Aspire 9410-4441 DVD sound quality

I just bought the subject model notebook, and the DVD sound quality is terrible when playing a DVD movie using Windows Media Player (Vista Home Premium is the DOS). The sound is great when playing MP3s or music CDs, but when I play a movie, the sound is so low, that ANY background noise makes it impossible to hear. This is with both the built-in speakers AND if using headphones. I just bought this machine at a great price at Staples, and can return it if necessary, but don't want to if someone knows of a solution. I downloaded Cyberlink Power DVD and get the same results, so I don't think it is Media Player, but rather some type of hardware issue.

I am travelling and wanted to use it to watch a movie while on the go, but unless I am in a perfectly quiet room, it is pointless. I took it to a local Staples, and tried the same DVD in an HP machine and the sound was as it should have been. I also tried it in another Acer (didn't note the model however) and the sound again was really low as in my notebook.

Anyone have any solution? I talked to Acer, and their tech support left a lot to be desired. They didn't bother to try to find a solution...just said I could either return it, or send in for repair...

This machine is brand new and I don't think I want to give it up for a week or two for a repair that might not accomplish anything...I can see getting it back with the explanation that nothing is wrong...that the sound works...well, it does, but it is not working as I think it should.

Rob

 

go to the realtek website; they have the new R1.70 drivers for vista which should solve this issue

 

I appreciate the reply, but my drivers are up to date...I verified this....even went ahead and updated as you suggested, but no change. Any other suggestions anyone....still have very low sound when using the DVD player.

Rob

 

dvd's tend to be quieter than the other sounds you get from your computer, your dvd software may offer a volume control that lets you increase the volume. also you need to make sure that all the volume bars in the audio control panel are up fully and that your speaker settings are correct.

 

Just got mine at Staples, too, for $540. Seemed like a good enough buy. The speakers sucked; I was ready to take it back. They're fine now, though.

Try this: adjust sound level by holding down CTRL and using the up/down arrow keys - the same ones you'd use to adj volume with FN key. It is a separate adjustment, and makes a HUGE diff.

Try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised; I was, and now the speakers are satisfactory.

 

Robb,

My Aspire 9410 suffered the same DVD sound level issue.

Go to Speaker Properties, click on the Enhancement tab, and enable Loudness Equalization. DVD sound levels are much more amplified.

On the other hand this will soften .mp3 playback, but if you're like me you don't care because you don't really use your notebook for listening to tunes anyway If you do, you'll have to switch loudness equalization on/off, depending on what you are using your laptop for.

Not the perfect resolution, but if you kept the machine at least now you can watch DVD movies with good sound levels.

J