Problem with Audio

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  1. Posts : 255
    Win 10 64bit
       #1

    Problem with Audio


    I may not explain this very well, so please bear with me:

    If I click on the speaker icon on my taskbar and adjust the volume, I have to set this to at least 80% to get a reasonable volume. If I set this as low as 28% I can barely hear it. This has been the case for some time now. And my hearing is fine!

    If I go into Settings / Ease of Access / Audio / Sound Settings I get a Troubleshoot option. Clicking this, I can choose to Open Audio Enhancements, which opens a Speaker / Headphone Properties box AND an option to Play Test Sounds box. Playing the test sounds gives me the same as above (okay at 80%, barely audible at 28%).

    But when I go into the Speakers / Headphones Properties and do a sound test (Advanced tab, 24 bit 48,000 HZ (Studio Quality), the volume is much louder at 28% and I can hear it clearly.

    So my speakers seem to be working okay, but something isn't. Can anyone advise how to resolve this?

    The speakers are Realtek Audio
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 915
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit 22H2 19045.3324
       #2

    Not sure if this will help in your case, as sound cards are different, but something I've found will increase my volume is to UNCHECK the 'Disable all sound effects' box found under the 'Enhancement' tab of the Playback tab for Speakers / Headphones properties box of Control Panel 'Sound'

    Oddly this helps me even if none of the 'Enhancement' options in the dropdown have been checked.
    Problem with Audio-increasevolume.jpg
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1,219
    Windows 10
       #3

    Usually there are 2 different reasons for low volume.

    1) Bug in the driver and messing up line out vs headphone signal levels. I believe that line out is hotter signal than headphone signal. The line out signal goes to your computer speakers and the computer speakers have their own power supply and amplifier. The headphone signal is weaker but the actual Realtek chip itself has a headphone amplifier.

    Since all the jacks are re-assignable to different functions --- one wrong assignment means the signal is weaker than normal.

    2) Bug in the driver configuration with the headphone volume limiter for hearing protection and it gets accidentally turn on.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 255
    Win 10 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Farvatten said:
    Not sure if this will help in your case, as sound cards are different, but something I've found will increase my volume is to UNCHECK the 'Disable all sound effects' box found under the 'Enhancement' tab of the Playback tab for Speakers / Headphones properties box of Control Panel 'Sound'

    Oddly this helps me even if none of the 'Enhancement' options in the dropdown have been checked.
    Sadly I don't have an Enhancements tab to check or uncheck, but thanks for the suggestion.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 255
    Win 10 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    sandyt said:
    Usually there are 2 different reasons for low volume.

    1) Bug in the driver and messing up line out vs headphone signal levels. I believe that line out is hotter signal than headphone signal. The line out signal goes to your computer speakers and the computer speakers have their own power supply and amplifier. The headphone signal is weaker but the actual Realtek chip itself has a headphone amplifier.

    Since all the jacks are re-assignable to different functions --- one wrong assignment means the signal is weaker than normal.

    2) Bug in the driver configuration with the headphone volume limiter for hearing protection and it gets accidentally turn on.
    Thanks for the information, unfortunately I don't really understand it, or what i can do about it if this is the problem. Could you advise please.

    I do use headphones quite often, don't know whether this is a relevant piece of information.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    If I click on the speaker icon on my taskbar and adjust the volume, I have to set this to at least 80% to get a reasonable volume.
    Hi, presumably you are referring to the internal speakers, rather than an external pair which might have a separate volume control.

    - Have you checked your Volume Mixer settings?
    Note you can have per program volume settings:
    Problem with Audio-1.jpg
    Similarly in Settings:
    Problem with Audio-2.jpg
    - Some programs have their own volume controls
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 2,701
    Windows 10
       #7

    You have to determine which type of drivers you have either the older type, or DCH drivers.

    Going by the age of your Laptop quite likely they were DCH drivers, I can't help there.

    You have to get back that Enhancements Tab in the older type drivers (see post #2 or below mine) or have the same option in the Realtek Control Panel App of the DCH drivers.

    Then you tick/select the box for "Loudness Equalisation".

    Problems like loss of Enhancements Tab seem to arise by people updating drivers when they should have left it to Windows updates.

    All I have to say is get your drivers from the Laptop manufacturer and install those, and then letting Windows updates do it's job. Hopefully not losing that "Loudness Equalisation".

    My laptop dates from 2014 and has the older type Realtek/MS drivers but still has that "Loudness Equalisation" which is essential for your problem. Without that I get the same as you.

    The audio driver was updated by Windows updates in 2020 from the 2013 version to the 2015 version... first time in 7 years... and it still works.

    Attachment 341220
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 255
    Win 10 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    dalchina said:
    Hi, presumably you are referring to the internal speakers, rather than an external pair which might have a separate volume control.

    - Have you checked your Volume Mixer settings?
    Note you can have per program volume settings:
    Problem with Audio-1.jpg
    Similarly in Settings:
    Problem with Audio-2.jpg
    - Some programs have their own volume controls
    Yes, this is about my internal speakers.
    I can't find where to check my Volume Mixer settings.

    My App Volume Device Preferences shows as below.

    I have also got something called Waves (see screenshots below). I have no idea what this is and have never done anything with it. Is it relevant to my problem?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Problem with Audio-app-volume.gif   Problem with Audio-waves2.gif   Problem with Audio-waves3.gif  
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 255
    Win 10 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Helmut said:
    You have to determine which type of drivers you have either the older type, or DCH drivers.

    Going by the age of your Laptop quite likely they were DCH drivers, I can't help there.

    You have to get back that Enhancements Tab in the older type drivers (see post #2 or below mine) or have the same option in the Realtek Control Panel App of the DCH drivers.

    Then you tick/select the box for "Loudness Equalisation".

    Problems like loss of Enhancements Tab seem to arise by people updating drivers when they should have left it to Windows updates.

    All I have to say is get your drivers from the Laptop manufacturer and install those, and then letting Windows updates do it's job. Hopefully not losing that "Loudness Equalisation".

    My laptop dates from 2014 and has the older type Realtek/MS drivers but still has that "Loudness Equalisation" which is essential for your problem. Without that I get the same as you.

    The audio driver was updated by Windows updates in 2020 from the 2013 version to the 2015 version... first time in 7 years... and it still works.

    Attachment 341220
    To my knowledge I have never updated the drivers. If they have been updated this has been done either through Windows Update or through Dell SupportAssist.

    I have found different information on the drivers in 2 places. Through Settings / Ease of Access I got the driver Version 6 dated 2020, shown below. Your screenshot also shows a Version 6 driver, but a different one to mine I think.

    From Device Manager I got the driver Version 10, dated 2019, also shown below. This same driver is also listed for Stereo Mix on the speakers,

    I am fast losing the plot here, not that I had a firm grasp of it in the first place. What would you advisemynext step to be? Other than sitting in a darkened room for a while
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Problem with Audio-driver-through-settings.gif   Problem with Audio-driver-device-mgr.gif  
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    I can't find where to check my Volume Mixer settings.
    Problem with Audio-1.jpg
      My Computers


 

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