No sound coming from external speakers

Just set up new asus essentio series desktop with windows 8.1. After initial set up the monitor speakers are on but no the connected external speakers. I assume I need to make some change in the control panel. Is that true. I want sound to come through external speakers.

Sounds like you may have a monitor with an HDMI connection. If this is the case, Windows automatically defaults the default audio playback device to the HDMI, if an HDMI cable is connected to the PC. If you want the PC sound you must manually change the default audio playback device to "Speakers" (PC sound). And you will likely have to do this each time you boot up. I was looking at a new monitor at either Sam's Club or Costco and decided against it as it was an HDMI connected monitor.

The Sound/Playback panel can be accessed from start/Control Panel/Hardware and Sound

Followed your advice and got it solved thanks.