On-board audio is out of ballance !

[mox1]

Brief:

- notice that all audio sound a bit shifted to the right.
- to be sure that is not just in my head i made an audio capture of the output
and source mono sound was recorded with Right channel 9-14% more according to the left.
- to make sure that this is not a Win10 problem i booted to Linux Parted Magic and
did audio test, and got the same "shift to the right" result.

Specs:

- MSI Z77A-G41 with ALC887

Any suggestions how to fix it ?

Thanks

 

[Burpo]

Not sure if this helps, but there were new audio drivers released on June 16th..

Download here.

 

[mox1]

Yes, exactly that latest drivers are installed, but as i proved
that this is not a Win10 issue, it's looks like hardware problem since
under Linux Exact same stable shift to the right.
And it's not just it sounds louder, but it's sounds like angle of sound shifted since
lowering the Right channel volume can't fix it - left channel quality sounds worse.
Wondering now about buying Sound Card or ...

 

[nerp]

Strange. Do you have both a stereo and surround output jack? Are you using surround and can switch to stereo? quick check of the board via google says the board has 'auto sensing' jack -- sounds like either its on the fritz or the connector for some reason is causing it?

 

[mox1]

Ok, it's Strange - and i think it's a hardware, but not sure how to locate exact point of problem.
So i will try to give you more details:

- onboard has rare basic output and i connected front HD Audio [ tried without - same thing] and both give same sound levels: - not a cable or connectors
- on Win10 i disabled all efects, suround, ... - i use basic stereo always in headphones.
- tested on Live Linux Parted Magic which have completely different sound system than Win and at boot uses own sound drivers: - sound shiftet exactly as on Win10
- Strange: making a audio mix capture on itself with Audacity i get perfectly equal & good recording, but as sound goes out to the output it Shifted to the right.

To be sure i tested captured "own, in the system" audio on the iPhone, and on the 2nd PC: - Perfect.

So where is the problem:

- For the system mono sample sound stays mono, but
when it goes to the output "shifted to the right" when capture as stereo.

Later gonna be testing audio output via HDMI, disabling the on-board audio.

 

[mox1]

Another portion of Strange:

- Mono sound -> via HDMI to Monitor -> Stereo Jack to Stereo Line In of the 2nd PC -> Audacity Stereo Capture: Shifted To The Right.

So how the mono sound that goes digitaly to monitor stereo out get broken.

 

[mox1]

Now i affraid that even if i install Sound Card it will not fix the problem.

 

[Wall Street]

When you check the balance in Sound/Playback devices, are both left and right at 100%?

 

[mox1]

When you check the balance in Sound/Playback devices, are both left and right at 100%?

Yes, for itself in the system all seems OK,
All volume sets are in balance [ i checked each of one on Playback, Recording]
Capturing mono sound in that system is gonna be mono, but
when sound goes out to the headphones/speakers it's "shiftet to the right".

 

[mox1]

To compare on the 2nd PC all test mono/stereo sounds is playing good, so
can it be that problem is somewhere in the codec chip when sound get doceded it become
broken ?

Gonna later try capture mono sound via line-in on the 1st PC.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

You troubleshot it out, confirmed the headphones work, tried newest drivers for windows, and tried another OS. Time for a sound card or RMA the board if under warranty. And as you just use stereo a cheap USB adapter should do the job.

 

[mox1]

You troubleshot it out, confirmed the headphones work, tried newest drivers for windows, and tried another OS. Time for a sound card or RMA the board if under warranty. And as you just use stereo a cheap USB adapter should do the job.

Yes, i think motherboard is done, but can't wrup my head about how is audio over HDMI get same "right channel shift" when onboard audio disabled in bios

Will be buying Sourd Card, and
considering building new system now.

 

[nerp]

Very perplexing problem. And it does not make sense to me that it would be carried over HDMI, too. I'd probably end up building a new machine too out of frustration.

 

[mox1]

Yes, i know - via HDMI audio should be balanced/unchanged, but getting exact fraction of right volume level higher as with speaker output.

Now looking at USB DACs to completely be done with on-board audio.
Sound on iPhone 4 [ used for testing/comparison] sounds much better than my PC audio.

 

[DigDog]

i suspect it's more due to your speakers rather than the onboard.

 

[mox1]

i suspect it's more due to your speakers rather than the onboard.

Ok:
- 1stPC is broken audio one, 2ndPC tested audio OK
- 1stPC Mono sound recorded from the speaker output on the 2ndPC line-in get right channel volume higher.
- Same thing with a Linux
- But in the system all seems ok, and captured Stereo Mix [ speaker sound before it goes to headphones] - all is fine, but in headphones and captured via cable sound is "shifted to the right".

Plan on disassembling and cleaning - maybe helps, but still gonna buy USB DAC, need more quality.

 

[DigDog]

i'm not sure about ^ this explanation.

i dont think cleaning would od anything, but it never hurts to try. because if it's bad contact, you would either get sound, or none.

how much different is the loudness? if it's minute .. could be your ears? just saying because most people, me included, have one ear that's better than the other.

OR, maybe you have a second software running? perhaps as part of the chipset drivers, something which overrides windows balance? have you installed any garbage "early access" games?

does the sound problem happen both in headphones and speakers?

 

[mox1]

i'm not sure about ^ this explanation...

Ok:

1. Mono audio file played on the iPhone to the Headphones - OK, so this basic test prove that Headphones works and mono audio file is mono.
2. Using this mono file on the 1stPC - right is louder, 2ndPC - OK.
3. To rule out the Human variable i record speaker output from the 1stPC on line-in of 2ndPC, and Audacity shows in the record and in the visual input mixer visibly right channel getting more volume level
4. To rule the Windows and the drivers issue out i boot to Live Linux OS and
emit mono test sound and record it on the 2ndPC - Same exact shift to the right.

So this is not just me, but the system.
iPhone helped me to be sure that ears and headphones are ok, and problem somewhere on the board.

And since i cannot fix it, i will change option to use DAC.

Ordered Usb Dac to avoid any audio

 

[DigDog]

well, that's got to be the onboard then. your test rules out anything else. it *could* be down to BIOS, so before you switch out for a new motherboard, do try to update that.

also, maybe motherboard warranty ? it is, after all, defective.

 

[mox1]

well, that's got to be the onboard then. your test rules out anything else. it *could* be down to BIOS, so before you switch out for a new motherboard, do try to update that.

also, maybe motherboard warranty ? it is, after all, defective.

- MB bought used [ now i think that what the reason seller sold] - no warranty
- latest BIOS

Thank you all for the help:

- i will not fix this except i will gonna be using USB DAC soon