HOW TO IMPROVE THE SOUND OF SPEAKERS?

Are your speakers not loud enough or is you not impressed with the quality? If you want to get the best sound from your speakers, you’re in the right place. We’ll outline the different methods you can use to Make Computer Speakers Louder. Also share some of the best tools you can use to enhance the performance of sound systems on your computer.

How To Make Computer Speakers Louder in windows

The methods we’re going to share are applicable to most windows versions including windows XP through Windows 10. Some of the methods however won’t work for old Windows versions like XP or Vista. If a method doesn’t work for you, you should use another method since we’ll share different ways of doing it.

1: Change Audio Enhancement Settings

The default sound settings on Windows were meant to cover small areas and that’s why you find that the sound isn’t that great. Here is how to change the enhancement settings for more loudness:

Locate the volume icon which is in the taskbar at the bottom right of your Windows screen.

You can see “Playback Devices” from the options.

Under the “Playback” Tab, you should click on “Speakers” and then click on “properties”.

The “Speakers Properties” window will now open, you should click on the “Enhancement” tab.

Then you tick on the option “Loudness Equalization”.

You now click OK to exit the Window.

By checking the “loudness Equalization” option, you’ve to boost all the sound systems on your computer. A lot of the sound cards that come with most Windows versions support this option and if it happens that your PC doesn’t support this feature

2:Use sound boosting applications

There are a lot of applications out there that will help improve the quality of your system sounds with a few clicks and the good thing is that you’ll find many free options, but the paid ones will be better. Even the free ones require upgrading to paid plans before using premium features. The free options however aren’t bad either and you can improve the sound of your computer. Let’s take a look at some of them that are worth trying:

DFX Audio Enhancer – This is an easy plugin that allows users to improve sound quality on their computer, it’s easy to use and has great features. With DFX Audio Enhancer you’re able to improve the sound of Audio and Video files, games, and Internet audio like YouTube or any other streaming site you’re using. There is a limited edition which is free and also the paid version that has better features.

Bongiovi DPS – This is a paid tool that is good when it comes to increasing sound quality, you can however test the tool using their trial version. The tool is available on Win7, 8, and newer windows versions.

SoundPimp – This tool also comes with high definition stereo to optimize your PC sound, it’s available on all the major operating systems we have including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Using VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is the most used media player and it comes for free, this free tool can match even the paid tools out there and chances are, you’re using it to play media files. That’s why there is a need to address how to increase sound volume and quality with VLC Media Player.

Even if you’re not currently using VLC player you should consider downloading it because it allows you to increase volume than any other media player out there.

The easiest way to improve the sound on VLC Player is to use the volume control it comes with which can be seen bottom right, you can increase the volume to 125%. This increase will improve the sound of speakers significantly.

 

3: Change volume controls

With all Windows versions you have the option to adjust the volume controls and it’s one of the easiest ways you can make your computer louder. Here is how to do that:

Right-click on the speaker icon on the taskbar, at the bottom right.

Click on “Open Volume Mixer”, it should be the first option in the context menu.

On the screen that shows up, you can see your sound devices and applications with sliders so that you can adjust them. You can move the sliders up to your satisfaction.

Play your media files while you’re adjusting the slides, once you’re ok with the sound, you just close the window.

5:Check The Default Playback Device

It’s possible that you’ve added a different Playback device other than the one that comes with Windows, you want to make sure it’s the one set as the default Playback device. You can check the default Playback device with these steps:

Right-click on the Speaker Icon which is on your System tray.

Click sound from the options.

Then you click the “Playback” tab or “Playback devices”, depending on your system version.

You can now see the list of your playback devices on the screen.

Locate the device you want to use and click on it, once you click on it, then click the button “Set default” or “Set as default device”.

6: Update audio drivers

If you want the best sound on your speakers, you need the latest audio drivers installed on your computer. The audio driver will get corrupt over time if not updated, and will not send an optimized sound.

Go to Device Manager and locate your Audio Driver, just type Device Manager in windows search and you can see it. Right-click on the Audio Driver and Click on update, windows will search for updates and install them if available. You can also visit the manufacturer website to download the latest driver and then install manually on your PC, you should, however, make sure to remove the old version, or else you can encounter errors during updates.

 

7:Use Windows Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with Audio Troubleshooter: you need to use this tool when your sound is very low or when the speakers are not emitting sound properly. The Troubleshooter will find Audio problems and fix them automatically. Here is how to do that:

Type “Troubleshooter” in Windows search and the Troubleshooter Manager will show up, click to launch the tool.

Click on “Troubleshoot” to continue.

You now click on “Playing Audio” Troubleshooter.

Then you click on “Run the Troubleshooter”.

It will now scan for audio problems on your device and if found will be fixed automatically.

Clean your speakers

When dust accumulates, your speakers cannot produce sound properly, these dust particles can start playing up and cause random noise in your speakers. If you’re experiencing low sound or suspicious noise, you should open your speaker, or preferably you should take to a technician so that they can blow the dust appropriately.

 

Update Windows

When windows don’t have the essential updates, sound may be reduced, you need to update Windows after installing driver updates because most manufacturers design their audio devices in the sense that they’re compatible with the latest Windows update release. In order to check for updates, you should head over to “Settings” by pressing Windows + I keys. From the Settings App, you should click on “Update & Security”, you can now see the option “Check for updates”

 

Restart Sound Controller

If the problem isn’t fixed by now, you should restart the sound controller since they’re responsible for sound output on your computer. Here is how to do that:

Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X keys, from the list, you then choose “Device Manager”.

Go to Sound, Viedo, and Game controllers, click to expand.

Find the sound controller you’re using and right-click on it.

You can see the option “Disable Device” from the menu.

Wait for some minutes and then right the sound controller again to select “Enable”.

Restart your and see if your sound is fixed.

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HOW TO CHOOSE A SPEAKER CABLE?

The argument about the quality of speaker cable or speaker wire has been discussed by audiophiles for many years and the topic is set to continue for many years to come.

Some speaker wires can be hugely expensive and some see this investment as worthwhile, whereas others see the cost as over the top and they would rather spend it buying a better amplifier or another item of equipment.

Speaker Cable basics

The loudspeaker cable is the wire or cable used to connect the amplifier to the loudspeaker system.

Like all cables, it has three main properties: capacitance, inductance, and resistance. As a result of the environment in which the speaker wire operates it is the resistance that is the most important. This is brought about by the relatively low frequencies used and the system impedance. Most speaker systems have an impedance of anywhere between around three or four ohms up to around 15 ohms. Today most loudspeaker systems have an impedance between four and eight ohms.

As the resistance rises it starts to affect the system's performance. Obviously, there can be a reduction in the drive current to the loudspeaker as the voltage across the cable increases. The other issue is that the back EMF created by the loudspeaker needs to have a low-impedance source against which to work. As the source impedance rises, so the back EMF is absorbed less. This affects the performance of the loudspeaker, particularly in the bass region where the bass may not be as pronounced and it may sound less natural.

It is this change in the tonal quality of the loudspeaker that audiophiles tend to worry about.

Typically the effects of the speaker cable start to become noticeable when the resistance of the cable reaches about 5% of the speaker impedance. Some may even say it needs to be less.

Speaker Cable make-up

The resistance of the speaker cable can be altered by three main elements:

Length:   The resistance of the loudspeaker wire is proportional to its length. There are two guiding principles:

Keep lengths as short as possible:   As the resistance is proportional to the length, it is obviously best to keep the lengths as short as possible. In this way, the resistance is minimized. However, the separation of the two speakers to provide the right stereo effect must be maintained.

Keep lengths equal:   The other guiding principle is to keep the speaker wire to both speakers the same in this way, they will both see the same resistance and the system will be better balanced.

Cross-sectional area:   The cross-sectional area or gauge of the speaker wire also has a major effect. The smaller the wire cross-section, the higher the resistance will be.

Conductor material:   Copper is normally the conductor material of choice. It has a very good level of conductivity, it can be bent easily and the cost is quite acceptable.

Speaker wire conductor materials

There is a choice of a number of metals for use within the conductor of the speaker wire.

Copper:   Copper is the most commonly used material for speaker wire. Its cost is reasonable and it has a good level of conductivity, i.e. it provides a low level of resistance in the wire. However, copper does oxidize - the surface can become coated with a thin layer of copper oxide; this creates a high resistance barrier between the cable and the speaker or amplifier where the connection takes place. Normally using screw pillars etc break through the layer, but over time it can cause a higher than the required level of resistance.

Silver:   Silver offers slightly lower resistance than copper, but it oxidizes. It is also considerably more expensive than copper. This means that a thicker copper wire will actually still be cheaper to buy.

Gold:   Gold has the lowest resistance and also it does not oxidize. However it is phenomenally expensive and as a result, it is not used for the wire itself. When it can be viably used is where the connections are made. Here a thin layer of plated gold can make a difference as it enables good contact to be made.

In general, the higher the level of purity of the wire, the greater the cost. Oxygen-free copper wire can be very costly. Whether this actually brings any audible benefit is up to the individual to decide.

Bi-wire & single wire speaker cable

Apart from the material and insulation used in the speaker wire, there is also an option to use either what is termed bi-wire cable.

Bi-wire speaker cable is used when the speaker and amplifier have two sets of connections, one for bass and one for the other frequencies. Normally there is a cross-over unit in the speaker, but it can also be placed within the amplifier, and in this way, the bass and higher frequencies can have separate amplifiers, more tailored to their individual requirements. It is said that this gives a more open sound stage and increases levels of detail. Others say that single-wire speaker cabling systems offer a more musically coherent sound. This is another discussion that audio enthusiasts can debate for many years to come.

If the speakers have only one connection then this makes the decision straightforward. If the amplifier and speakers have a bi-wire system, then bi-wire speaker cabling, consisting of four parallel conductors can be installed

Speaker cable cost / benefit

There are very many levels of speaker cable that can be used. Some cables can be exorbitantly expensive. Some manufacturers claim many improved properties and this can add significantly to the cost. Whether these benefits actually result in any audible improvement is debatable.

The most important element is the actual gauge of the wire. Often 4mm wire is thought to be the maximum anyone might want. 1.6mm or 2 mm is often thought to be more adequate for the relatively short runs found in most home systems.

4mm wire is very thick. As an indication, it has been reported that the Abbey Road studios in London (where the Beatles and many other top artists have recorded their music) have a very superb playback system and this uses 4mm oxygen-free cable. Their cable runs will be quite long as they will need to go around the studio.

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How to connect a subwoofer

How to connect a subwoofer

Description

This article explains how to connect a subwoofer to a receiver or amplifier by using LFE cables, RCA cables, or speaker wire connections.

Connect Using the LFE Subwoofer Output

The preferred method of connecting a subwoofer is through the subwoofer output (labeled SUB OUT or SUBWOOFER) of a receiver using an LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) cable. Almost all home theater receivers and processors and some stereo receivers have this type of subwoofer output.

Surround sound audio (also known as 5.1 channel audio) such as media found on DVDs or cable television, has a dedicated channel output with bass-only content that is best reproduced by a subwoofer. Setting this up requires connecting the LFE or subwoofer output jack on the receiver/amplifier to the LINE IN or LFE IN jack on the subwoofer. It's usually just one cable with single RCA connectors on both ends.

Connect Using Stereo RCA or Speaker Level Outputs

Sometimes a receiver or amplifier does not have the LFE subwoofer output, and sometimes the subwoofer doesn't have the LFE input. Instead, the subwoofer might have right and left (R and L) stereo RCA connectors or spring clips like you see on the back of standard speakers.

If the subwoofer's LINE IN uses RCA cables and the subwoofer out on the receiver/amplifier also uses RCA, plug it in using an RCA cable. If the cable is split on one end (a y-cable for both right and left channels), plug it in the R and L ports on the subwoofer. If the receiver/amplifier also has left and right RCA plugs for subwoofer output, be sure to also plug in both to the receiver.

If the subwoofer features spring clips for speaker wire, use the receiver's speaker output to hook it all up. This process is the same as connecting a basic stereo speaker using speaker wire. Be sure to mind the channels. If the subwoofer has two sets of spring clips (for speaker in and speaker out), it means that other speakers connect to the subwoofer, which then connects to the receiver to pass along the audio signal. If the subwoofer has​ only one set of spring clips, the subwoofer must share the same receiver connections as the speakers. The best way to accomplish this is by using banana clips that can plug into the backs of each other rather than overlapping bare wire.

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How to Optimize Your Center Channel Speaker.

How to Optimize Your Center Channel Speaker.

Description

Getting the Center Channel Up off the Ground

No matter how good your center channel speaker is, if it's not firing directly into the listening area, or if its direct path is being obstructed by furniture or by peoples heads, the sound will be compromised.

Take for example the recent $65k+ Status Acoustics 8T & 8C Loudspeaker System we tested and installed into the Audioholics Showcase Home Theater Room.

I initially plopped down the Status 8C center channel on my 20" Plateau stands while I focused on testing and reviewing the 8T tower speakers (as shown in the picture below).  It sounded quite good positioned like this, but more so in the front row than the back row.  My theater room as two rows of seating with the second row placed on top of a riser platform.

From the second row of seating, the direct path of sound from the drivers was being partly blocked by the theater chairs from the front row.  This made the dialogue less intelligible.  I needed to raise the center channel up just a few inches but not so high that it would obstruct the image on the screen.  

My quick and dirty solution was two-fold:

Raise the stands by attaching 2" feet borrowed from the RBH Sound MS10.1 subwoofer.

Tilt the center channel up 5-10 degrees by placing foam on the front of the stands, courtesy of Auralex.

You can achieve a tilt in your center channel speaker one of two ways, either tilt the stands up, or place something on the top of the stands to tilt up the speaker while leaving the stands level.

Tilt the stands-up method

If you can get custom feet built for your stands to prop them higher, its a good endeavor to pursue over just dumping a good speaker stand that may be only a few inches too short.  It would also be a good idea to perhaps make the front feet of the stands a bit longer than the back feet so that the speaker will have a slight tilt upward.  You can then affix rubber sticky pads to the back of the stands to secure the speaker and prevent it from sliding off the stands.  If you have this option, than you can skip the option below with the foam inserts.

Tilt under the speaker with foam inserts method

If you inserted equal length feet to raise the level of the stands but now need a tilt, you can achieve this by putting foam inserts on the top of the stands towards the front.  I had some extra studiofoam left over from when I had my room treated by Auralex and cut a few pieces to place on top of the Plateau stands.  You could just as easily use egg carton foam found at Home Depot or similar type of products.  Using black electrical tape, I taped them down to the stands so that they would stay still when placing the 130lbs Status Acoustics 8C center channel on top of them.  This also allows them to compress more evenly with the weight of the center channel.  I also recommend placing adhesive felt pads towards the back of the speaker stands so that the back of the speaker is dampened from the direct contact with the hard metal surface.   With the center channel carefully placed on top of the stands, it resulted in about a 7-10 degree tilt upward after the foam compressed.

If you want a less DIY solution then Auralex’s MoPAD Monitor Isolation Pads would be a great alternative.  They can give your speakers a slight tilt and provide isolation at the same time.  I've used them with excellent success to decouple speakers from an in-wall cabinet while also tilting them down towards the listening area as you can read in my review.

As you can see, I was able to raise the speaker up to just a couple of inches below the frame of the screen.  It also has enough tilt now so that when sitting in the back row, the drivers aren't being blocked by the front row of seating.  You can check this by placing a laser pointer on top of your center channel speaker while aiming it toward your theater chairs.  With the alterations I made, the laser pointer fires straight towards the top of the center chair of my second row at the tweeter level.  Success!

Audioholics Showcase Theater Chairs - (see the laser line on the center back seat)

Additional Tweak Suggestions

Here are some additional tweaks to further improve performance of your center cthe hannel.

Fill your Stands with Sand

Although the hefty Status 8C center channel cabinet is completely inert and free of cabinet resonance, the hollow Plateau stands are not.  But luckily, I was able to completely fill the columns of the stands with sand to solidify them.  You must use dry, very fine sand which you can readily find at a pet store.  It took two 20lbs bags of sand to fill both stands.  But, once filled, the resonance issue was completely eliminated. This is a well-worth tweak for anyone using speaker stands for any of your speakers.  Not only does it eliminate resonance but it also makes the stands far sturdier.

Absorb the floor reflections

Since the center channel is typically closer to the floor than the front speakers, it's perhaps even more critical to absorb floor reflections.  If your flooring is carpeted then you likely don't need to take this measure.  But in my case, we have hardwood flooring in our theater room.  We do have a large throw rug that absorbs the first reflections for the main Status 8T towers, but the center channel definitely benefits from some additional floor absorption.  I tested this by throwing down a piece of 1" acoustical foam as you can see in the picture above.  The end result wasn't dramatic but every little bit helps and it's certainly worth a try. 

Along the same vein, if your center speaker is sitting on a TV stand or shelf, pull it to the front of the stand/shelf to eliminate the unwanted reflections caused by the close proximity of the surface it resides on. Again, you may not notice a huge difference (or you may), but each of these tweaks makes a little difference leading to a large difference cumulatively.

Bass Management, Level Match & Time Alignment

Once everything is set in place, it's imperative to properly configure and calibrate all of your speakers.  Most center channel speakers should be set to "small" and crossed over at 80Hz so that the dedicated subwoofer handles bass duties.

Using an analog SPL meter set for C-wt, slow response, use the internal test tones of your A/V receiver/processor to level match your speakers.  I typically run my center channel about 1dB hot from the front row. That way, the back row isn't drowned out by the surround speakers and you can still clearly hear the dialogue.  

Last but not least, be sure you properly set the distance of all of your speakers in the speaker setup menu of your processor. 

Wrap Up

It's a certainty that someone in our forums will likely make a comment on this little editorial article asking why I didn't just use a larger perforated screen and place three identical speakers vertically mounted behind the screen.  (OK, I've heard this a lot before, can't you tell?)  While that may be an ideal solution for some, it wasn't for this install for the following reasons:

Perforated screens are ALWAYS a compromise for critical two-channel performance not just for the slight losses in high frequencies, but the diffraction they cause if NOT perfectly flush mounted near the speakers.  The primary emphasis of the Audioholics Showcase system is audio before video.

Placing three nearly 6 foot Status 8T towers in a room is both unaffordable and impractical.

The screen would have to be massive to fully cover these speakers entirely and would cause severe vertigo for our patrons, especially when playing XBOX.

When you have such beautiful speakers as these, you want to show them off, not hide them behind a screen.

The end result of this tweak was a marked improvement of an already excellent sounding installation (most notably from the back row) and an enhancement aesthetically by having the center channel propped up higher towards the screen.  I highly recommend you take the time to properly place and set up all of your speakers, and give some extra attention to the center channel as it will repay you in dividends when trying to understand what Bane is saying while crushing Batman's back.

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how to

Digital to Analog

Digital to Analog 

 Product Description:

D/A converter and bluetooth converters convert optical or coaxial digital audio signals and bluetooth receivers into stereo analog signals. The Audio Power Amplifier helps users connect high quality digital audio signals to conventional audio channels. This product is suitable for home theater, teaching, training structure, conference room, appliance store and other places to use.

Features:

* Support convert digital audio signals to analog audio

* Bluetooth receiver, built-in Bluetooth 5.0 chip

* Support one fiber and one coaxial input interface

* Support RL audio output

*Built-in high performance chip supports 192kHz/24bit audio parameters

*Ultra low power consumption

*ABS shell

*DC 5V

*Dimensions: 50*42*22mm

*Optical cable length: 1 meter

*USB power cable length: 90 see

Packing list:

DAC Bluetooth Decoder *1

USB power cable *1

Fiber optic cable *1

Manual *1

Characteristics

brand name        ICANING

PCM sampling rate       96 kHz

PCM bit depth        32 bit

Inputs               Optical (SPDI/F)

Inputs              Coaxia

brand name              ICANING

PCM sampling rate       96 kHz

PCM bit depth         32 bit

Inputs                     Optical (SPDI/F)

Inputs                    Coaxial

Housing material    Plastic

Origin                   China

Outputs                 RCA

Type of Portable

DSD sampling rate Not

Dimensions (W x H x D) 50*42*22mm

DAC -

OS Compatibility via USB     Not

Reading formats -

Certification                       Eurotest (CE)

Model number              Bluetooth DAC

Bluetooth support              Not

WiFi support                       Not

Minimum unit of measurement 100000015

Sold In sell_by_piece

Each package one

Weight of logistics 0.070

Logistics size - length (cm) 5

Logistics size - height (cm) 5

Logistics size - width (cm) 5

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Best Way to Sync LED's With Music

Best Way to Sync LED's With Music

Don't know what a transistor is? Don't know how to code Arduino? Don't worry! This tutorial will show you how to wire up LED lights so they flash to the beat of your music. A few things to note: With this setup, the LEDs will flash mostly in time with the bass line of the music. Is this the best way to use flashing lights with music? No, it's relatively rough, but it lasted me a whole year of use and only cost $40.

You will need:

- LED light in this link (and can be found in any auto zone)

-Wire strippers

- Insulating tape (or heat shrink tubing)

- The bass speaker you want the light to react with

Step 1: Buy LEDs

As I said, they can be found in autozone and look like this:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Type-S-4-pcs-blue-LED-undercar-kit/_/N-25ve?counter=0&itemIdentifier=204999_0_0_

I haven't tried this with other autozone LEDs, but they should work because they all need to be regulated from a 12V DC source (aka car battery)

Step 2: Attach LEDs

Literally all you have to do is plug the two wires coming out of the LED into the two speaker connectors on the speaker. Remove the plastic from the wire with pullers so you can twist it with the speaker wire. You will notice that the LED lights up with every musical beat. The louder the song, the brighter the LED. I said earlier that my setup lasted 1 year. This is because I was constantly playing loud music in my car and it ended up blowing out a few LED lights.

NOTE: The speaker terminal in the picture only shows the speaker wire, not the LED wire going to it

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