The fastest way: use the monitor's built-in speakers first

The Samsung Odyssey G8 has speakers built in, so you can hear sound without plugging in anything extra. If those speakers are loud enough for you, you are done — no connection needed. The monitor turns on sound automatically when you plug in a video cable from your PC or console.

If the built-in speakers are too quiet or you want better sound, you will need to connect an external speaker. The monitor has two ways to receive audio: through the HDMI cable that carries your video, or through a separate 3.5mm audio jack on the back of the monitor.

Key Takeaways

  • The Samsung Odyssey G8 has built-in speakers that work automatically when you connect video, so external speakers are optional.
  • You can send audio through the HDMI cable itself, or use the 3.5mm audio jack on the back of the monitor for a separate connection.
  • If you use HDMI audio, your PC or console must be set to send sound through that HDMI port in its audio settings.
  • Bluetooth speakers do not work directly with the monitor — you would need to pair them with your PC or console instead.
  • The monitor's volume buttons on the back let you adjust speaker volume without touching your PC settings.

Connecting a speaker through HDMI

HDMI cables carry both video and audio, so if your PC or console is plugged into the monitor with HDMI, sound can travel through that same cable. This is the simplest setup because you only have one cable to manage.

On your PC, right-click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and select Open Sound settings. Scroll down to Advanced and look for App volume and device preferences. Find the program you want to use — a game, web browser, or media player — and change its output device to the monitor's HDMI port. The port name usually includes "HDMI" or the monitor model number.

On a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, go to Settings, then Sound, and make sure Output Device is set to HDMI rather than optical or USB. The console will then send all game audio through the HDMI cable to the monitor.

If you hear nothing, the monitor itself may have muted the HDMI audio input. Press the joystick button on the back of the monitor (the physical control, not on-screen) and navigate to Sound or Audio in the menu. Check that the input source is set to HDMI and the volume is not at zero.

Connecting a speaker through the 3.5mm jack

The Samsung Odyssey G8 has a 3.5mm audio jack on the back panel, next to the power cable. This is a standard headphone-sized port. You can plug a speaker with a 3.5mm cable directly into this jack, or use an adapter if your speaker has a different connector type.

When you use the 3.5mm jack, the monitor receives audio separately from video. This means you can send video through HDMI and audio through the 3.5mm jack at the same time. Some people prefer this setup because it gives them more control — they can adjust monitor volume independently from PC volume.

To send audio from your PC to the 3.5mm jack, open Sound settings again and set the output device to Stereo Mix, Line Out, or Aux — the exact name depends on your PC's sound card. If you do not see these options, your PC may not have a 3.5mm output port. In that case, use HDMI audio instead.

Using wireless speakers with the monitor

The Samsung Odyssey G8 itself does not have Bluetooth, so you cannot pair a wireless speaker directly to the monitor. However, you can pair a Bluetooth speaker to your PC or console, and then send audio from the monitor's HDMI or 3.5mm jack to that speaker using a Bluetooth adapter.

A simpler approach is to skip the monitor entirely and pair your Bluetooth speaker straight to your PC or console. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and select Add device. Put your speaker in pairing mode (usually by holding a button for three seconds) and select it from the list. Once paired, set it as your default audio output in Sound settings.

On PlayStation 5, go to Settings > Accessories > Bluetooth Accessories and follow the same pairing steps. The console will remember the speaker and reconnect automatically when you turn it on.

Adjusting volume and audio settings on the monitor

The Samsung Odyssey G8 has physical volume controls on the back panel. Press the joystick button (the small clickable nub) to open the on-screen menu, then navigate to Sound or Volume. Use the joystick to raise or lower the level. You can also press the joystick left or right to adjust volume without opening the full menu on some firmware versions.

The monitor's volume control only affects audio coming through HDMI or the 3.5mm jack — it does not change your PC or console's volume settings. This means you can set your PC to 50% volume and the monitor to 80%, and the actual sound will be somewhere in between. If audio is too quiet, check both the monitor volume and your PC or console volume.

If you want to mute the monitor's speakers completely, open the menu and look for Mute or Speaker Off. This is useful if you are using external speakers and do not want sound coming from both the monitor and the external speaker at the same time.

Troubleshooting no sound or low volume

If you have connected a speaker but hear nothing, check these things in order. First, make sure the speaker itself is powered on and the volume dial or button is not at zero. Second, check that the cable is fully plugged into both the monitor and the speaker — a loose connection is the most common cause of silent audio.

Third, verify that your PC or console is actually sending audio to the monitor. On Windows, open Sound settings and look at the Volume mixer section. You should see a green bar moving when sound is playing, and the output device should be set to the monitor's HDMI port or the 3.5mm line out. If the bar is not moving, the program you are using may have its own volume control — check inside the game or app itself.

Fourth, check the monitor's input source. Press the joystick and look for Input or Source in the menu. Make sure it is set to HDMI if you are using an HDMI cable, or Audio In if you are using the 3.5mm jack. If the monitor is set to the wrong input, it will not receive any sound.

If you are using HDMI and still hear nothing, try unplugging the HDMI cable from both the monitor and your PC, waiting five seconds, and plugging it back in. Sometimes the connection needs to be reset for audio to work. If that does not help, try a different HDMI port on your PC or monitor — one of the ports may be damaged.

Choosing between built-in, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio

The monitor's built-in speakers are fine for casual use — watching videos, playing single-player games, or video calls. They are small and tinny, but they work without any setup. If you spend hours gaming or watching movies, external speakers will give you much better sound quality.

HDMI audio is the easiest external option because you only have one cable to manage. It works with any HDMI source — PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or streaming device — and the monitor handles the audio automatically once you set your device to send sound through HDMI.

The 3.5mm jack is useful if your speaker does not have HDMI, or if you want to use the same speaker with multiple devices. It also lets you adjust monitor volume separately from your PC volume, which some people prefer. The downside is that you need a second cable, and not all PCs have a 3.5mm output port anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the monitor's speakers and an external speaker at the same time?

Yes, but it sounds odd because the audio comes from two different places. Most people mute the monitor's speakers when using external speakers. Open the monitor menu, find Sound or Speaker, and turn it off. The external speaker will then be the only source of sound.

What if my speaker only has USB, not 3.5mm or HDMI?

Plug the USB speaker directly into your PC or console, not the monitor. The monitor does not have USB audio input. Your PC will recognize the speaker as an audio device, and you can set it as the default output in Sound settings. This works better than trying to adapt the connection anyway.

Do I need a special HDMI cable for audio to work?

No. Any standard HDMI cable carries both video and audio. If audio is not working through HDMI, the problem is not the cable — it is the device settings or the monitor's input source. Check your PC or console audio settings first.

Will a Bluetooth speaker work if I plug a Bluetooth adapter into the monitor's 3.5mm jack?

Not reliably. The monitor's 3.5mm jack is designed for wired speakers, and a Bluetooth adapter plugged into it would receive very weak audio. Pair your Bluetooth speaker directly to your PC or console instead — that is the intended way to use wireless speakers with gaming setups.

Why is the audio cutting out or crackling?

Crackling usually means the cable is loose or damaged. Unplug the audio cable and plug it back in firmly. If it still crackles, try a different cable. If you are using HDMI, try a different HDMI port on the monitor or PC. Cutting out can also mean your PC is overloaded — close other programs and try again.