Airport express low sound volume

I've had an airport express for a few months now and have been happily using it with my external stereo system to stream music. However, recently the volume coming from the airport express has basically disappeared - there is almost no signal at all. I have to turn up the volume on my amplifier all the way to hear any sound, and at that level the sound is covered with static and is gross.

I've seen another post about a similar situation with an existing airport user, and it looks like I have a similar problem. Note that I did not change anything with the configuration between the amp and the airport express, i have the "disable itunes volume with remote speakers" option on. I've tried the airport with multiple other amplifiers and nothing works. I'm convinced that the airport is malfunctioning, perhaps its internal preamp is blown?

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Posted on Sep 25, 2005 12:29 PM

Reply
18 replies

Jan 3, 2006 7:34 AM in response to Casey Mac

I have the same problem with audio, which I discovered on New Year's Eve. I took my APE with me when traveling for Christmas. When I got back home I thought the audio wasn't working. Tried with another stereo and found the VERY low audio level when turning volume WAY up.

The only thing I did was update iTunes (for Windows) to version 6, but not sure this is connected.

I was wondering whether there could be a fault with audio jack or some circuitry inside. I may attempt to resolve with "Genius Bar" this week.


Thinkpad Windows XP Pro

Jan 4, 2006 8:53 AM in response to jd2020

This happened to me as well, and seems to be a growing problem that more and more people are experiencing. I used my remote speakers without any issues for a year or so, then updated my iTunes software to 6+, and from that moment on the speakers were virtually inaudible.

I tested my system, my speakers, and the cable - all are fine. And yes, I turned off "Disable iTunes Volume" and I turned in on as well - I've tested every possible option. Nothing.

Apple needs to address this issue.

Jan 13, 2006 2:21 PM in response to Casey Mac

Indeed it does. I posted this to the 'quiet Air Tunes' post too, but thought it relevant here as well. I've had quiet volume from the Express input to my stereo since I got it some months ago, and had been thinking it must be a problem at the amp, until I just saw this post. I'm using 10.3.9 but don't know what my Express firmware is - tho' someone has said that even the latest 6.3 doesn't fix it. Given that I bought Express purely for its audio abilities, it's bothersome. I can hear the sound through the stereo, but it's very low, and I know the quality would be so much better if it was a higher level. Time to do something, Apple.

Jan 21, 2006 11:02 AM in response to danielbholmes

Yes. Similar problem. Once I had downloaded 6.02, all my ACC files had dropped by -10 decibels. By unchecking Soundcheck, I was able to restore the volume, but have lost the normalization feature -- some songs louder than others. Check your summaries and see if the same has happened to your files. Annoying, considering the investment in time loading all these songs onto the computer. Don't you get sick and tired of being the guinea pigs for these billion dollar corporations? They can afford to do better.

Mar 10, 2006 7:30 PM in response to Totem

Thank you Totem ; )

But unfortunately, I don't think we are talking about the same thing... Effectively, I've noticed a loss between iTunes 6.0.1 and iTunes 6.0.4 when I downgrade, but my problem, our problem here, is that the sound hasn't a 33% loss but really a 80/90% !!! I've got to push up the volume so much that if I plug my ipod with the same cable at the same place, my ears bleed (quite ; ) )...
Of course,
- I've checked the "disable itunes volume with remote speakers" and my ipod is at its maximum...
- I've tried airfoil (with RealPlayer and VLC) and this is the same, a very low/weak sound...
- I've downgrade the Airport Express firmware to 6.1.1

I've got a party at home tomorrow... :_(
Do I have to consider the airport express as broken ?

PowerBook 17" 1 Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Mar 11, 2006 7:37 AM in response to Taylor Raack

Ok, here's how I got this resolved. I took my airport express to the local apple store in Arlington VA. They checked it, confirmed the problem was with the Airport -- same problem in the store as at home. And they replaced my Airport with a new one. I was not under warranty. At home, the new device worked perfectly with the same version of iTunes, though I have since upgraded iTunes to 6.0.3.

Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

Thinkpad Windows XP Pro

May 31, 2006 7:04 AM in response to Taylor Raack

After updating firmware & software, as you all probably have done, I've just had the same problem - low volume through Airtunes.
I noticed some advice to power-down the Extreme station on the Airport set-up assistant.
In fact I switched everything off. Powered up my Extreme station; then Express station then finally my computer.
I was surprised it worked after reading the thread - I was expecting it to be a hardware problem - but so far its worked perfectly at good volume.
Good luck - hope it works for you too!

iBook G3 900mhz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Jun 3, 2006 10:13 AM in response to jd2020

The problem, I think, is with Quicktime or iTunes. If you go to the trouble to reinstall 6.01, the volume returns to previous levels even with the firmware update in place. And, this also shows, that it is not a base station issue. The change occurred at the point in which iTunes became a music file server for multiple locations. At that time, all of the DBs associated with my files changed from an average output of -1 to -10. I suspect, as others have, that there was an attempt to lower the volume due to lawsuits and news reports about potential hearing problems. Did they forget that some consumers only use iTunes in conjunction with their home stereo systems? Probably not, but that is not where the iProfit is in relation to iTunes, so ...

Let's hope that they will work it out for those of us in the periphery of Apple's core economy.

You can find older copies of iTunes at Filehippo.

Jun 21, 2006 11:27 AM in response to Taylor Raack

I've just had the same problem. My only thing is it worked yesterday and I've done no updates sense then. I have 2 expresses and the 1 just dropped volume! The other express is still working great. Both have the same firmware and were even bought at the same time! I use my setup as an alarm clock so I can say for sure it worked yesterday and today nothing. This is all a little strange considering no updates were done and it still works on my other express!

J

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Airport express low sound volume

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