Windows 10: headphones will randomly change audio balance of right speaker to 55

I can't remember when I first noticed this issue but its been happening to me every few days for at least a year, and I can't understand why it happens. currently on build 18363


I'll occasionally start my PC and the balance for my headphones will have changed itself so that the right speaker is quieter than the left, I have to go into sound settings and then the device properties to change it back to 100 from 55. I use Arctis 5 wired headphones which work through usb plugged directly into the PC, and occasionally will have a wired headset plugged in via usb ports on my monitor but it is never used as an audio device on the PC with the issue, so I've not noticed if it is affected at the same time, it is usually unplugged before I boot this PC. Never had the issue happen after boot, always happens when I boot.


I don't use any other audio devices with this PC, and I've tried unplugging and plugging back in that other headset, restarting the pc with it in and out but I can't reliably recreate the problem. The audio drivers for the headphones do split the sound into two 'devices' one for voice and one for everything else so I had a look at the other 'device' for voice and the balance was equal for both sides even when the other one was having it's issue.


Tried uninstalling the audio drivers for the headphones and updating them, but the issue persists. It does have it's own control panel to change sound settings but this is always set to be full on both sides and is never changed, the only thing that's changing is the windows audio balance in device settings.


Not really sure what to do with this one and I don't really want to have to re-install my OS, is there anything else I can try here?

:)

 

Move audio to one side for speakers but not headphones

Hello J1mmyth3F1sh,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

• Is your headphones getting detected in the Playback settings?
  
• Are you trying to play the audio on both Speakers and Headphones at the same time?
  

Ideally, if you have configured Sound settings to play on your left speakers, the same goes with the headphones. The sound starts playing only on the left side of your headphones according to the settings changed.

Meanwhile, we can try configuring the headphones and change the balance level in the sound settings and see if it works. Kindly check with the steps listed below and see if it helps.

Method : Run audio test for your headphones.

• Open Control Panel from the Start menu and click on
  Sound.
  
• In the Sound window, click on your
  Headphones and select Configure option at the bottom left.
  
• By running the test, check if both sides of your headphones are working fine.
  

If that doesn’t help, I would suggest you to check with the audio balance by following the steps listed below:

• Open Sound settings from
  Control Panel, and right click on the Headphones to open its
  Properties.
  
• Click on Levels tab and select
  Balance button. In the Balance window, you can use the slider to balance both left and right headphones equally.
  

However, I commend and appreciate you for recognizing this behavior. This is a valuable suggestion as there may be other users with a similar requirement. Hence, I suggest you to leave a
Feedback for this product so
that our developer team can look into this and check if it can be implemented in the future updates.

Regards,

Mala S

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Speakers balance changes

I have computer speakers that are going through some balancing acts whereby when playing video online the right speaker will stop playing. I get off video or news, etc. or offline, and testing through the Realtek audio manager/controller the left speaker goes out.
Testing moving balance to the full left-nothing. Put balance in middle it plays right speaker only and fully to the right plays right. And plays the left side as well because they have one speaker test that when hitting it will do a jingle from the left and then to the right and now plays both left and right in the right 'only.'

The speakers are pro media 2.1 computer (bluetooth) speakers. However, since I opted off purchasing the wireless speakers and wanted the regular wire/cable to plug to the outlet, i have always used them in that way. I finally determined why they play my neighbors music when they play it on patio, it plays theirs "only" and then if i switch and turn on my own speakers to the bluetooth is how win-over that output. But i don't like the bluetooth part of playing them because i lose the function of the audio control/Realtek audio manager where you can enhance sounds with selecting Rock or Pop, etc... So, i just turn off or not connect the bluetooth on most and much of the time basis. Other different anominally (spellchek-sorry) The speakers stay on always, per the manufacturer Klipsch for purposes of not surging electricity, i guess or for the most part out of reading terms, etc. and that language, but yes, there's no power off or on and i've unplugged many times when taken over by the signal Bluetoothing, as i call it, when neighbors play their music outside and it likes their wares better because i totally lose my sounds to theirs when..
Any ideas or suggestions on this one?

 

My left headphone randomly lowers it's volume.

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community forums.

• What is the make and model of the headphone?
  

This could be due to the change in Balance levels of the playback device. I suggest you to try the steps listed below and check if it works.

• Right click the sound icon on the taskbar and choose
  Sounds.
  
• Select your headphone, and click on Properties.
  
• Click on Balance under Levels
  tab, adjust Left and Right to the same levels.
  
• Save the changes and check if the issue persists.
  

For more troubleshooting tips on audio issues, refer Fix sound problems in Windows 10.



Hope it helps.

Regards,