P2720DC, audio out, how?

The P2720DC User's Guide does show all that there are no audio ports or built-in speakers.

The P2720DC sales site under Accessories shows the AE515M Pro Stereo Soundbar.

The AE515M Pro Stereo Soundbar connects to the monitor USB downstream port and the PC audio out port.

Thanks,

@Bonky  The soundbar supports USB audio, but even that only works if you have a USB data path all the way back to the system, because the display itself doesn’t handle audio. Essentially you’re just connecting the soundbar to a USB hub that just happens to be built into the display and your PC is then managing every aspect of the soundbar. If your system is connected to the USB-C input, you’re all set. Otherwise, you’ll need to run a USB data cable from the display to your system. The display will NOT take audio received over DisplayPort or HDMI and send it out over USB itself. This also means your source device needs to support USB Audio. PCs and Macs do. Game consoles and streaming devices typically don’t.

If you want an audio output jack, you’d need a higher-end U Series display. The P Series is the next step down and focuses purely on things that are relevant to typical workspaces. I guess Dell figured that most workspaces wouldn’t use speakers at all (maybe headsets or nothing) or else that the soundbar would work for those use cases given that they work fine with PC sources. The P Series isn't designed with game consoles and streaming devices in mind.

As for compatibility, it’s not unusual for Dell’s compatibility list to lag behind the introduction of new products that the product nonetheless works with. The P2720DC’s stand design is identical to other displays that the soundbar is compatible with.

Thanks, that’s really very useful. 

I have obviously bought the wrong unit. I will investigate the U series.

yours,

Richard

@Bonky  Happy to help, although sorry I didn't have better news for you.  The nearest equivalent to the P2720DC is the U2719DC.  There's also a newer U2721DE; the main difference compared to the U2719DC is that the U2721DE has built-in Ethernet.  If you connect a laptop to the display via USB-C, then the Ethernet jack in the display becomes an Ethernet adapter for the attached laptop.  That's more for office setups so that the display can become a docking station, including offering wired Ethernet, but if you don't need easy Ethernet connectivity for whatever system you plan to use with the display, then the U2719DC will probably be a better deal.

Did you get my reply? I got an error message.

r

@Bonky  I only see what’s in this thread. I don’t get an email notification for every new post in a thread unless I’m subscribed to the thread (and it wouldn’t be practical for me to subscribe to every thread where I reply) or if someone uses the “@“ mechanism to mention me in their post.