The speaker thing again
11:35 Saturday 15 Sep 07
I can’t work this out.
Problem:
Only a small amount of sound comes from the R speaker. This happens when playing Winamp or a game.
Test each element:
- Remove audio plug from back of machine and plug Zen headphones into machine. Sound is good and even.
- Plug the speakers plug into a Zen and sound comes from both speakers evenly.
So this establishes that the output from the computer is good.
It also establishes that the speakers both work when sent a stereo signal
So why does the one speaker fail to make enough noise?
If it were a sound setting in the computer the headphones would show it.
If it was a problem with the speakers the Zen hookup would show it.
I have no ideas.
More: Tech
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Read (940)
1
Have you tested with a set of different speakers? If out put is proven from computer to other devices that would be the next step for me. Is there a broken wire perhaps to that one speaker?
12:41 Saturday 15 Sep 07
2
May seem a daft question, but are you *sure* that it’s outputting stereo to the headphones, and not mono that comes through both earbuds?
Also, tried it from WMP or iTunes to see if it’s a hardware problem?
13:36 Saturday 15 Sep 07
3
AJ might be onto something.
I would guess that something inside the speakers is processing the signal differently, for some reason. Maybe they aren’t mono compatible but the headphones are? Or the headphones are handling the output in a different way from the speakers?
13:45 Saturday 15 Sep 07
4
Definitely stereo.
Listened to the Barber Shop on Youtube and the headphones are stereo.
It’s only when the speakers are plugged into the computer that the sound drops - and even then on the affected speaker there is a headphone socket which works perfectly.
It was good til the reinstall but since then all the drivers had been checked - and if they weren’t good then the headphones wouldn’t work.
Very odd indeed.
14:01 Saturday 15 Sep 07
5
What is the exact model of speaker? Does it have a subwoofer and 2 satellite speakers? Could be something in the crossovers if so? When you put the speakers through the Zen, have you turned the volume up and down on the player a few times to see if at a certain level it drops off?
19:07 Saturday 15 Sep 07
6
Logitech ones.
Connect Zen. Put that to full volume and use speaker control to vary volume. Does just what I would expect in that the sounds falls and rises as it should.
Put the Zen to a low volume and again use speaker control. Sound varies but never gets as loud because the in signal is weak (as I would expect.)
Disconnect Zen. Put speaker jack into computer which is playing in Winamp. Sound from R speaker immediately drops to almost nothing.
Play internet radio through WMP. R speaker stays really quiet.
I’ve searched numerous forums about this and found various ‘cures’ ranging from a new computer, new speakers, new cards and new drivers. So maybe I need to go that route too.
19:49 Saturday 15 Sep 07
7
Put the green jack into the mini - and sound is perfect.
So the speakers really are okay.
20:08 Saturday 15 Sep 07
8
In Winamp, then. That’s the problem?
Let’s try this…
Control P = Winamp Preferences
1.)Navigate to “Output”
2.)Click the “Configure” button on the bottom and
a.) Make sure the output is configured to use the drivers you’ve configured the rest of your sound system to use.
Hope that helps.
- -
Okay,
Father Luke
02:28 Sunday 16 Sep 07
9
First thought I had was a faulty speaker, but youve proved otherwise by testing it with other devices. Next was a fault with the computers onboard sound, but if it works with headphones it must be alright. Then thought the balance may be turned over to the left in your audio properties, but again it doesnt do it with headphones. Only other thing I can think of is interference. Are there power cables running beside the speaker cables? Try moving them if there are. Ive got a Creative Labs PCI soundcard here I can send you if you want to try it with something other than the onboard audio. Other than that, Im stumped as well.
08:24 Sunday 16 Sep 07
10
Latest test:
Winamp playing the same track.
2 sets of speakers, both good.
One set of earphones, one set of skype headphones.
Realtek sound manager Speaker config. 2CH Speaker.
With the speakers there is a marked difference.
With the others there is difference but it’s a small difference. That small playing music it’s difficult to tell.
The power cable: The speaker has always shared a whole with the mac mini power and two screens. The only addition was a usb power cable but the second set of speakers are nowhere near those.
So maybe it is onboard sound? I can get a Creative Audigy SE for 24 quid which won’t break the bank. I must have done something during the reinstall/HD mess that stopped it..
09:23 Sunday 16 Sep 07
11
FL - the Winamp selection doesn’t help. WMP also has the imbalance. I’d not thought of that though.
Realtek was Auto in the Bios, it’s now Enabled. No change.
09:49 Sunday 16 Sep 07
12
I’m now plumping for a fault in the speakers, possibly in the crossover, maybe caused by a lower level being sent out by the soundcard compared to the zen. Is everyhting on the PC set to full volume? It’s a mighty strange one alright!
15:31 Sunday 16 Sep 07
13
Everything is set to full volume that can be.
Because it’s two sets of speakers I wondered if the computer was sending weaker signal but then it goes into the bass box first so I assume it’s amped? Because the difference with the earphones is smaller.
I think the only way to find out now is another soundcard. So I’ll get one tomorrow.
15:36 Sunday 16 Sep 07
14
The signal goes into the subwoofer, then through an amplifier, then a crossover (which sends bass to the sub, mid and treble to the satellites) -or through the crossover into a number of amps. It could be in there that the problem is, but a new soundcard will soon tell you!
22:42 Sunday 16 Sep 07
15
“Mark goes: FL - the Winamp selection doesn’t help. WMP also has the imbalance. I’d not thought of that though.”
It’s a bug in WNP. When I installed my sound drivers, I then had options in which driver to use with Winamp. I went crazy jiggling wires, re-installing drivers, pretty much the scene you are going through. That’s why I thought of you.
I just happened onto the solution.
Stewart brand was once asked how he thought Cancer would be ended. He suggested that it would probably be some school kid with a cheap chemistry kit. Things happen like that.
G’luck.
- -
Okay,
Father Luke
13:34 Tuesday 18 Sep 07
16
Funniest thing happened to my speakers today. After I ran my virus scan, my right speaker stays at a middle volume even when speaker knob is down all the way. If I turn up the knob the volume on the left changes, but the right does not. Any ideas?
02:19 Tuesday 11 Dec 07
17
I have this exact problem, except my left speaker is quiet. Let me know if you’ve fixed this or have any interesting ideas. I’m running Vista, and had the issue on both an Audigy SE and Realtek ALC888 onboard card. Very strange stuff.
12:02 Tuesday 8 Jan 08