Left Channel Very Quiet with Analog Audio

Hey guys,

I seem to be having an issue with my onboard sound card. It's a VIA card built into the Asus M4A785TD-M EVO motherboard.

It seems to be that my left channel is roughly 20% of the volume of the right, even at 100%. The channel works because I can hear it, but it's not nearly as loud as the right. I have checked the levels in the VIA control panel and everything is fine and dandy.

I have this issue with my speakers hooked up to the back of the PC via 3.5mm as well as my headphones hooked up to the front of my case via 3.5mm.

I had this issue once before but I was using my USB headset mostly at that time (which by the way, works just fine) and one day I discovered it worked. I don't know what I did or if I did anything.

The drivers are currently up to date.

Any ideas? (Specs are current)

You've essentially limited down the potential causes to a chip problem, and a software issue. Try disabling or uninstalling the VIA control program, and then uninstalling your sound drivers in Device Manager. Reboot, and Windows should automatically install some drivers of its own.

If that doesn't work, I'd suspect the chip itself is bad. Before spending money on a new card, though, it may be worth it to test another OS. Make a live Ubuntu CD, and see if the problem is there.

Download | Ubuntu

If the problem exists there, purchase a new sound card.

Jonathan_King said:

You've essentially limited down the potential causes to a chip problem, and a software issue. Try disabling or uninstalling the VIA control program, and then uninstalling your sound drivers in Device Manager. Reboot, and Windows should automatically install some drivers of its own.

If that doesn't work, I'd suspect the chip itself is bad. Before spending money on a new card, though, it may be worth it to test another OS. Make a live Ubuntu CD, and see if the problem is there.

Download | Ubuntu

If the problem exists there, purchase a new sound card.

Of course NOW it's not doing it but I will give that a whirl next time it happens.

Thanks.