Hi,

I have a strange problem with Windows 2000. All formats (MP3, MPC and Real Audio tested) in all software (WMP, RealOne and Winamp tested) sound very tinny, quiet and totally lacking in bass.

This happens no matter whether I use the on-board Realtek ALC-650 codec (its an MSI Intel chipset board) or my USB MD-adaptor.

The weirdest thing is that if I wait a few hours, the sound usually suddenly returns to normal.

Does anybody have an idea about what could cause this? I've tried changing all available settings but none make any difference. The fact that it suddenly fixes itself at random points suggests its not related to settings anyway.

Thanks,
-dave

Are you sure the problem comes from the PC? I mean, could it be that somewhere the cables were making false contact or even mixing left and right channels?

Since it happens with different soundcards and "fixes" without changing any setting, I'd say that it isn't related to the computer.

I don't think that left and right channels getting mixed would cause a sound as tinny and lacking in bass as I'm getting here.



Well it definitely isn't the headphones, they work perfectly normally on my minidisc player and the USB sound card I'm using works perfectly with my PC at home and it happens with the on-board audio as well so the USB cable can't be at fault (not that it would cause this kind of issue anyway).

Honestly, I can't figure this out. It seems to be somehow OS related.

-dave

The ground cable of your headphones is not connected, or badly connected. It comes from the bad quality of female plugs. Push, pull, and turn the plug until the sound is OK.

Edit : with this problem, it must sound echoey too.

Of course I've already checked connections

Like I said earlier, the headphone works perfectly fine with my MD player and also with the USB sound card when its plugged into my PC @ home, so I know for sure its something related to this particular PC here, it just doesn't make any sense...

Thanks anyway
-dave

Those MSI boards have shitty integrated sound chips. Alot of them come with borked drivers out of the box, you have to go to MSI's site and grab the latest drivers to fix all sorts of wierd issues they have. If its still tinny you're just suffering buyers remorse then. Lots of people have complained to me about that same problem and i tell them to go buy a pci soundcard.

Well thankfully I didn't buy this board, its in a PC at work.

I have updated to the latest audio drivers, that didn't change a thing but then I couldn't expect it to as this problem is also present with my usb audio device which of course uses different drivers.

-dave