Hi-
My HPz400 produces a lower volume than my old dell 620. I have everything maxed out in the realtek driver per suggestions on the web but the sound is still kind of low. Would getting a cheap soundcard boost the volume. I had a card years ago and it had a volume dial on it and it was pretty strong.
Thanks
The short answer is no. Sound Cards do not have power amplifiers on them. They output a signal and its up to the speakers amplify the sound. Years ago, sound cards had power amplifiers built into them but that was before Windows XP.
If your headset is not loud enough, you will have to get a small headset amplifier to connect between the PC and the headset or a different headset. If the speakers are not loud enough, a new higher power speaker system is needed.
However, if there is a hardware problem with the on-board Realtek then a separate sound card MAY help your situation.
Thanks for the info. This is sad. I updated the drivers and maxed out all of the volume controls. And experimented with selection various options that were suggested with only a nominal increase in volume. windows has taken a step backwards vs XP. A lot of people are having the same issues. I looked as some amplifiers but they seem to require a battery or are expensive. Is there something that can plug into a usb?
Without doing a lot of research I don't know if a small USB powered amplifier is available.
I have 4 different PC's (two desktops and two laptops) with Realtek on-board sound and its more than enough for my powered speakers, internal speakers on the laptops or a headphone.
Here is an older forum post that offers some help for headphones, on SOME systems.
Realtek HD - Low Volume Fix
nope. professional soundcards will output at +4db, consumer grade devices at -10.
VLC will let you play audio at 200% volume. is a fix if source is encoded too low.
you could spend anything between 50 and 5000.- on a mixer, soundcard or speakers, any of the three is a possible solution.
controlling volume in windows mixer is retarded btw. soundcards only offer full resolution at full level. level reduction should happen in the analog realm.
Sorry for being a non technical noob, you are saying that a soundcard may boost the volume to my headphones? Thanks PS I have found an external sound card that may work but Im not sure https://jet.com/product/62d0ff6d9312...DOURoC_n_w_wcB
didn't know it was about headphones. here impedance also comes into play.
low impedance headphones (~30ohm) will deliver high volume without much amplification.
but yes, that external souncard will most likely boost volume even though it looks like crap.
anything decent will set you back upwards of 130 bucks.
I've had indestructable sennheiser HD25 headphones for 19 (!!!) years and they are very loud on anything although relatively high 70 ohms. 180$ to buy, but i don't know anybody else with less than 9 bucks in annualized headphone cost
that's a great feature about studio grade audio stuff: you don't ever have to upgrade. I've had my genelec speakers for 15 years. they will blow anything from the consumer space out of the water for another 20. great TCO
$130 wow thats over my budget for sound. I am shocked that the sound signal can not seem to be easily amplified by windows7 or it's software. Im not an audiophile by any means. It would be nice to be able to hear some of the quiet youtube videos like I did when I had xp
"....can not seem to be easily amplified by windows7 or it's software" VLC can. but it will give you clipping if source file is strong. won't youtube.
i think high quality lower impedance headphones might improve your life all around. PC, ipod, smartphone...
you can also buy the external sound card you mentioned. but don't expect it to be high quality, last long or provide future driver updates.
but the best way to save money in the long run is to buy proper stuff once, never upgrade. audio can do that, silicone can't.
good points. I feel kind of mad that I have to upgrade to expensive headphones to hear the same youtube tutorials that came in loud and clear before I moved to windows7. Quite a few folks are complaining about the sound quality of windows 7. Microsoft needs to step it up. Guess Ill look around for some low impedance phones
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