This is very odd, I've had problems with these from the get go, with output and such, and had the problem resolved. However, when I turn up the bass to max, it is not very loud at all, and I can crank the volume very high as well, without nearing the capabilities of my friends Z5500s. Most of theses systems are overkill at half bass and a 1/4 volume..........mine is cranked up very high and I get nothing out of them. Assuming outputs/cables are attched properly, is there anything else I can look at? Are my speakers possibly defective?