Why do I have low volume???

PhatMo · 03-30-2006, 04:06 AM

I installed my carputer a few months ago and I WAS very happy with the sound. I have a soundblaster X-fi sound card and the clarity is amazing. But recently I realized that the volume doesn't get as loud as I would like it to, even when at 100%. I have to listen to music at 90% just for me to hear the music at a moderate level. Its just not as loud as other systems that I have seen. There are just some times when I feel like listening to music loud and my system setup right now doesn't allow me to do that. Even my stock system was way louder than this while still sounding clean.

I realized this volume issue when I sat in my friend's car who has an alpine deck (which I do not...I run from the sound card directly to the amps) running to a couple of alpine amps, CDT speakers and no computer setup. His system gets very loud and you can judge how clean it sounds by the hardware...its amazing :P.

I've done some research and from what I hear getting a line driver does nothing to solve volume issues. Anybody have the same experiences? Any suggestions??

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 09:57 AM

have you checked the sound on windows?
have you checked the sound in whatever program you're using to play your music?
have you checked your gains on your amps? (better yet, have you set them properly?)
are you sure that this isn't just your recording?
do CDs play any louder?

if you're reading that a line driver does nothing, I'd like to see that thread please! Post up a link if you can.

If you're not getting your amps the voltage they need, then they can't produce the volume in the first place. This is where many people rely on the adjustable gains. They are there for this reason, but many times, people abuse them.

If you don't have anything to work with in the first place, then turning up nothing won't give you much of anything....make sense?

btw - I know that on the M10000, the voltage out from the mobo on-board sound is only like .5v....that's hardly anything

do you know what the voltage out on the X-FI card is?

Hark · 03-30-2006, 10:27 AM

This is a common problem when not using a headunit - the typical suggestion is to use a line driver or use the aux-in on a headunit.

strohj · 03-30-2006, 10:51 AM

have you made sure that both your WAVE and MASTER volumes are set at a appropriate level?? (I assume you are experiencing the volume issues when playing a MP3 ...

Will Albers · 03-30-2006, 11:52 AM

Your wave or master volume level is low. The xfi has PLENTY of output voltage. no line driver required.

shotgunefx · 03-30-2006, 12:14 PM

Line-driver worked for me. I used a Pac turbo-1. Could be a bit louder, but 100 times better than without. Then again, at the moment I'm using a headphone jack. Not sure what the difference in voltage between that and a line-out are.

Lineout may or may not be louder.

3onDubs · 03-30-2006, 12:23 PM

Set the gains on your amps properly (tern em up a bit)....and make sure that your front end maps your music volume to general volume.

shotgunefx · 03-30-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 3onDubs

Set the gains on your amps properly (tern em up a bit)....and make sure that your front end maps your music volume to general volume.

If you have them. My factory amp has no controls.

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 12:32 PM

how about we let the guy come back in here and respond to the given things first....lol

PhatMo · 03-30-2006, 12:45 PM

Thanks for all the input guys..

The SB X-Fi puts out 2V RMS and the wave volume controls are all up. Centrafuse, which is the front end that I am using, does have direct control of the master volume. Is this what you mean by having my front end "map" with the master controls? I am not able to set the gains on my amp (Alpine MRV-F345), all I can do is digitally specify the input voltage. I have it set at 2V and I have tried putting it at 4V to see if it makes a difference, but it doesn't.

I have this problem with any audio I play on the computer, including videos, MP3s, and Cds. I have to turn the master volume up half way just to hear the music when im driving. Then I have to go to 90% to get the volume to a normal listening level. I am running the amp to stock speakers in the car...do you think there is a problem there? I have a Lexus and I hear that Toyota/Lexus speakers dont mix well with aftermarket amps.

I'm not sure how much a line driver would really help me because I already put out 2V RMS from the sound card. Any other thoughts on this?

I can't find the thread that people stated line drivers do not make a difference in volume but I will keep looking. They probably had cards that already put out 1-2V.

PhatMo · 03-30-2006, 12:47 PM

haha I think I was typing out my last reply when Red posted :P

3onDubs · 03-30-2006, 12:54 PM

Instead of setting your amp gain digitally to 4V.....try setting it to 1V or less than 1V if possible and report back.

RedGTiVR6 · 03-30-2006, 01:06 PM

have you set your gains on your amps correctly?

shotgunefx · 03-30-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PhatMo

Thanks for all the input guys..

The SB X-Fi puts out 2V RMS and the wave volume controls are all up. Centrafuse, which is the front end that I am using, does have direct control of the master volume. Is this what you mean by having my front end "map" with the master controls? I am not able to set the gains on my amp (Alpine MRV-F345), all I can do is digitally specify the input voltage. I have it set at 2V and I have tried putting it at 4V to see if it makes a difference, but it doesn't.

I have this problem with any audio I play on the computer, including videos, MP3s, and Cds. I have to turn the master volume up half way just to hear the music when im driving. Then I have to go to 90% to get the volume to a normal listening level. I am running the amp to stock speakers in the car...do you think there is a problem there? I have a Lexus and I hear that Toyota/Lexus speakers dont mix well with aftermarket amps.

I'm not sure how much a line driver would really help me because I already put out 2V RMS from the sound card. Any other thoughts on this?

I can't find the thread that people stated line drivers do not make a difference in volume but I will keep looking. They probably had cards that already put out 1-2V.

I don't see how it couldn't make a difference. That's what they do, increase the signal (voltage)

I can tell you for my setup (stock infinity amp with no adjustments) works great.

BTW, it bumps mine up to about 4.2v

PhatMo · 03-30-2006, 02:37 PM

Hmmm maybe a line driver is something for me to look into then.

I will try putting my input voltage setting at 1V and I will tell you what happens when I get out of class (lecture got boring so I decided to check the forum). Maybe the amp will amplify the output more because it thinks the input voltage is lower. Good idea 3ondubs.

Red, I dont have any direct control over my amp gains. All I can do is specify the input voltage from the source. Its cool but it sucks at the same time.

Shotgunefx, are you saying that you noticed a difference in loudness and clarity with the line driver?? Are you using integrated or a card from your computer??

Keep the ideas coming guys!

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