poor sound from monitor built-in speakers

[eganders]

For the 2nd time I bought a monitor that has built-in speakers that the
manufacturer implies is to be plugged into the sound card of the
computer (usually shown as headphone output). Once again the sound is
so thin and lacking in volume that it almost sounds like a speaker
plugged into the line-out of a receiver. I don't see any place where
you can get a booster amplifier solely for this purpose. What am I
seeing here. Can anyone explane the reason for this Phenomenon? Is
there a way to EASILY boost the sound. I am not interested in a set of
extra speakers at this time, just a way to boost the sound into these
built-in speakers.

 

[Mike T.]

For the 2nd time I bought a monitor that has built-in speakers that the
manufacturer implies is to be plugged into the sound card of the
computer (usually shown as headphone output). Once again the sound is
so thin and lacking in volume that it almost sounds like a speaker
plugged into the line-out of a receiver. I don't see any place where
you can get a booster amplifier solely for this purpose. What am I
seeing here. Can anyone explane the reason for this Phenomenon? Is
there a way to EASILY boost the sound. I am not interested in a set of
extra speakers at this time, just a way to boost the sound into these
built-in speakers.

Built-in speakers suck. Always. No exceptions. There is no good answer to
your query, because you don't want to use external speakers. -Dave

 

[Zack Aube]

For the 2nd time I bought a monitor that has built-in speakers that the
manufacturer implies is to be plugged into the sound card of the
computer (usually shown as headphone output). Once again the sound is
so thin and lacking in volume that it almost sounds like a speaker
plugged into the line-out of a receiver. I don't see any place where
you can get a booster amplifier solely for this purpose. What am I
seeing here. Can anyone explane the reason for this Phenomenon? Is
there a way to EASILY boost the sound. I am not interested in a set of
extra speakers at this time, just a way to boost the sound into these
built-in speakers.

Read the specs on your audio card. You will find that there is
insufficient power to drive external stand-alone speakers or the speakers
in the monitor (which equate to stand-alone). Short of an amplifier
between the output of the audio card and the speakers, there is no
solution.

--
______
Zack

Every operating system out there is about equal. We all suck.
(Brian Valentine of Microsoft)

 

[eganders]

.. You will find that there is

insufficient power to drive external stand-alone speakers or the speakers
in the monitor (which equate to stand-alone). Short of an amplifier
between the output of the audio card and the speakers, there is no
solution.

I can buy that the card is not going to be capable to drive the
speakers. It would seem that some company would have addressed this
dificiency. I would envision a small, innocuous (something like a 1
inch cube) in-line amp. Any such thing?

 

[Mike T.]

I can buy that the card is not going to be capable to drive the
speakers. It would seem that some company would have addressed this
dificiency. I would envision a small, innocuous (something like a 1
inch cube) in-line amp. Any such thing?

Not likely, as it would cost more than external speakers with built-in amp.

 

[Marcel Overweel]

. You will find that there is
I can buy that the card is not going to be capable to drive the
speakers. It would seem that some company would have addressed this
dificiency. I would envision a small, innocuous (something like a 1
inch cube) in-line amp. Any such thing?

A set of speakers would cost you a few dollars/euros/whatever while a
small amplifier you described will cost you a lot more .. if it exists in
the
first place.

Are you not forgetting the obvious (just asking, you never know):
a) did you check the volume of your monitor?
b) did you check the master volume of your sound card? (onboard or not)
c) did you check the wave volume of your sound card?

Not that it will give you 100% certainty.
In the office where I work, I have an Iiyama monitor with integrated sound.
While in my opinion, the monitor is great, the sound isn't.
Sometimes I have to set the volume on the monitor to max to get anything
out, somethings (after turning monitor power off and on again) the sound
if very loud and have to set it very low again.

 

[sdlomi2]

. You will find that there is
I can buy that the card is not going to be capable to drive the
speakers. It would seem that some company would have addressed this
dificiency. I would envision a small, innocuous (something like a 1
inch cube) in-line amp. Any such thing?

As other posters have also said, ANY output from these speakers will be,
at best, too poor quality to listen to. A scratchy, tinny sound, when
amplified, will only produce louder scratches and louder tin-sounds. They
are not made to use. For "specification/feature listing" only. I ran a
line from my 3-pc amplified speakers--one of the 2 satellites--to my new lcd
speaker input. Plenty of volume to blow the speakers had I increased volume
enough. Would have been just as well, as I couldn't stand their sound under
any condition. Let's draw a parallel. I once had a nice Opel GT. It was
kinda sluggish and rode rough. We installed a hi-perf cam, true duals, and
a 2-bbl. carb. Man, did that new power make it fly! But the same rough
ride was still there--just at higher speeds as well! Luck to you. s

 

[JAD]

A set of speakers would cost you a few dollars/euros/whatever while a
small amplifier you described will cost you a lot more .. if it exists in
the
first place.

Are you not forgetting the obvious (just asking, you never know):
a) did you check the volume of your monitor?

Thee most common 'low volume' scenario problem....there is a volume control
within the monitors OSD

 

[Paul]

For the 2nd time I bought a monitor that has built-in speakers that the
manufacturer implies is to be plugged into the sound card of the
computer (usually shown as headphone output). Once again the sound is
so thin and lacking in volume that it almost sounds like a speaker
plugged into the line-out of a receiver. I don't see any place where
you can get a booster amplifier solely for this purpose. What am I
seeing here. Can anyone explane the reason for this Phenomenon? Is
there a way to EASILY boost the sound. I am not interested in a set of
extra speakers at this time, just a way to boost the sound into these
built-in speakers.

I'm curious. What monitor is this ? What brand/model number ?
Maybe the specs for the monitor, will tell you what is
needed to drive the speakers. If it said "32 ohms", "16 ohms", etc.,
then you know that it is not intended for connection directly
to a sound card. If it said "1V 600ohms" or "1V 10Kohms", then
you'd suspect it has a line level interface, and has its own
tiny amplifier.

Paul

 

[DaveW]

As you have now discovered, there is a reason why almost NO ONE
knowledgeable about computers buys a monitor that includes speakers. The
monitor's speakers are usually 1" cones and are driven by a 2 Watt MAXIMUM
output amplifier. It's about time, since you've posted before, that you
realize this and invest in an inexpensive set of EXTERNAL powered computer
speakers.