computer question for dummies101

Sativa Quemador

Sativa Quemador

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i have speakers for my computer, they were cheap and do the job for the room.
they are those logictec 2.0 things... and seem loud

but when i listen to music on headphones the volume Blows. it feels like they are set on level 4


i have these headphones i really like, i want to blast it !!! wtf is wrong ???

Im plugging my headphones into the jack thats on the volume control for the logitec speakers.

would plugging straight in to the tower be the trick ?

also, would a sound card make it louder ?
 
Sometimes the headphone output on cheap speakers is not amplified. Does the volume control do anything at all when you're using the headphones? And when you're not using the headphones, and just listening through the speakers, how far up is the volume turned on the speakers? Turning up the volume at the source (your computer) might help.

Oh yeah... do the speakers even have a volume control? Some cheap USB-powered speakers won't even have that.
 
And since I know someone else will probably say it, it is possible that your headphones are have too high of an impedance for your speaker "amp" to drive them. However this is pretty unlikely, unless your headphones are fancy and/or expensive.
 
Seriously how hard is it to just try plugging direct to computer instead of waiting for an answer here lol
 
The plug in the speakers or the tower are effectively the same. You have to adjust their volume using the computer as the volume knob on the speakers won't do anything for the headphones.

I turn my PC volume up to 100 and adjust the speakers with the knob. Then when I plug in headphones I adjust the volume down in Windows (or YouTube).
 
fastar1 said:
The plug in the speakers or the tower are effectively the same. You have to adjust their volume using the computer as the volume knob on the speakers won't do anything for the headphones.

I turn my PC volume up to 100 and adjust the speakers with the knob. Then when I plug in headphones I adjust the volume down in Windows (or YouTube).
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this is what i do... but i want it louder.

the speakers are rewally loud, but the headphones arent.
 
On windows sometimes the volume changes when you plug in head phones so you don't blow you ear drums out you might have to change it from the task bar to.

Or your headphones just suck
 
Short of getting an amplified headphone jack you may be able to upgrade your headphones, depending on what you have. A quality product with a good seal can make the volume jump a notch.
 
Two50noob said:
On windows sometimes the volume changes when you plug in head phones so you don't blow you ear drums out you might have to change it from the task bar to.

Or your headphones just suck
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nope. Ive tried a number of different headphones, same headphones same file on my MP3 and its deafening.

on the computer speakers it cranks, on headphones its like level 4
 
Sativa Quemador said:
unplugged speakers and went direct with headphones... no help.

can anyone else make their headphones go full out ? nevermind the " why do you want it louder" lol
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OK... then this means the speakers don't amplify the headphone jack, and the sound output on your computer is too weak to drive your headphones. (Something I used to see more often a decade ago, onboard/built-in sound rarely has this problem today).

You have three options: 1) Get speakers that DO amplify the headphone output, 2) Get a cheap headphone amp, or 3) Get a sound card/USB sound device that can drive your headphones. Option #2 is probably the easiest and cheapest... I'm not sure what the cheap headphone amp du jour is, but you could probably buy three different ones off of eBay and still have change for a $20 (And one out of the three probably won't be crappy). Option #3 is what I would do myself, as it's likely to sound better. I would recommend the ASUS Xonar U3 (U3 Plus would be better, but it looks like it's not widely available yet), you could snag one for less than $50.
 
There is a guy that makes some reasonably priced, well known headphone amps locally: http://electric-avenues.com/audio/

For whatever reason, he sells them cheaper on eBay than he does from his own website (search eBay for PA2V2)
 
TwistedKestrel said:
OK... then this means the speakers don't amplify the headphone jack, and the sound output on your computer is too weak to drive your headphones. (Something I used to see more often a decade ago, onboard/built-in sound rarely has this problem today).

You have three options: 1) Get speakers that DO amplify the headphone output, 2) Get a cheap headphone amp, or 3) Get a sound card/USB sound device that can drive your headphones. Option #2 is probably the easiest and cheapest... I'm not sure what the cheap headphone amp du jour is, but you could probably buy three different ones off of eBay and still have change for a $20 (And one out of the three probably won't be crappy). Option #3 is what I would do myself, as it's likely to sound better. I would recommend the ASUS Xonar U3 (U3 Plus would be better, but it looks like it's not widely available yet), you could snag one for less than $50.
Click to expand...

ok. You sound like you know whats going on.

i have no problem upgrading a sound card. I already did a graphic card and it was instant results. gotta love when you can tell the difference immediately with no matter what you change, on anything.

anyways, i was told by someone that a sound card really didnt make things "louder" just more clearer/precise kinda stuff if that makes sense.
 
Decent external DAC.

If you care about audio quality.
 
upon Googling this ASUS Xonar U3

Im ****ing sold on this beauty. I can plug this thing into a USB and make any computer run my headphones better.
for 50 bucks... wicked !

thanks dude !
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