Realtek HD Audio Manager + 2.1 speakers - not working right

I just got a brand new Klipsch Promedia 2.1 system for my laptop.

These speakers have amazing ratings, and my friends who have had them before said the ones they had sounded amazing for them, and yet they, like me, notice the following problem in mine.

The bass is great, but for some reason my system seems too bassy. Like I know I can turn down the subwoofer, but it's as if all the low/bassy sounds are always drowning out the higher/vocals, which always seem to be a bit dulled down.

I have a Lenovo Y560p laptop with Realtek HD Audio. I was thinking perhaps I have this sound problem because it doesn't let me select 2.1 for my settings, and it's stuck on " stereo". I've tried downloading and installing drivers from Realtek's website.

 

It should be stereo - the speaker assembly does the .1 separation. Use the output EQ on the Realtek to cut the lows if you have issues with too much mid-bass.

 

The 2.1 is a gimmick just use the stereo setting. You can also adjust the amount of bass to suit your taste and/or environment.

 

Yep, the ProMedia is already internally crossed over....If you have any issues, there's a subforum (or used to be) for the PM 2.1 because the pods and internal amp/board gets kindof funky sometimes.

I bought 2 dead systems off ebay plus a center channel (from a matching quintet system) and made a quintet system for about $75 which is hooked up to a spare Technics 5.1 AVR and DIY sub setup.

If it's working right though, the ProMedia is a great sounding little system!

Jeremy

 

It seems as though as there's this bassy rumble from everything I watch/play and the voices and stuff just seem kind of dull and uncrisp, especially at lower volume settings. It's as though the bass, instead coming only from the sub, comes in large from the speakers as well. I tried twisting the subwoofer knob, and even if I lower the bass, the problem with the higher sounds still stays, so it's not as if I have it really high (usually keep it at the mark at the 10 o'clock location anyway).

My question to those that said to adjust the settings on some EQ, where can I do that?

And to mrniceguy - your saying it might be defective electronics in mine?

 

Your speakers are supposed to play the lower sounds as well. My speakers will play down to 1 hz. Though I can't hear much below 15-17 hz I can actually see my speakers moving at 1hz. What you don't want is your subwoofer to play high hz. I limit my subwoofer to 50-70hz depending on what subwoofer I'm using and where I have it positioned.

As the Klipsch Pro Media is a cheap sound system you don't get all the subwoofer controls that would make it so you could adjust the sound more to your liking. But just because your subwoofer doesn't have the controls on it doesn't mean you can't adjust it.

You need to open up your EQ in your media player and adjust the low frequencies until they sound more accurate to you.

 

Highly unlikely to be defective electronics. The problem you state is common to most 2.1 systems - i.e. they're designed to be played quite loud, and you can't really expect much in the way of subtlety from them unless you turn the bass RIGHT down.

You can access the EQ in the Sound Manager of the Realtek controls in the Sound Effects tab. Some vendors include the ability to change to a graphic EQ - if you don't see it, you may need to turn elsewhere.

As for the muffled treble, if it's an actual problem (i.e. you aren't unrealistically expecting glass-cutting levels of treble) then once again, check the EQ section of your Realtek manager to make sure you're not running a mode which cuts the treble.

 

I still have the question though, of WHY it doesn't let me select anything other than stereo on my Realtek HD Audio manager?!?!?!

As far as the EQ for my system, do you mean this:

 

Because there isn't a 2.1 mode. As I said, the .1 is always handled by the 2.1 speakers. It's not the responsibility (or the capability) of the connected soundcard - think about it, you're plugging in a stereo jack.

Yes. If you want to avoid 'boominess' try cutting the 31, 62 and 125hz (the latter two having probably the most effect) a little.

 

To the OP, no I'm sure your Pro Media works fine. But there is a forum if you ever do experience any noticeable issues with the sub/speakers/control pod not working properly.

 

Well I have had a few sets of the Pro Media go out on me. But they either stopped working completely(until I replaced the correct parts) or else start sounding very 'scratchy'

 

Yeah, it's a problem though I don't know if they ever corrected the issue...I bought one set to use but when it didn't work (blown resistors on board) they ebay seller sent me another set which also didn't work so they said 'keep em', and I took the speakers and hooked them up to a spare AVR and built a powered sub....

 

Btw, the question is not really on topic, but how should I adjust my volume when I want to change it, should I do it through -

1. system volume
2. media volume
3. speaker volume

And for the 2 that I don't change, what % should I keep it at?

 

You want your media player at max volume, then adjust the PC and speaker volume to a point it doesn't distort and you get adequate volume.

 

Normally you want the least amount of complexity between your origin and output when dealing with an audio signal. So the straighter the path from the source, the better.

I adjust whichever component is most convenient (the one with the remote). The others I typically set at the midway point. However, you may have to experiment since some components tend to introduce noise (hum, background, etc.) as you increase the volume.