Laptop Audio volume very low

Hi Experts,
I bought my Inspiron laptop in January and was hoping for good sound quality based on the advertised Waves MaxxAudio. However I find the laptop volume is very low and end up holding the speakers close to my ears when doing a skype call.
Is this an issue I need to take up with warranty support or are the speaker volumes expected to be this low?

Hello. Some of the models do have adequate volume and some have low volume, but it is a subjective thing and I don't know if anyone can say that your volume is normal or not without hearing it. Even then they would need to compare it with others of the same model. If you post your model name then maybe someone with that model will express an opinion.
If the volume is low only in Skype but okay when playing an audio file from the hard drive, then probably a Skype setting. Right click on the volume icon on the taskbar and click on "Open volume mixer" to see individual volume sliders for each device.
Also you could test by switching from the vendor's audio driver (varies by model but probably Realtek) to the Windows native audio driver. If the volume seems too low (when playing audio files) with both drivers then there could be a hardware problem.
1. Open the Device Manager (type devmgmt.msc in the Windows search box).
2. Expand the "Sound, video & game controllers" and right click on "Realtek High Definition Audio".
3. Select to "Update Driver Software".
4. Click on "Browse my computer for driver software".
5. Click "Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer".
6. Put a check in the box "Show compatible hardware" if not already checked.
7. In the list of devices, click "High Definition Audio" (the native driver).
8. Click "Next".
9. On the Update Driver Warning box, click "Yes" (install the driver).
10. Restart the laptop if prompted. If not prompted, then no need to restart.
[To get back to the Realtek driver, do it again but reverse the names in steps 1 and 6.]
Note that the above instructions are for models with a Realtek audio driver. If yours uses IDT or Conexant, look for those names in the Device Manager.

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**Click the KUDOS star on the left to say 'Thanks'**
**---'Accept as Solution' ----**if it solves your problem and make it easier for other people to find solutions.

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Hello @gatorjack75,
Welcome to the HP Forums, I hope you enjoy your experience! To help you get the most out of the HP Forums I would like to direct your attention to the HP Forums Guide First Time Here? Learn How to Post and More.
I have read your post on how you are not able to get sound from the speakers of your notebook computer, and I would be happy to assist you in this matter!
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I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
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@Re: X-Fi Xtreme Audio - Volume goes low, static, then comes backu Hi
Did anyone solve this - I have started getting exactly the same problem today. There is a fairly loud pop and then the sound that normally should be coming form the machine (game or music) is very quiet and distorted. After a short while (a few minutes), it pops again and starts working again. I built this machine a few months ago and this is the first time that I have had this issue. The specs are as follows:
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870
Asus P6X58D Premium Intel X58 Motherboard,
Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping 2.66Ghz (Nehalem)
Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-2800C9 (600MHz) Tri-Channel
Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB HD
Intel X25-M Mainstream 80GB SSHD
X-Fi Fatalty FPS
The X-Fi card is from my old machine and it worked perfectly in that one.
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Solved!
Go to Solution.

Have you looked here?
https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/Feeback-Lollipop-on-Z3-Z3-Compact/m-p/959223#U95922...
There are common issues that people found.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us - J.R.R. Tolkien

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Please remember to rate responses and to mark your question as answered if appropriate.

Why is volume very low on I pad?

Volume is very low on a ipad

Try this - Reset the iPad by holding down on the Sleep and Home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. (This is equivalent to rebooting your computer.)
Check your settings. The iPads have a small switch on the right edge. It can be used as a rotation lock to keep the screen from automatically reorienting itself as you move around, but you need to have the tablet’s settings configured properly. That same switch, right above the volume buttons, can also be set to function instead as a mute button to silence certain types of audio.
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http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1630
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1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on General
3. Tap on Reset
4. Tap on Reset All Settings
 Cheers, Tom

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I have a Saffire Pro 14 audio interface connected via Firewire. Running my electric guitar through it into my Mac Pro and my MacBook. No matter what I do, the sound level is very low. I'm pretty sure I was able to solve this problem before because I'm looking at some recordings I did a while back and the waveform looks normal, the volume seems fine. However, when I record now I have to turn up the amp output levels to the maximum to get any kind of sound at all, in addition to turning up the volume knobs on the guitar itself. In addition, when I turn up the track volume on playback, the level indicator goes into the red even when the audio is moderately audible. The waveform looks flat. I think this is worse on my Mac Pro than on the MacBook.
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Mark_Borok wrote:
Line inputs are 3 and 4 and have no controls.
that sounds like your problem, guitars are not line-level instruments.
Mark_Borok wrote:
The only gain knobs on the Saffire are for inputs 1 and 2 (the XLR Mic inputs).
those aren't XLR connectors, they're Neutrik style connectors. plug into either of those
Neutrik
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I currently drive a BMW 328xi with Navigation paired with an iPhone 3GS. Is anyone else experiencing low speaker volume coming through the car speakers? I've maxed out my settings, but the volume is still very low. I'm assuming that the microphone is fine, because the other party can hear me well.
If anyone has run into similar issues and has a fix, please post.
Thank you.

Out of curiosity, have you used the side volume button on your iPhone to maximize the volume when the phone is in use?
The iPhone unlike other phones, remembers the volume settings per audio source so that it doesn't quite affect hearing if you want it loud in one setting and then quiet with another (which could be more powerful).
Additionally I have a 2010 Ford Fusion with Navi system (not quite a sweet as your wheels) but have read on the SYNC forums (which allow me to integrate the bluetooth phone in with the stereo like your BMW) that some of the NAVI systems tend to be quieter...
Each time when I go to use the phone for the first time in the car I still need to crank the phone volume as the car keeps putting it only to 1/4th of the stereo volume... That's the other pain that I keep encountering...
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Hope this helps... Let us know if this helps at all!

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I've been using iPad 2 to iPad 2 FaceTime for long time. The voice are absolutely cristal clear. But the other party recently bought a new iPad Air, which has caused very low and troppy voice when I hear from my iPad 2. The other party has indicated to me that they can hear me clearly and even louder than iPad 2. The situation is not unique because they have tried on a different new iPad Air with me which yielded the same result. The Skype test shows no significant difference between 2x iPad 2 and iPad 2 to iPad Air. I'd also imagine there will be no much volume difference when FaceTime between 2 iPad Air.
So the bottom line is that Apple will need to fix the FaceTime bewteen iPad 2 and iPad Air for inbalanced volume setting.

Not normal. Take it to an Apple Store for evaluation.
Make a Genius Bar Reservation
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
I saw one post where a user said dust got in the small mic hole. Used a vacuum cleaner to remove and audio restored. Try it.
 Cheers, Tom

Pavilion g6 Laptop: audio volume fluctuating.

Product Name: HP Pavilion g6 - 2210sa Notebook PC
Product number: C6S45EA#ABU
OS: Windows 8 64-bit
This is a brand new laptop and from the start the audio volume has been fluctuating like it has a compressor/limiter applied to it. Any volume increase in a piece of music I play off itunes/pro tools/zune etc. is dragged back down after a moment and vice versa with quiter sounds.
I've searched these forums for a solution and tried all the suggested methods I've come across but am yet to find a fix for this.
It seems this is a very common problem for people with HP computers and yet so many of these promblems seem to go unsolved!
Cheers,
Harry

Hey jhazzac,
The first thing I would suggest checking is your BIOS and Audio driver version. You will want to have the latest versions for both. Here is a link to the HP driver page for you model. If drivers are out of date, it can cause strange isues.
Check what BIOS version is on your notebook currently by pressing FN+ESC. A little window will pop up that has your BIOS version. Compare that BIOS version (ex. F.14, F.16) with the latest one available HP's driver page which shows to be F.22 right now. Take a screenshot of your FN+ESC window and post it in a reply if you're unsure.
Also compare your audio driver version with the latest version on HP's driver page. To check your current audio driver version:
1. Press Windows Key + C to bring up the Charms Bar.
2. Click Search and type in "Device" and Click Settings.
3. Click on Device Manager in the search results.
4. Expand the 'Sound, video and game controllers' section.
5. Double-click on IDT Audio.
6. Click the driver tab. Make note of the driver version number and post it in your reply.
If the audio driver version on your notebook right now is earlier than the version available on the HP driver page, you will want to download and install the latest version.
If the issue persists after you have updated the BIOS and audio driver versions, please let me know!
Also let me know if you have any questions or if these suggestions helped (this could help other users having similar issues). I'll keep an eye out for your reply!

Laptop Audio volume very low

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