line in audio (5.1 rear sound)very low

**rx2nr** · 05-10-2007, 05:24 PM

my 'line out' doesnt work and has since been using my 'line in' (blue connection) to get sound. the problem is the sound is too low and if i set everything to 'max' the audio doesnt sound that great. the previous owner got it to work before and i have no other way of contacting him.

questions:
1. is there a way to swap the front channels to the rear channels?
(ive seen that option in the ffdshow audio decoder config but dont know how it works.)

2. is there any other way to raise my rear speaker volume?

specs:
OS: WIndows Xp SP2 (Tiny XP Rev 05)
Motherboard: Via m9000

Latest Audio Driver: Vinly Ac'97 Audio (WAVE)
<br>Speaker Setup: 5.1 Surround Sound
Smart 5.1 Enabled

Volume maxed to 100%:
Playback:
Master Volume
Wave
Line In
PC Speaker
<br>[/INDENT][/INDENT]Multi-Channel:
Front Speaker
Rear Speaker

**klp45** · 05-10-2007, 06:29 PM

I am having the EXACT same problem, but also the sub output seems a little weak. My sound is soooooo low. I am under the impression the the side surround is in fact a side surround, by that I mean they only kick-in when needed. I ended up placing a headphone spliter on the front. I lose any chance of surround, but I am able to hear all four inside speakers. I thought there was something very wrong with the drivers, so I updated via via's website (no pun intended) and still the same low performance.

As far as the subs; I selected the "exchange center/sub" in the speaker tab, and it got better but it is still very weak. I think that the computer may not have enough voltage to supply amps. I am now wondering if any soundcard can provide the amps with enough signal.

I am thinking of just going back to a regular head unit with three preamps because onboard sound just isn't getting it and i think it may be hard for any soundcard too.

I'm looking forward to some light being shed on this situation.
Also, when you click on the speakers so they play the tone to indentify them, I can't get the right rear speaker to make a tone - just a tid bit.

**mp3gtr** · 05-10-2007, 07:47 PM

If you open up the Sound and Audio Devices in Control Panel and then click on the Advanced button at the bottom does it show your speaker setup as "5.1 surround sound speakers" ?

Also if you open up your "Master Volume applet" and click on the Advanced button at the bottom. The Advanced Controls for Master Volume has a couple of
options for;
1 Rear Speaker connected to Line In
2 Center speaker and subwoofer connected to Microphone
do either of these options have ticks in the relevant tickboxes?

HTH

**rx2nr** · 05-10-2007, 09:54 PM

did all of those.

**durwood** · 05-11-2007, 07:09 AM

Did you read through this?

Also in addition, I have heard other people who have used ac3filter to get stereo 5 channel sound, but I don;t know how well it will work for you since you are using the line in.

You might just be suffering from poor onboard audio. You could upgrade to a better soundcard, or if it's just a volume issue there are several options for line drivers.

david navone
Phoneix Gold
Audiocontrol Matrix

**rx2nr** · 05-11-2007, 11:04 AM

yes ive tried that guide step by step. ive seen that option on the ac3filter to swap channels (redirecting the front channel to the rear) but dont know how my player can use the filter.. and yes ..its a volume thing...its a little too low to be heard... i cant turn the volume all the way to the max because then the sound becomes distorted.

DIGItonium · 05-17-2007, 12:30 PM

The reason why sub output is weak is because PC speakers have built-in crossovers to mix the L+R channels and feed it to the sub. For speaker systems like our vehicles, we need the sound card driver to do the mixing and crossover to the sub.

Creative has this feature, and you can set the crossover point so lower frequencies from the main speakers get sent to the sub output.

When watching movies, this feature is not relevant.