this one make a calculated decision.
They pour their resources into what gamers and creative professionals value most: refresh rate, response time, color accuracy, and panel quality.
Including speakers, especially low-quality ones that would fit into a slim monitor frame, is often seen as a poor compromise. It would add to the cost without providing the quality audio that the target audience typically demands. Instead, they provide the tools for you to build a superior sound setup yourself.
Why Do So Many Gaming Monitors Skip Speakers?
The absence of speakers on a high-performance monitor isn’t an oversight; it’s a philosophy rooted in purpose. When engineers design a display like the AOPEN 27HC5R, every millimeter of internal space and every dollar of the budget is carefully allocated. Their primary goal is to deliver the best visual experience possible for the price.
Think of it like a professional race car. You won’t find a cushy leather interior or a high-end sound system inside. Every component is chosen for speed and performance.
Similarly, in a gaming monitor, the focus is on the panel. Resources are dedicated to achieving that buttery-smooth 165Hz refresh rate and the lightning-fast 1ms response time. These features prevent motion blur and give players a competitive edge.
Adding internal speakers requires physical space, additional power components, and acoustic design, which can compromise the monitor’s slim profile and internal cooling.
More importantly, manufacturers understand their audience. Most serious gamers and media enthusiasts use dedicated audio gear. They know that the tiny, rear-facing speakers that could fit in a monitor frame would sound thin and lifeless.
They would fail to reproduce the thundering explosions, subtle environmental cues, or rich musical scores that make modern entertainment so immersive. For this reason, most gamers prefer a quality gaming headset or a set of external speakers, a choice that monitor companies anticipate and design for.
Unpacking the Audio Options on the AOPEN 27HC5R
Just because the monitor lacks speakers does not mean it ignores audio entirely. If you turn the monitor around and look at the connection ports, you will find a small, crucial jack labeled “Audio Out.” This standard 3.5mm port is your gateway to sound.
This port functions as an audio passthrough. Your computer or gaming console sends both video and audio signals to the monitor through a single HDMI or DisplayPort cable. The monitor then does its job: it displays the video on the screen and intelligently separates the audio signal, sending it directly to that 3.5mm audio-out jack.
This is an incredibly simple and elegant solution. It means you don’t have to run a long, separate audio cable from your PC tower or console to your headphones or speakers on your desk. You can plug your audio device directly into the back of your monitor, keeping your desk setup clean and your cables managed.
It’s a feature designed for convenience, allowing you to easily switch between audio devices without ever reaching for your computer.
Your Best Audio Solutions for a Speaker-less Monitor
Now that you know the monitor is ready to deliver sound, you just need to decide how you want to hear it. Fortunately, you have several excellent options that will provide a far better experience than any built-in speakers ever could.
The Classic Headset: Immersion and Precision
For many gamers, a good headset is non-negotiable. Plugging a gaming headset into the monitor’s audio-out port instantly creates a private, immersive soundscape. You can hear the subtle crunch of leaves under an enemy’s boot, the distant whistle of an incoming projectile, and the precise direction of gunfire.
This level of directional audio, often enhanced with virtual surround sound, is something built-in monitor speakers could never replicate. It not only deepens your immersion but also gives you a real competitive advantage. Plus, most gaming headsets come with a built-in microphone for clear communication with your team.
Desktop Speakers: Filling the Room with Sound
If you prefer to feel the sound in the room around you, a set of dedicated desktop speakers is the perfect choice. These can be connected either to your monitor’s audio-out port or directly to your computer. A simple 2.0 system (two speakers) offers a massive upgrade in clarity and depth for music and videos.
For those who want to feel the bass, a 2.1 system adds a subwoofer that brings explosions and deep musical notes to life. This setup is ideal for enjoying movies, listening to music while you work, or playing single-player games where you want the sound to fill the space.
The Versatile Soundbar: A Clean and Simple Setup
A fantastic modern alternative is a compact soundbar. Designed to sit neatly beneath your monitor, a soundbar provides a powerful audio boost without the clutter of two separate speakers. Many soundbars offer surprisingly rich and wide sound from a single unit.
They are incredibly easy to set up, often just requiring a single cable to the monitor’s audio-out jack. This solution strikes a perfect balance between minimalist aesthetics and high-quality audio, making it a popular choice for clean and modern desk setups.
FAQ
Can I get sound from the Acer AOPEN 27HC5R without external speakers?
No, you cannot get sound directly from the monitor itself, as it does not have any internal speakers. To hear audio, you must connect an external audio device, such as a pair of headphones, desktop speakers, or a soundbar. These devices connect to the 3.5mm audio-out port located on the back of the monitor.
This port allows the sound sent to the monitor via HDMI or DisplayPort to be passed through to your chosen audio equipment.
What is the audio-out port on the monitor for?
The audio-out port is a standard 3.5mm jack designed to send the audio signal from your source (like a PC or console) to an external sound device. When you connect your monitor using an HDMI or DisplayPort cable, both video and audio are transmitted. The monitor displays the video and routes the audio to this port.
It’s a convenient way to connect your headphones or speakers directly to your display, simplifying your cable management and keeping your audio connection close at hand.
Do I need special drivers for the monitor’s audio?
You do not need any special audio drivers for the monitor itself. The audio is handled by your computer’s graphics card (GPU) drivers, as the sound signal is embedded within the HDMI or DisplayPort connection. As long as your graphics card drivers are up to date and you have selected the monitor as your audio playback device in your computer’s sound settings, the audio passthrough will work automatically.
It’s a plug-and-play system designed for simplicity.
Will any pair of headphones work with the AOPEN 27HC5R?
Yes, almost any pair of headphones or earbuds will work perfectly with the monitor. As long as your headphones use a standard 3.5mm audio plug, which is the most common connector type for consumer audio, you can plug them directly into the monitor’s audio-out port. This includes everything from simple earbuds that came with your phone to high-end gaming headsets.
No special adapters or equipment are needed.
Is the audio quality from the monitor’s jack good?
The audio quality from the monitor’s 3.5mm jack is generally very good because it is a direct passthrough. The monitor is not processing or altering the audio signal; it is simply passing along the digital audio it receives from your PC or console. Therefore, the final sound quality you hear will depend almost entirely on the quality of your source audio and, most importantly, the quality of the headphones or speakers you have plugged into it.
A good headset will sound great.
Conclusion
The discovery that a new monitor lacks speakers can initially feel like a disappointment, but it is a feature born from a commitment to visual excellence. The Acer AOPEN 27HC5R prioritizes a fluid, responsive, and vibrant picture above all else. By omitting built-in speakers, it avoids compromising on cost and quality, instead empowering you with the freedom to choose your own audio adventure.
The monitor’s dedicated audio-out port is a simple yet powerful feature, turning your display into a convenient hub for your sound system. Whether you opt for the pinpoint precision of a gaming headset, the room-filling presence of desktop speakers, or the sleek simplicity of a soundbar, you are guaranteed a far richer and more immersive experience than any integrated solution could provide.
Now that you understand your audio options, the only question left is a personal one: what kind of soundscape will you build to complement your stunning new view?
