Windows sound not too aidible compared to media

[pintree3]

All my media players play sound well (including internet based ones), both music and video but Windows default sounds are barely audible. Why s this so and is it fixable? I think this happened after installing a bluetooth 4.0 dongle.
OS: Win 7 Home Prem. 64 bit
Sound-related hardware: on board sound card, webcam, bluetooth headset, video card, 5.1 speakers
Hardware not attached with PC: headphones and bluetooth headset (attached with a blutooth dongle with its own sound drivers).
Audio-Video Players: MediaMonkey, VLC, GOM Player, Windows MP, MPC-HC, Quicktime
Thank you

 

[fireberd]

I have a separate volume control for System Sounds. Right click on the speaker Icon in the Notification area (lower right) The Click on Open Mixer.

Here is mine:

 

[pintree3]

thanks firebred. I had never noticed that detail. However, it seems that only the opposite is true. That is I can make system sounds lower than (or equal to) the rest but never higher.
BTW I seem to have 2 default devices: ''DFX Speakers (DFX audio enhancer)'' as the 'Default Device' (the only one visible in the Mixer you mention) and 'Speakers (VIA Audio Definition Audio)' as my 'Default Communication Device'

 

[rvcjew]

does this happen when you are using the headset with say skype running? you might have the sound setting for communication set to limit noise for other things. Is Mediamonkey and others using say WASAPI to output sound or Directsound? What model is the headset and speakers? Just trying to get all hardware and software basis covered.

rvcjew

 

[pintree3]

Thanks rvcjew. I am aware of such things regarding windows settings to lower the volume when say, on Skype, but that is not my case--it is not set as such. I can go to youtube while on skype and all sounds well. The headset hasn't been used yet so I wouldn't know what its effects are. I only mentioned it because it exists and it was installed but not yet tried.
The headset (iKross Bluetooth Headset IKBLU076 but I also have others) is not for PC. It's for my cell phone and am trying to see if I could get it to work with my PC (only 1/2 succeeded so far but that's another issue)
The Speakers are Cyber Acoustics CA-5402
As to MM its output is DirectSound, VLC and GOM are set to Auto.