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A525 speakers, driver needed?
Hi
I have a set of Dell A525 speakers+subwoofer, These are *ancient* - possibly over 10 years old and used with at least one prior PC. They are no longer are even mentioned on the Dell support website. They have a Zylux-made but Dell-branded subwoofer, which I'm told has pretty good sound. I usually listened to the PC through headphones (..while we had children in the house!...) so I only just noticed a problem: the subwoofer is dead.
You're probably going to say "it's old and it died" but before I replace the speakers I'd like to make sure it's not some other problem. So here's what you need to know:
1. The PC is a 6+ yr old XPS 8700 i7 with latest Windows 10 and everything is working fine with Windows. (I'm technically competent with 40+ years in IT and I know the hardware, OS and software are all absolutely fine.)
2. The OS correctly identifies the sound card and output ("Realtek High Definition Audio") but does not separately identify the speakers. I'm sure that this is as expected for a simple audio jack connection.
3. The desktop speakers are powered from the subwoofer and they are working perfectly (Lights on, plenty of sound, correct channels, no buzzing, fully controllable, etc etc.). Wiring is [green audio jack->subwoofer->desktop speakers]
4. The subwoofer is completely silent. I seem to remember when I first got it that it gave a low mains hum but that is now absent.
5. The O-N switch on the subwoofer is definitely in the O-N position. (Actually, it's a dial and I've set it to mid range.)
So, two question:
Firstly, does anyone have a PDF manual for these speakers that they can send to me?
Secondly, does W10 need any sort of additional driver or other utility to recognize the subwoofer?
Thanks in anticipation for any help.
Steve
speedstep
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March 23rd, 2021 03:00
These are analog so there is no driver. single green plug.
Dell A525 speaker setup integrates an audio power amplifier in the woofer. These speakers have a 3.5 mm auxiliary analog connection, which is supported by a 9-pin output from the subwoofer and one input to the speaker from the PC.
https://www.ebay.com/p/66787366#
https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_electronics/dell-a225_setup%20guide_en-us.pdf
SteveF161
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March 23rd, 2021 07:00
I suspected no device driver but i did wonder if they did (..tried to do!...) something clever with analog channels like old fashioned 1970s 3-channel fake quadrophonic record, where a third channel was produced by the difference signal between left and right channel signals. I wondered if the bass was being extracted as a third channel in this way. I was probably overthinking things
Chino de Oro
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March 23rd, 2021 11:00
@SteveF161 , Here is the manual for your Dell A525 speakers and no, windows 10 doesn't need any additional driver for this speakers.
You may try to unplug and re-plug the audio cable in the back of the computer (the light green jack) while both the computer and the speakers are on, Dell audio software will sense the signal and a pop up screen may ask you to confirm of what you just plug in, it may then redirect the signals to proper channels.
RoHe
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March 23rd, 2021 11:00
@SteveF161
If this model has Dell's Waves MaxxAudio Pro installed, as part of the Realtek audio driver, that could be part of the problem, especially since Windows Update may have recently force-fed a Realtek/Maxx update when you weren't looking. I had all sorts of issues on my XPS 8930 when I got that recent Realtek/MaxxAudio update, and I only use small desktop speakers, which Maxx suddenly decided where "internal" speakers and wouldn't let me change that setting.
If you have Maxx running, open its control panel and click the Playback icon and see if you can change the settings there, if necessary. Then click its Dimension icon, make sure the slider is ON and see if you can control the sub from there...
Also, search in Win 10 for stereo, and when "turn "mon" audio..." appears in the search results, click it and make sure the slider is set to OFF.
Then search Win 10 for Speaker setup, select Configure on that screen and follow the prompts...
Chino de Oro
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March 23rd, 2021 12:00
@SteveF161 , you can find the manual for your Dell A525 Speakers here https://www.manualslib.com/manual/442182/Dell-A525-2-1-Ch-Pc-Multimedia-Speaker-Sys.html. And windows 10 doesn't any additional driver for your speakers.
For troubleshooting, you may try to unplug the audio cable from the back of your PC and plug it back in (the light green plug) while both of your PC and speakers are on. Dell audio software will pop up and asking for you to confirm what just plug in and it will redirect the signals to proper channels.
Chino,
speedstep
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March 23rd, 2021 13:00
Yes the volume control has an on / off power switch that clicks.
SteveF161
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March 23rd, 2021 13:00
Many thanks for that! Believe it or not, I didn't know until I saw the manual that the blue "on" light on one of the desktop speakers is actually a volume control wheel! I turned it up and everything is working. (Obviously, I've been controlling the volume through Windows and, because I don't need it to be loud, I was unaware that the subwoofer was turned to "inaudible".)
Problem now solved and thanks everyone for your help
Chino de Oro
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March 23rd, 2021 13:00
@SteveF161 , Hi, I sent you the manual for your speakers and there is no additional driver needed in windows 10.
For troubleshooting, you may try to unplug the audio cable from the light green jack in the back of your computer and re-plug it back in while both the computer and the speakers are on. Dell audio software will sense the activity and a pop-up screen will come up asking you to confirm what just plug in. It should have Dell speakers option already selected, just click OK. It will redirect the signals to proper channels.
During the reconnection of the audio cable, your subwoofer should make a thump sound. If it jus stay quiet, your driver (voice coil) probably is dead. You can also reset the speakers by unplug and re-plug the power cord while the speakers are on. But this process only works on different model of Dell Speakers (made by Altec Lansing).
Chino,
INFIDEL62
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December 12th, 2022 18:00
What about Windows 11?
RoHe
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December 12th, 2022 18:00
@INFIDEL62 They're analog speakers so shouldn't need a driver for Win 10 or Win 11...