Klipsch Ultra 5.1 users, urgent help needed(low volum)

[enclavesaga]

I just got a new set of Ultra 5.1. Did what the manul said, connected all thing properly and cranked up all volum in window to 75%. However, the speaker is barely audiable at 50 in controller pod, literally mute below that, had to crank up to all the way to maximum(80) to get some mild "rattling" effect, far from the "windwo break" volum descriped by some users at a mere 50% volum. my previous inferior Logitech easily dwarfs it in volum.
My soundcard is the XFI, driver upto date, I didn't change a thing after I ditched the logi.
Anyone has the same volum issue or got any fix?

 

[beemercer]

What media player are you using; if win-amp, try turning the pre-amp up.

 

[imported_Imp]

All you're getting is a 'rattling', as in real sound or just distortion? My bet is you're just getting distortion. This is a stupid questiong, but have you double checked/triple checked wiring? Sure you didn't confuse the plugs on the X-fi cause I have many times; plugged fronts into rears, thought I broke something. ~Never put the sticker on the back. If this isn't the case, you could have a dud, no surprise if you check out Klipschs own forums on this set. Good luck.

 

[beemercer]

Also check to see if all of the satellite speakers are playing sound, sometimes you will only get 2.1 sound (this will cut down the volume).

 

[beemercer]

Originally posted by: Imp
All you're getting is a 'rattling', as in real sound or just distortion? My bet is you're just getting distortion. This is a stupid questiong, but have you double checked/triple checked wiring? Sure you didn't confuse the plugs on the X-fi cause I have many times; plugged fronts into rears, thought I broke something. ~Never put the sticker on the back. If this isn't the case, you could have a dud, no surprise if you check out Klipschs own forums on this set. Good luck.

Another thing related to distortion;

Do you have a microphone plugged in? I know when I first got my Logitech Z2300's, if I had a microphone plugged in to my SB Live 24bit, i would get an unbearable amount of distortion.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

lurn2spell

Try going to volume control, Advanced, and uncheck Digital Output Only.

 

[enclavesaga]

no distortion, the sound is very clear. All connections are corret. Even the headphone is very quiet, barely audiable at 50, exactly the same situaition as the speakers. All 5.1 sats has discrete sound, positioning is correct. It's not just winamp, all players behaves the same, wmp, powerDVD, even booting in windows don't sound loud.
What's the volum displayed on your controller pod and windows? and how loud it is in terms of db? mine gets no lounder than my dad's singing in the shower...

 

[beemercer]

Originally posted by: enclavesaga
no distortion, the sound is very clear. All connections are corret. Even the headphone is very quiet, barely audiable at 50, exactly the same situaition as the speakers. All 5.1 sats has discrete sound, positioning is correct. It's not just winamp, all players behaves the same, wmp, powerDVD, even booting in windows don't sound loud.
What's the volum displayed on your controller pod and windows? and how loud it is in terms of db? mine gets no lounder than my dad's singing in the shower...

I'm stumped; if you can try the speakers on another computer, just so you know if the problem is due the speakers for sure.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Dumb thing to check - is Wave output up as well as Volume Control?

 

[enclavesaga]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Dumb thing to check - is Wave output up as well as Volume Control?

of course, at 75%. How loud is yours? anyone?

 

[beemercer]

Originally posted by: enclavesaga

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Dumb thing to check - is Wave output up as well as Volume Control?

of course, at 75%. How loud is yours? anyone?

Mine are at 100%.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: enclavesaga

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Dumb thing to check - is Wave output up as well as Volume Control?

of course, at 75%. How loud is yours? anyone?

I have Wave at 100%, Winamp at 60%, and my AVP-7 set at -25dB, not that that really helps you

(The Volume slider does nothing for me as far as speakers go, that controls my headphone volume connected to my analog output)

 

[slpaulson]

I have wave output at 100% and winamp at 50%, and my music starts to get loud around 45 or so.

Are you sure you don't have some weird environmental setting selected in the creative control panel?

Also turn off any equalizers you might have.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Your levels arent set correctly. Go to sound properties and max everything out (go to advanced option and select everything and max thouse out also.) Turn off equailizer (as it shouldnt be turned on to start with.) And disable any sound enchaning "things" your sound card has.

Also check to see if your cables are plugged in right - you might be plugging them into line out or microphone.

 

[Hyperlite]

Yeah it sounds like there is either interference or a simple software setting. just triple check all your software volume settings.

 

[enclavesaga]

Originally posted by: TriggerHappy101
Your levels arent set correctly. Go to sound properties and max everything out (go to advanced option and select everything and max thouse out also.) Turn off equailizer (as it shouldnt be turned on to start with.) And disable any sound enchaning "things" your sound card has.

Also check to see if your cables are plugged in right - you might be plugging them into line out or microphone.

I never fool alround with equ, EAX or any thing like that, those setting are for embellishing noob piece of shite speakers like Logitech (except playing games of course)... yes they are all off and eveything is set to max. What about your gain range setting? Mine is at default 0, but it won't make a difference even at 15+ db.
I ensure you the connection is correct.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Just to try to isolate the problem, do you have an mp3 player / cd player / something else you could hook up to the Promedias?

 

[enclavesaga]

okay, I cranked up IPOD to 100%, the speaker starts to make audiable sound only at 26 or above, doesn't get lound until amost 70, at maximum, I'd give the volum a 6/10 rating, with 0 as mute 10 as the logitechz5500 bursting at 100%.

 

[imported_Imp]

If a Pod does the same thing, then it sounds lie a dud. If you want to be super sure, plug it into a DVD player/TV. If you had bookshelves, I'd say you may have reversed the polarity, but this just sounds like a busted amp (the 5.1s are notorious for this). See if the store will give you an exchange.

 

[enclavesaga]

what do mean by "bookshelves"? Sure I can go exchange it, but I want to make sure nothing else is wrong. How loud would you say when yours cranked up at 45 with soundcard output maxed out? Give me a rating of 1 to 10.
Thanks

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Isolate the problem enclavesaga. Does it should soft to you when you plug it into a different PC? Or just your PC?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: enclavesaga
what do mean by "bookshelves"? Sure I can go exchange it, but I want to make sure nothing else is wrong. How loud would you say when yours cranked up at 45 with soundcard output maxed out? Give me a rating of 1 to 10.
Thanks

It would be hard to give a useful figure for that. How loud is it 1 to 10 is like asking how fast does your car go on a scale of 1 to 10. There could be a lot of variation between what people would call "10" and thus a lot of difference in between. Sound level is also measured on a logarithmic scale to complicate things.

If you actually want to get a useful figure, you can get an SPL meter and measure how thing are going.

That said, I don't think you should have any problem getting a small or medium sized room going pretty well with those.

Bookshelves was referring to bookshelf speakers. Out of phase would mean you didn't pay attention to + vs - on the speaker terminals and you're getting some messed up output.

 

[enclavesaga]

Originally posted by: TriggerHappy101
Isolate the problem enclavesaga. Does it should soft to you when you plug it into a different PC? Or just your PC?

Nope, I made sure the polarity is correct. I also tried other sats(the paradigm Cinema for example) and different inputs, Ipod, laptop, Dvdplayer..etc) I even cleaned my ear with wax removal ... the volum just doesn't crank up.

The system is totally mute when the number in the controller pod is 23 or below. What is your system sound like at 23? I left the boost to default 0, but it sounds the same regarless level.

Thanks folks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I don't have the set so I can't tell you numbers myself, but it really sounds like you've done your part to try to get this set to work and there's something physically wrong with the set.

Where did you buy it?

 

[enclavesaga]

CanadaComputer retail