Low sound/volume output

After applying the updates (iTunes(6.02) & OS X (10.4.4)) the volume on my iMac seems to be a lot lower than it was before. I now have to turn the volume up more than half way to get the same output I used to get when the volume was only turned up a quarter of the way.
Has anyone got any ideas please???
Things I have checked/tried so far:
* Reset PRAM
* Checked output volume in applications (mainly iTunes - also turned off sound check which is working by increasing the volume but that doesn't help because it was on before all the updates and the volume was louder)
* I'm running my own speakers via the headphones socket, checked the connection which is fine
* Checked the volume on the external speakers which has always been near Max
* As a last resort I have tried repairing permissions etc but the volume is still LOW
Really appreciate any input.
Thanks
-rvx
iMac G4 800 17" Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I think it adjusts the sound with the 10.4.4 update, mine did the same thing and just tonight I found the problem. Go to System Preferences -> Sound -> Output Volume at the very bottom, mine was turned all the way down. Check it and see if yours is down as well.

Similar Messages

Very low sound volume on Portege R500

The sound volume on my R500 (R500-11c to be exact) is ridiculously low. Only with volume maxed out (100) and using headphones do I hear anything at all, and even then it's way too low to be useful. I can just make out the test sounds in the left and then right earphone when using the test sound found at Control Panel -> Sound -> Speakers (there are no Headphones to be selected) -> Properties -> Advanced -> Test. Unplugging the headphones I hear nothing from the speakers, due to the (very low) sounds made by the fan and HDD. Playing music (with headphones) I can just make out that sounds are being produced, but I can't even make out what is playing.
I've tested the things mentioned in the "Satellite 5105-S901 Sound is very low (even on max volume) using supplied Toshiba driver" thread with no success (including Loudness Equalization).
I'm running Vista Business 32bit, and have tried the driver_audio_realtek26117B.exe, driver_audio_realtek_TC00157600B.exe, and Vista_Win7_R243_x86.exe driver files, and also used the util_mute_off_25847B.exe utility.
Enabling mute makes the already faint sounds go completely silent, so I don't think it's a mute issue.
Jack detection does work, I can see that in the Realtek HD Audio Manager program. Using that program's sound test (Speaker Configuration) I have to go to a completely silent room, and even then I only hear something in the right earphone. (I think; it's so darn low I could be imagining I hear it.)
Decreasing the sound volume slider from 100 does make the almost inaudible sound even harder to even notice, and at around 45 it is no longer audible even in a quiet room with headphones.
So it seems that I somehow need to reset the audio chip to "normal" level. Or it is broken and can't output anything more audible.
Does anyone have any ideas what I can try next? I can boot to XP or Linux if anyone has any ideas on how to get sound there, just to get started. (They're silent as well, I haven't done as extensive testing under those as under Vista.)

Hello, and thanks for answering.
Yes, I have tried increasing the volume in control panel -> Realtek HD audio manager. No success.
I have used a bunch of different drivers, both from toshiba's website and realtek's.
Recently did a fresh XP install on another hard drive (don't have Vista install media), tried both 5.10.0.5869 and 5.10.0.6066 drivers (5.10.0.6066 is from march 13, 2010), sound still as low no matter what I do.
Did the really desperate thing: bought a new (used) sound module on ebay ("Toshiba Portege R500 (PPR50E-00L048EN) USB jack" on ebay.co.uk), but it has the same problem as the original one.
A hardware problem... well maybe, I was thinking perhaps the sound module doesn't get enough power from the motherboard, but since there is some sound (although very low), the USB jack on the module works, the headphone/mic jack detection works, and the diagnostics found in the Control Panel all say that the device is working OK, I don't think it's a hardware problem.
I'm guessing there is a problem with the drivers initializing the sound to a ridiculously low setting, and increasing the volume level to 100 makes it go up to a level equal to perhaps 2 in a regular system. That should be solved by a fresh install, but it isn't.
Perhaps the BIOS messes up the sound? But re-flashing the BIOS doesn't help...
Anyone got any other ideas?
I've googled and found people having problems with low sound volume on other laptops using the ALC262 chip, but no general solution.

Very Low Sound Volume in Windows 7 - Bootcamp on 20" iMac from early 2008

Hi everyone,
I installed Windows 7 RC (build 7100 - 32 Bit version) using bootcamp on my iMac bought in early 2008 (2Gb Ram - 2.67 GHz).
The entire installation went well with no glitch or issues at all and I ran the bootcamp setup in Windows 7 to install the drivers. The problem I'm having is that the sound volume is extremely low in Windows 7. I can barely hear it when I turn the volume up to the max. I don't have volume problems in Leopard - only in Windows 7.
I also tried to install the RealTek Vista driver from my Leopard disk but still the same problem. As anyone run into the same problem? Any suggestions
Thanks!
Gruau

i want to tell you my problem and my solution.
i have a late model macbook pro i installed windows7 rtm version x64.
and i always had windows on my mac (older models) with everthing working properly.
i did't have sound on my windows7 os. i tried everything form every forum.
they all had some problems my problem was that windows7 installed the driver by itself. but that my output was only 50% and i heard nothing.
everybody (including apple) say that you need the realtek/sigmatel driver
from the apple dvds or from the realtek site.
and i tried every version of the drivers (i have a lot of old apple cds)
but still no sound. windows 7 said drivers installed correctly.
installed.
High Definition Sound device or something like thad.
but now the solution.
i tried to install windows vista.
vista said drivers. installed (without apple drivers installed)
the driver name was:
Cirrus Logic CS4206a (ab75)
and these drivers are also on the apple dvds.(cirrus.zip)
so i installed windows 7 again.
and installed this driver first. then started bootcamp. drivers like normally.
everything now works perfect.

Very low sound volume after 2.6.38.3-1 update

Hello,
Yesterday before logging off I updated the kernel from 2.6.38.2-1 to 2.6.38.3-1 sucessfully. Today I log in and notice that there's no sound coming from my speakers or headphones. So I pull the volume sliders to max and notice that sound works but is output with an extremely low volume. I checked alsamixer for muted channels but there wasn't, but some channels disappeared from there (front, surround, center...) but PCM and master were at max.
I switched phonon backends (KDE user) but no result. Anyways non-kde/phonon apps have the same issue.
Downgrading kernel version to 2.6.38.2-1 makes sound volume back to normal.
My Audio device (integrated) is : nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2), ruled by the snd_hda_intel module.
I never had sound/alsa issues since I am on Linux, so I'm noobish concerning this. Is there any idea(s) to make it work properly in the 2.6.38.3-1 kernel ?
Thanks in advance.

Almost the same here: Intel HDA audio, no speaker sound with 2.6.38.3 but I get sound in my headphones (front output.)
Downgrading to 2.6.38.2 (or 2.6.32-lts) makes speakers work again.
I tried to blacklist snd_hda_codec_hdmi thinking that maybe sound was being output to HDMI, but that didn't change anything (besides snd_hda_codec_hdmi not being loaded, of course.)
I also compared the sound modules list between 2.6.38.2 and 2.6.38.3 but they are the same.
I also ran "sudo alsactl store" to get rid of the errors at boot but that didn't help either, except removing the errors. (I unfortunately didn't log these errors, it was alsactl complaining about the contents of the asound.state file...)
Edit: alsactl.store -> asound.state... :-\
Last edited by stqn (2011-04-21 12:57:31)

Low sound volume Sat-Pro C650-EZ1524D

Can not get volume up to acceptable level even with all volume controls at 100%.
Downloaded Toshiba Audio Enhancement and it only slightly helped. Any suggestion or ideas on how to fix this? I know it is an easy fix, however, I can't figure it out. Thank you for your help in advance...I appreciate it.
Cliff

You should uninstall the 2 audio enhancement programs that comes preinstalled on your toshiba laptop. I just bought a satellite p70-a and i had the same issue with the sound volume being too low. Once I uninstall the two audio enhancement programs and restarted the computer, my volume was way louder.

Very low sound volume on Skype, but OK on everything else

I know this subject has already been raised but I have tried all the suggestions on other posts on this topic, but still the volume of Skype is very low. I can only hear the conversation in a very quiet environment. The same low volume applies when I check the sound in Skype or do a test call. I am using an Acer laptop (built in speakers) and Windows Vista which is up to date. All sliders on the sound mixer are on 100% and the box Automatically Adjust Speaker Settings in Skype is unticked. I am using a recent version of Skype (installed about a month ago) The sound volume on iTunes and other applications is absolutely fine! Please keep explanations simple, I am not a computer expert... Thank you!

Skype was working then became very quiet.I am on Win7/64 Creative soundcard, Latest Skype
The solution (for me) was simple.
Go to: Skype>Tools>Options>Audio Settings>Speakers
In my set up there is a dropdown to select what speakers Skype should use. It was using Digital Audio Interface There was also another option called "Speakers" I chose speakers and the volume returned to match the rest of the system
How it got set incorrectly is a mystery. I guess "Gargy Watts" must have set it, as my old mum used to say... or the Skype Fairy has been fiddling, as I have other things on my mind rather than fiddling with Skype settings and I'm the only one to use the PC!
I hope this helps some of you guys and gals

Airport express low sound volume

I've had an airport express for a few months now and have been happily using it with my external stereo system to stream music. However, recently the volume coming from the airport express has basically disappeared - there is almost no signal at all. I have to turn up the volume on my amplifier all the way to hear any sound, and at that level the sound is covered with static and is gross.
I've seen another post about a similar situation with an existing airport user, and it looks like I have a similar problem. Note that I did not change anything with the configuration between the amp and the airport express, i have the "disable itunes volume with remote speakers" option on. I've tried the airport with multiple other amplifiers and nothing works. I'm convinced that the airport is malfunctioning, perhaps its internal preamp is blown?
Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thank you Totem ; )
But unfortunately, I don't think we are talking about the same thing... Effectively, I've noticed a loss between iTunes 6.0.1 and iTunes 6.0.4 when I downgrade, but my problem, our problem here, is that the sound hasn't a 33% loss but really a 80/90% !!! I've got to push up the volume so much that if I plug my ipod with the same cable at the same place, my ears bleed (quite ; ) )...
Of course,
- I've checked the "disable itunes volume with remote speakers" and my ipod is at its maximum...
- I've tried airfoil (with RealPlayer and VLC) and this is the same, a very low/weak sound...
- I've downgrade the Airport Express firmware to 6.1.1
I've got a party at home tomorrow... :_(
Do I have to consider the airport express as broken ?
PowerBook 17" 1 Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Lower sound volume through speak

I got a Zen Xtra 40gb for Christmas and I've noticed when I plug my player into my car speakers (through Aux input adapter) or my computer speakers (through stereo plug) the sound is much lower than if I am listening through my headphones. For instance, I usually listen through my headphones at a volume between 5&0. When I plug it into the car or computer speakers, I have to either turn the Zen volume up to 25 (max volume) or turn the speaker volume up much higher than required for CDs or the radio. I am curious to why this is. Does anyone know? Would it have anything to do with the cables I'm using. The Aux input cable is gold plated (purchased from Radio shack). Also would it be better if I turned up the Zen volume or the speaker volume? I have heard the battery will drain faster if the Zen volume is turned way up. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

Don't worry, this is quite normal. To achieve the equivalent of a line-out level you need the volume to be very high on the Zen itself.

DR-BTN200 low sound volume

I have recently acquired the DR-BTN200 headphone to use use with my TV. It was recognized by the TV but the sound is too low. I set the volume to max at the headphone and it is still too low. Does anyone know how to deal with this ?

Please try the steps here to troubleshoot the issue.
If my post answers your question, please mark it as "Accept as Solution"
http://bit.ly/Win-4K

Satellite A355-S6931 Low Sound - Volume Control wheel just spins

I've checked and tried everything I can find or know how to do to get enough volume and nothing works. Everything is set to 100 %. I use headphones (same ones I used with my 5 yo Toshiba). Why does that wheel just spin with no change in volume and no stopping point either way? I have to suspend my Netflix service as I have about 2% sound. Satellite A355-S6931 - 6 weeks old now.

It might as well be broken as it affects absolutely NOTHING no matter how far or how long I turn it in either direction.
I expect this computer to deliver an acceptable degree of sound. I have some hearing loss and use headphones exclusively which have their own volume control. My 6 year old Toshiba laptop would blast my eardrums out with volume if I wasn't careful to keep all controls from the max. Granted, I paid more than double as much for the computer back then and got Win XP-Prof besides. I wasn't looking for a "cheap" computer but expected comparable quality to my former Toshiba, in spite of being stuck with Vista. I could do without MANY of the bells and whistles this thing has for some acceptable SOUND. Seems like a basic provision.
Can I get the sound card replaced for something better?
What about the adapters that sell for about $10 on eBay?
BTW -- the Toshiba DVD Player won't work at all. Using Window Media Player shows the DVD but the sound is totally inaudible. I've had to suspend my Netflix service.

Low sound volume

A few days ago I lost my volume inside of OS X. The sound level shows that it is at max but sounds like it is half the level it used to be. I've attempted resetting the PRAM, creating a new profile and plugging in speakers (which seems to play at a normal level) then unplugging (sends the internal speakers back to about half volume.)
If I boot into Windows XP via Bootcamp the speakers sound crystal clear and work at the correct volume.
Any ideas on what else I can try?
Stock 2.4GHz Alum. Macbook.

Fredrrr wrote:
Shot in the dark...
iTunes and the computer have separate volume controls. Keyboard operates the main volume (not iTunes). ITunes volume is the slider on the top left.
either try that or it could be a hardware thing. You should also try other software to see if there's any difference. If there's no difference then that means the laptop speakers are defective.
deltatux

MDR-AS800BT Headphones Low Sound Volume

Hi,
My new MDR-AS800BT headphones volume has suddenly dropped on all my devices.
I have charged the headphones
I have reset the headphones
I have read the manual
I do the double click and hold down the second click to turn up the volume
Nothing works
Any help greatly appreciated as they are of little value with such low volume.
Paul Brassington

I know! I know!
You must connect your headphones to device and press twice, hold down at the second push. (like: te, teeee)
I know that i have some problems with english, but anyway i think that i helped you!
I had the same problem...

Portege R500 audio problem: sound volume too low

The sound volume on my R500 is ridiculously low. Only with volume maxed out (100) and using headphones do I hear anything at all, and even then it's way too low to be useful. I can just make out the test sounds in the left and then right earphone when using the test sound found at Control Panel -> Sound -> Speakers (there are no Headphones to be selected) -> Properties -> Advanced -> Test. Unplugging the headphones I hear nothing from the speakers, due to the (very low) sounds made by the fan and HDD. Playing music (with headphones) I can just make out that sounds are being produced, but I can't even make out what is playing.
I've tested the things mentioned in the "Satellite 5105-S901 Sound is very low (even on max volume) using supplied Toshiba driver" thread with no success (including Loudness Equalization).
I'm running Vista Business 32bit, and have tried the driver_audio_realtek26117B.exe, driver_audio_realtek_TC00157600B.exe, and Vista_Win7_R243_x86.exe driver files, and also used the util_mute_off_25847B.exe utility.
Enabling mute makes the already faint sounds go completely silent, so I don't think it's a mute issue.
Jack detection does work, I can see that in the Realtek HD Audio Manager program. Using that program's sound test (Speaker Configuration) I have to go to a completely silent room, and even then I only hear something in the right earphone. (I think; it's so darn low I could be imagining I hear it.)
Does anyone have any ideas what I can try next? I can boot to XP or Linux if anyone has any ideas on how to get sound there, just to get started. (They're silent as well, I haven't done as extensive testing under those as under Vista.)

Update:
Tried increasing the volume in control panel -> Realtek HD audio manager. No success.
I have used a bunch of different drivers, both from toshiba's website and realtek's.
Recently did a fresh XP install on another hard drive (don't have Vista install media), tried both 5.10.0.5869 and 5.10.0.6066 drivers (5.10.0.6066 is from march 13, 2010), sound still as low no matter what I do.
Did the really desperate thing: bought a new (used) sound module on ebay ("Toshiba Portege R500 (PPR50E-00L048EN) USB jack" on ebay.co.uk), but it has the same problem as the original one.
I was thinking perhaps the sound module doesn't get enough power from the motherboard, but since there is some sound (although very low), the USB jack on the module works, the headphone/mic jack detection works, and the diagnostics found in the Control Panel all say that the device is working OK, I don't think it's a hardware problem.
I'm guessing there is a problem with the drivers initializing the sound to a ridiculously low setting, and increasing the volume level to 100 makes it go up to a level equal to perhaps 2 in a regular system. That should be solved by a fresh install, but it isn't.
Perhaps the BIOS messes up the sound? But re-flashing the BIOS doesn't help...
Anyone got any other ideas?
I've googled and found people having problems with low sound volume on other laptops using the ALC262 chip, but no general solution.

Audigy 2 ZS + Vista 64bit resolves in very low maximum volume out

Hi,
I did just install Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit Edition on my computer.
I've got a CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card, and I downloaded and installed the drivers for it.
I did not run into any complications while installing the driver, but after the driver was successfully installed and I rebooted my computer the first thing that hit me was the fact that the volume output was VERY LOW.
I have to boost my volume to the maximum to even be able to hear my music and games at a decent volume level. The maximum volume output seems to have been reduced with at least 50% compared to what I had with Windows XP Professional.
I've tried to configure every sound settings I can find, but without any luck.
The sound card is completely useless with this low maximum volume output, when I can barley hear my music or in-game sound.
Is this a common problem?
Have do I solve it's
I need at least 10% increase in the sound volume, otherwise the sound card is pointless.

Yes I did, I've checked everywhere I can possibly think of. Have boosted everything to the max, but still it's way to low

Sound volume control unresponsive after waking from sleep

Lately, a strange problem has developed on my MacBook 13-inch Aluminum (Late 2008), running Mac OS X 10.6.4:
After waking the MacBook from sleep, the sound volume control keys on the keyboard does not affect the volume control of:
* Neither the sound volume output by the built-in speakers,
* nor the sound volume indicator/slider in the menubar,
* nor the sound volume indicator/slider in the Sound preference pane in System Preferences,
Only the sound volume slider/indicator in the Sound preference pane in System Preferences has an effect on the actual volume ouput by the built-in speakers.
First I thought the problem was affected by disconnecting a set of analog headphones while the MacBook was sleeping -- it seemed that after sleep the volume control keys on the keyboard and menubar item still was set to affect the headphone port and not the built-in speakers.
However, the problem just occured after sleeping without anything connected to the MacBook. The built-in speakers were muted, when the MacBook lid was closed, and the computer went to sleep - after waking from sleep the built-in speakers were unmuted - and control was only possible through System Preferences.
Any ideas?

Not sure if you stumbled on the other threads like this one:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11801555&#11801555
I've been having the same problem on my Mac Pro for a while, finally decided to see if there were some other people having the problem. I'll see if the others have a solution yet.
One workaround I've been doing is to go to Preferences -> Sound and select a different output device. For me, I have to flick to Internal Speakers and then back to Line Out.
Brett

Low sound/volume output

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for