Windows 7 Audio Too Loud

Question

In Windows 7 (64-bit, Ultimate) the default audio output is extremely high. This has been an issue for a while but I was able to get around it as my previous headphones took more power to drive so it actually worked in my benefit.

However, now I have a set of really sensitive headphones and they're being over-powered. So much so that if I put it down at around 5% of total output it's bearable.

Is there a way I can sort of limit the system's volume so that it's incapable of going extremely loud and then have the rest of it just behave as normal?

Things I've tried:

1. Uninstalling and re-installing the audio device and drivers.
2. Limiting each application individually.
3. Searching for third-party software (so far nothing looks promising).

The first has no effect. The second works find but I have to do it for every application individually (which can be a pain) and many of them reset their volume every time they're launched, which makes it almost useless. Some even reset the volume while I'm playing a game!

So does anyone have any suggestions on how to make my volume reasonable?

The device is, apparently, a Cirrus Logic CS4206A (AB 24). The computer is an 2010 iMac.

Answer 1

What works for me (with Windows 10) is Equalizer APO (discovered in this forum post).

Quick-Start:

• Download, install (while selecting the appropriate device) and reboot
• Open C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\config\config.txt
• Replace with Preamp: -24 dB (or a similar value of your liking)

Changes are applied immediately when saving the file.

Answer 2

I have verified that I can set the output level for different speaker devices in Windows 7 (64 bit) independent of one another and independent of the system main volume using this method (for USB powered devices):

1. Plug in your Headset

2. Click Start->Control Panel->Sound

3. Choose your Headset and click 'Properties'

3. Click the 'Levels' tab

4. Drag the slider left to a reasonable level and click 'OK'

Answer 3

If software solutions don't work you may want to buy, or build a inline attenuator (google link cause i can't recommend anything specifically) - which is a 'fixed' volume reduction device, or some kind of extension cable with a volume control - this is recommended in this answer for another question . I've heard of this happening with very sensitive IEMs, some of which come with an optional attenuator.

Its a pretty simple device. Interestingly, I got the image from this thread on macrumours that says pretty good things about them with (admittedly old) macbooks .

Answer 4

Chances are that you've already tried it, but depending on your soundcard, there may be a specific Limited Output option:

Answer 5

I finally got it working. Had to keep my system volume at 10% or lower at all times, how could I miss this?

Sound > Default Device > Properties/Levels.

Scroll down to the bottom

Front will be at 100. (Strange since I use stereo headphones.)

Lower it to 10.

Answer 6

I had a similar issue and it turns out that my laptop (HP) has a builtin sound equalizer named DTS Studio Sound that is automatically started with windows.

This sound processor created an amplified signal that forced me to have a volume set to 3 or 4 and with no possibility to adjust: the sound started quickly to be very loud.

I turned off the processor and now I have a regular sound volume that I can modulate finely.

Answer 7

I had the same problem. USB Headset controls the Windows volume and is clearly too loud at level 1.

Solution under Windows 10 1809:

1. Start game / application where the sound is too loud.
2. Switch to the desktop with Ctrl+Alt+Del and then the Esc key.
3. Open your Start menu and click on Settings. If you're not sure which button that is, you can click the button on the top left with the 3 horizontal lines (the "hamburger button") and it'll show labels.
4. Click on System, then in the left sidebar select Sound. This is the screen where you can do the basics – set your default input/output device. Scroll down to "Advanced sound options" and select "App volume device preferences".
5. Reduce volume for the respective game or the respective application from 100 to e.g., 10.
6. Switch back to the game/application. The sound is now quieter and can be adjusted via the volume buttons on the headset.

https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/xlarge/public/field/image/2018/03/app-volume-device-preferences_settings.jpg?itok=xNSt2tzP

Answer 8

I've figured it out with only windows settings. Turns out, the option "Front" is set to 100. Setting it to 5 is enough for me.

https://i.sstatic.net/mJfXl.png

(This may be Windows 10, but it might work with Windows 7 also. And the Windows 10 specific is closed for duplicate.)

Answer 9

You can use NirCmd to set your system volume to a much lower level than Windows volume control allows at setting "1". The command I use is "nircmd.exe setsysvolume 75". You can get a copy of NirCmd on CNet here: http://download.cnet.com/NirCmd/3000-2094_4-77191.html

Answer 10

Having this exact same issue, sounds suddenly (often when in-game) quit working properly as in that it 'resets' to some 'default' state, whereupon the sound volume goes up about 25/30% (loud) and my headphones cable volume control quits responding...

This issue has been happening as of late more frequently, but has appeared 'first' bout a year ago.

Seems to do with Windows 7 64x drivers/updates, respectfully. Maybe even with UAC, and sort of 'rights' (where it gets VERY complicated to fix a "simple" sound issue).

I just managed to fix this issue by right clicking on the sound icon right under in Win 7, clicked plyaback devices, properties, advanced and unchecked: "Applications can exclusively manage this device" (and the second box under it auto-unchecked).

Now I'm back in control, and hope this helps someone. Wave.

Answer 11

See if this article helps : MacBook Pro No Sound in Windows 7.

As there is apparently no driver for the CS4206, you might also try the CS4207 Vista driver v6.6001.1.30 from 1/2011 (on Resources tab).