Subwoofer doesen't work :(

It was working fine but now it sounds terrible. It really doesn't matter because I am getting a replacement but I want to know if this sub can handle the computer at maximum volume? I opened it up while playing music and if I push the sub in a little with it works

 

Maybe just a bad contact

 

Sounds like a bad contact. But on a side note, I notice that at maximum volume sometimes the speakers sound a little buzzy. I don't really know how else to describe it but it doesn't sound good, so I usually run them 1 level below max.

 

Right click on your speaker in the taskbar
Choose playback devices
Right click on speakers
Choose configure speakers
choose 5.1 (next)
Deselect center and rear, make sure subwoofer is selected.
select full range if desired.
finish and apply

 

I already had that setup, I think it's more of a hardware problem.

 

Strange I didn't even know there was a sub. I tried various tests and my sub never makes a sound. Both windows and realtek have a way to test the sub and I never hear a thing. Is this normal?

 

Maybe it's something to do with the sound option on ordering...did you get the Soundblaster XFi thing or not?

 

No i didn't, but I higly doubt that
"Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled " for $20 will add a sub woofer to your order...

UPDATE: I just popped the bottom off my laptop and it has a tiny speaker at the bottom. Do you think they would really not enable the speaker unless you bought the $20 xfi upgrade. And do you know of a way to purchase it, being that it is a software enabled upgrade?

 

@MrKuenning-Please see 5 posts above yours. The sub works fine and that's how you enable it.

 

Except for the fact that you shouldn't enable full-range speakers. The speakers in the laptop are not full range, and therefore need a sub. If you enable full range, the sub won't work nearly as well as it should.

 

I did follow that guide. I also tried configuring it in the realtek settings in control panel. When I click on the right and left speakers I get a sample sound, when I click the sub, the PC is silent. Is this normal?

 

I rebuilt my laptop with a fresh version of Windows and realised I'd installed the wrong audio driver (no bass as sub wasn't working).

So Installed the correct driver, read this thread, configured the speakers, turned up the volume, played a track... and I smiled inside

 

mind tell me what driver you install ?>

 

Not at all:

ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/audio/REALTEK_ALC665_A00_R295888.exe

You can also find the link on the Dell Support site under the M14x drivers.

 

Thanks for the info

 

i just notice my old driver works with the sub lol

 

The same happens for me in the test - if you click on the sub the volume bar moves but no sound is heard (at least nothing I could here ).

See attached.

When you actually play some music or whatever it works just fine though

 

I just notice you can set it to 2 channel set up and the sub still works fine no need to change it

you are not going to hear it working by it self you have to open it up and feel it

 

If you stick your ear against it you'll hear what's going on in there. It handles low-mid to mid-sub tones mostly but you really can't expect much lower frequencies from a <1" speaker