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:
- Uninstalling and re-installing the audio device and drivers.
- Limiting each application individually.
- 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.
Solution:
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 .