Windows 10: Loudness Equalization issue

Hi all,

I recently ordered my new Dell Inspiron 15 5501, and ever since I've been browsing this and many other forums to fix a very annoying audio issue, unfortunately to no avail. I'm going to try my best to explain the issue but please bear with me. I've been able to self-fix some issues over the years, but I'm no technological expert. If the answer to my issue has been posted previously I apologize for reposting, but I truly have looked for it and I haven't been able to find it.

A few years ago, on my previous Dell Inspiron (5559), I, like many of you, suddenly lost the option to check 'loudness equalization' in the 'enhancements' tab within my speaker properties, because the enhancements tab disappeared in full. I have a slight hearing disability, so loudness equalization is an absolute MUST for me, otherwise I simply can't make out any spoken words or voices, while background noises and music are overly loud. At the time, I managed to fix this issue by rolling back my Realtek driver to Realtek High Definition Audio 6.0.1.7628. I have refused to update my driver since, and it has kept working for me.

As I was installing my new Inspiron 15 5501, I followed my own guide that I had written for myself to uninstall the driver in the device manager and reinstall .7928. Unfortunately, this no longer seems to work with my new laptop. If I go to update driver -> let me pick from my computer, the .7928 is not listed with the compatible drivers. I've tried showing incompatible drivers, selecting .7928 and installing it, but this gives severe issues, as the audio keeps popping very loudly, then reverts back to the current driver (6.0.9025.1).

I understand that these days there is a separation between HDA and UAD audio drivers. From reading the tutorials posted here, I believe my computer is intended for UAD drivers (in the device manager, Realtek shows as "Realtek(R) Audio". I think I've figured out that the old Realtek driver I'm trying to access is an HDA driver (in the device manager on my old laptop, it says "Realtek High Definition Audio". So, it would seem, this is no longer an option.

I also think I understood that for UAD drivers, the 'enhancements' are no longer done in the speaker properties, but in a separate app called Realtek Audio Control. Unfortunately, when I try to download that app from the store, I'm getting an error (Code: 0x803FB005). From what I understand this might be caused by an antivirus, but I've completely shut off my antivirus temporarily, and it still gives the error message. It keeps trying to download every time I restart my laptop, but it keeps failing.

I do have the MaxxAudioPro app, which allows me to set an EQ profile. I've tried to play around with the settings, but unfortonately I can't get anything to resemble what I got by checking that one box in the enhancements tab.

This is driving me crazy. I've started using my new laptop for work-related stuff, while resorting to my old laptop for anything having remotely to do with audio. If I can't roll back to an acceptable driver, and I can't install the Realtek Audio Control, what do I do? I don't care HOW I get the loudness equalization checked, as long as I GET it checked.

I'm sure you will need a lot more technical details to potentially help me out with this problem. Please let me know what you need, and how I can find it, and I'll be sure to provide it. I'll be forever grateful if anyone can help me with this very annoying problem.

Thanks in advance for your help!

:)

 

Loudness Equalization Issue with Realtek

Hi everyone,

I've been having an odd problem with Loudness Equalization. I have an ASUS TUF 505DT and primarily use headphones. 3 weeks ago without any reason (I checked for Windows Updates) the Loudness Equalization option, along with the addional EQ bars, randomly disappeared from the Realtek Audio Console. Didn't have any issues for 6 months. Since I checked the other thread, device manager has Realtek Audio listed and not Realtek High Definition Audio Device.

If I install the generic Microsoft driver I regain the Loudness Equalization option through Sound Settings but naturally Realtek Audio Console stops working. I wouldn't have minded it too much but to me the audio quality seems slightly worse with the generic MS driver. The weirdest part is if I unistall the device the Realtek driver returns and I regain the full capability of the Audio console but upon restart it's gone again. Also, while I regain the option, the audio seems vaguely hollow unless restarted when the audio console loses its options again but the sound is fine. It's amazing for music but both Netflix and games have incredibly low audio with the Realtek driver without loudness equalization so I'm forced to use the generic MS driver.

One thing I have noticed through many reinstalls is that the events log mentions Device not migrated. It still works though. I tried downloading drivers from ASUS which are the same as the default windows Realtek reinstall. I did notice that 3 out of 4 items fail to install in the cmd even when ran as admin which might be part of the problem. I should also mention the laptop comes with Dts Headphone X which also breaks when using the generic Microsoft driver but I haven't found much use for it anyway.

My only other guess is that the 2004 Windows 10 build showed up a few weeks ago. It failed to update a few days after my issues started and now I only see messages about it coming soon. Don't know if some pre-update files might have been added and messed up the Realtek driver. Current build from sys info is 18363.

While the Microsoft driver isn't horrible I would love if anyone has any suggestions or had a similar issue. My only option now seem to revert back to factory settings and reinstall everything again. Thank you!

 

Loudness Equalization Issue with Realtek

Oh for sure, the more I'm researching the more I learn plenty of people have the same issue. Over the past 2 weeks I have been questioning my sanity and what actually sounds good.

Music is amazing with the Realtek driver + DTS Headphone X. The Asus TUF series seem to have been optimized for that setup but the disappearance of loudness equalization breaks it. Movies and games are a problem. The generic MS driver is not as good but it does have loudness equalization. I found Windows Sonic lacking in that setup though. Equalizer APO turns off DTS, which makes sense, but needs major adjustments and most guides point to decreasing db's with it for better quality, which in my case only leads to even lower volume. Pushing up preamp leads to certain sounds being ear piercing. I'm going to try out Equalizer APO with Hesuvi for spatial sound and see if that works.

Who knew such a simple toggle disappearing can lead to so much trouble. I appreciate everyone's input on this though!

 

Can't find loudness equalization

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you are unable to get proper audio output levels on certain videos.



Ideally, the level of audio depends on the type of file that you are playing. As you have mentioned that you are unable to find Loudness equalization, I would like to inform that certain audio devices and audio card does not provide the Audio Enhancements
options.



However, you may want to have a look at the Sound Control panel, and see if Loudness Equalization Enhancement is available. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows Logo key + R, to open
   Run dialog box.
   
2. Type mmsys.cpl and click on
   OK.
   
3. Under Playback tab, double click on the sound device that you are using.
   
4. Click on Enhancements tab.
   
5. Select the checkbox for Loudness Equalization.
   
6. Click on OK.
   

If the issue persists, you may want to try updating the Audio drivers and check. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows Logo key + X, and select
   Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
   
3. Right click on the Audio
   device and select Update Driver.
   

Article for reference:
Update drivers in Windows 10.



We can try to use an alternate audio driver and see if that helps. Refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows Logo key + X, and select
   Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
   
3. Right click on Realtek Audio and select
   Update Driver.
   
4. Select Browse my computer for Driver Software.
   
5. In the next screen, select Let me pick from a list of available drivers.
   
6. Check the box Show Compatible Hardware and select
   High Definition Audio Device.
   
7. Click on Yes if you get any prompt.
   

If you do not see any change, you can use Update Driver option and Search automatically to revert to Realtek driver.



Let us know how it goes.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator