Xonar dx2 low sound levels

Greebo

Greebo

Greebo

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I have just got a 2nd hand Xonar dx2 with windows 7 and Asus latest windows 7 64 bit beta drivers.

I haven't got a suitable otpical cable yet so it is connected with the 3.5mm jack outs to my Logitech z-5500 speakers. Even with these on full volume and 11 boost the sound level is barely acceptable.

With my onboard sound optical outlet previously, you couldn't go past half volume without the neighbours complaining and full volume made the ornaments fall off the shelf!

So while I wait for my optical lead to arrive, is this normal behaviour for the dx2?

Is the problem windows 7 64 bit, driver or a dodgy soundcard? Or is this normal and optical will fix everything?

If normal then I am disappoint as the volume levels on my headphones are going to unusable.
 
did you get latest driver from Asus website?

I have the dx with same speakers in Vista 64, volume levels are 'normal'

double check all of the volume sliders for each app, 7/vista can control their levels individually. to do this, right click the volume icon in bottom right (the windows one), Open Volume Mixer
 
Latest beta driver from Asus site: check

Volume sliders all to full in mixer: check

I presume your dx is connected with just the 3.5mm jacks as well then?

This is not looking good for the card...........:(
 
power cable plugged in?

yes I'm using those jacks.

this is what I would do.


test with headphones (incase speakers are duff)
test with a live linux disc, like ubuntu or linuxmint
test with a vista install
try another pci-e slot

just to be sure.



also, double check you've got the right leads plugged in etc.. and the speaker mode set to 5.1 in windows
 
bledd. said:
power cable plugged in? Yep

yes I'm using those jacks.

this is what I would do.


test with headphones (incase speakers are duff)I hope not but will check to ensure they are not duff :(
test with a live linux disc, like ubuntu or linuxmintErrrggghh I wouldn't know where to start ;)
test with a vista installGood point, not got vista anymore but still have an xp disc so might give that a go
try another pci-e slotI can if I remove one stick of my ram but since this is only for test purposes, i'll give that a go

just to be sure.



also, double check you've got the right leads plugged in etc.. and the speaker mode set to 5.1 in windows
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the suggestions. Most helpful;)
 
I had this problem this week. To resolve the issue try these two things:

Install the drivers with NOTHING plugged into the back of the sound card.
When you come to install the drivers use the setup.exe in the Vista_W7 folder, not the one that is on its own with a single ini file.

Doing both of those things should resolve your issue on all OS.
 
Make sure all your outputs are turned in the standard windows audio control panel (simple i know)

Turn svn on.
 
robnut said:
Make sure all your outputs are turned in the standard windows audio control panel (simple i know)

Turn svn on.
Click to expand...

:confused: What is "svn" please?

Also I have only being in the audio volume mixer from the task bar. Are you saying there is something else in the "control panel" that I need to look at as well?
 
yeah thats an option in the panels somewhere ( i never had it on btw), but have you tried what i suggested?
Make sure you uninstall the card, reboot, reinstall the card with the setup.exe i sepecified and then reboot again and only then plug in your speakers/headphones. Also id disable onboard audio in the bios if you have it.
 
At work atm so can't try until tonight :(

Oh and I disable onboard sound before installing the card but I did install the software with the leads plugged in.
 
Just to confirm it certainly isn't the drivers, I have exactly the same set up as you and not had a problem with them.

In fact the drivers fixed the few issues I have been having.
 
Fenris said:
Just to confirm it certainly isn't the drivers, I have exactly the same set up as you and not had a problem.
Click to expand...

it could be the drivers, not all hardware configs are the same, you've probably got a different motherboard etc..
 
Almost 100% sure its caused by the setup.exe used. Installed using both exes and one produced the problem whilst the other didnt.
 
bledd. said:
it could be the drivers, not all hardware configs are the same, you've probably got a different motherboard etc..
Click to expand...

Ah true, didn't really think about that.

Well I can at least say the drivers are at least not completely broken and have the potential for working without issue.
 
I get the exact same problem with my dx, except mine only crops up if i incorrectly restart my PC/power goes off/it crashs

at absolute max volume it's barely audible yes? and, not sure if you can test, does the microphone not pick anything up either?

The only thing that fixes mine is turning the PC off for a few minutes then it works again so i can't really be of any help but it's interesting to hear someone having the same problem as me
 
Can't believe I forgot about this.

Greebo, do you get 2 programs asking permission to run on start up by any chance called "HSmgr" and "HSmgr64"?

It is possible that your anti virus is blocking them which may be what is causing the issue, its a known problem with a few anti virus programs (Avast being one).

Just if you want to be sure, do the following:

Download the drivers again, extract the files and then open the folder up, go to Vista_W7\SoftwareDriver\DLL, Right click on HsMgr.exe then select properties and click on UNBLOCK then APPLY, Do the same for HsMgr64.exe, you don't have to reinstall the drivers.

See if it makes a difference, again this may be nothing to do with your issue but its worth a shot at least.
 
Fenris, I'll try your thing next as I have now tried the following:

Put headphones in and still very low sound so not my speakers.

Got my optical cable and all is well and eardrum shattering volume levels on my speakers.

Tried a different pci-e slot

Uninstalled drivers, rebooted, install with no leads connected running the setup from the windows7 folder, not the main setup.

Download previous vista64 drivers and they are even worse if that is possible?

So it would seem it definitely a driver/hardware incompatibility problem and now stuck after I try Fenris' idea.

Will report back shortly.
 
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