Are you frustrated with your speakers because of their extremely low volume? Indeed, computer speakers are not designed to compete with well-rounded sound systems, but if you find those computer speakers so quiet that you can hardly hear them, there is a root cause you must look into. 

If you want to figure the issue out, this post is a must-read. It delves into the nine most common causes of speaker failure. So read on and learn everything involved! 

Outdated Audio Driver

An outdated audio driver may make your speakers exceptionally quiet. In this case, you will need to reset them by uninstalling and reinstalling them. This is how you can update your driver:

• Visit your PC’s ‘Device Manager’ panel.
• Here you will come across different device names. Right-click on the ‘Audio Driver’ alternative.
• Select the update driver option. 

If your speakers are not performing well because of the audio driver, you can expect to fix the issue after updating the driver.

Incorrectly Plugged Cords

Though it’s a silly mistake, it’s common—you can often plug your speakers in the wrong way. As a result, your speakers begin to malfunction. 

If you are using a wired connection with external speakers, check whether you have connected the cords properly or not. 

Remember, auxiliary cords should be pushed deep into their jacks on your device, and so should USB cords. They shouldn’t be crooked. 

Additionally, you will have to check whether you have connected your speakers correctly to the root power source. 

After you check and rectify any incorrectly plugged cords, you can expect a fantastic performance from your speakers.

Loudness Equalization Issues

Consider assessing your device’s loudness equalization settings to determine why your speakers are quiet. Usually, your speakers tend to produce lower volume when this specific setting is not activated. You can activate your device’s loudness equalization with the help of the following steps: 

• Go to Settings and click on ‘System.’ 
• From ‘System,’ click on ‘Sound.’
• Scroll down, and you will find ‘Related Settings.’
• From ‘Related Settings,’ click on the ‘Sound Control’ panel.
• Select your default speakers. Typically, you will find a green tick there.
• Now, select the properties option, and from there, go to the ‘Enhancements’ tab.
• Finally, you will find the ‘Loudness Equalization’ alternative. Click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok.’

You can expect your speakers to perform better after adjusting the loudness equalization setting. 

Reduced Volume Settings

It doesn’t matter if your device has built-in speakers or external speakers; if your device’s volume settings are lowered, your speakers will definitely sound quieter. You can check the volume settings of your computer in the following way: 

• Move the cursor to the bottom right corner of your PC or laptop and select the speaker icon. 
• Check if the volume is turned up to at least 50%. Then, drag the slider to the right to check if the sound is increasing. 
• For a MacBook, you can use the F11 key to decrease volume and the F12 key to increase the volume. 

If this trick doesn’t work, further investigation may be required. 

Check for Audio Enhancement Bugs

This problem typically bothers Windows users. And this is because Microsoft’s software audio enhancements are designed to work by default on your device. Except for audio interfaces and external DACs, no output devices can bypass these enhancements. 

Those enhancements include sound equalization, virtual sound, bass boost, etc. Often, these additional features bug out and mess with your device’s audio output. You can get rid of this issue by disabling those enhancements. To disable them, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Speaker icon located at the bottom right corner of your system.
• Click on ‘Sounds’ and move to the ‘Playback’ tab.
• Right-click on your computer speakers from the dropdown and click on ‘Properties.’ 
• Finally, move to the ‘Enhancements’ tab and select the disable all enhancement checkbox. 
• Complete the task by hitting ‘Apply.’ 

Output Issue

A quiet speaker is not always a damaged one. Sometimes it’s a matter of having the wrong output to direct the sound. This error typically occurs when you connect your system to a monitor through HDMI. Therefore, carefully check the sound output. To check or change the sound output:

• Right-click on the sound icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
• From ‘Sounds,’ go to the ‘Playback’ tab.
• Click on your computer speakers from the dropdown and hit ‘Set Default.’
• In case you don’t find your speakers on the dropdown, right-click and click ‘Show disabled devices.’ 
• From there, select your computer speakers, click on Ok, and your job is complete.

Damaged Built-in Speakers

If you have properly plugged in your speakers and checked all of the settings, but your speakers are still not working properly, your device’s built-in speakers are most likely broken. In this case, you can repair them or invest in external speakers. 

You can plug such speakers directly into your device using an auxiliary cord. All modern monitors come with electrical outlet connections. Alternatively, you can connect your speakers wirelessly and use Bluetooth technology. 

Dirt Accumulation

At times, your speakers may malfunction because of dust accumulation. In such cases, you can simply clean the speakers with a soft brush and cleaning agent and then check their performance. If the issue is not resolved, it probably needs further troubleshooting. Dirt can pile up in nearly any smart gadget, so don’t be afraid to use compressed air to freshen things up.

Broken Wire

This issue typically occurs with external speakers. If your external speakers are connected to your device through an aux cord or USB, you may have trouble with the volume. Even if your sound settings are perfect, your speakers may produce low sound if the wires are damaged. 

Computer Speakers So Quiet: Quick Troubleshooting Tips

If you are using a Windows device, you can use its built-in sound troubleshooter to check and fix problems. All you need to do is right-click the “Speaker” icon and then select the “Troubleshoot Sound Problems” option. Finally, follow the prompts, and you are done. 

You can also use the device’s built-in low-volume feature in addition to the troubleshooter. It usually aims to provide you with better audio when you use your computer to make or take calls. Most of the time, this feature can turn down the volume by 100% and make your speakers quieter. 

To check the setting, you need to right-click the ‘Volume’ icon in the taskbar and then select ‘Sounds.’ Finally, move to the ‘Communication’ tab and check if the ‘Do Nothing’ feature is selected. If not, click the alternative and save the changes. 

With MacBooks, sometimes simply entering a command into Terminal can fix any lingering audio issues. Open up Terminal and enter either of the below commands.

sudo killall coreaudiod

sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.audio.coreaudiod.plist && sudo launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.audio.coreaudiod.plist

Conclusion

Have you been able to detect the issue after going through the given reasons? Is your speaker performing well after implementing the suggested fixes? If yes, congratulations. 

On the other hand, if your speakers are still not making enough buzz, you probably need to get them checked by a professional. There may be something that you may have missed assessing, or your device is experiencing a complex problem that you can’t fix at home. 

We hope this guide has been helpful. Typically this issue is a quick fix, and one of the solutions stated above will work.