Every time I plug in a USB DAC, the left and right volume is mismatched. Left channel will be at 100% volume, while the right channel will be at about 10%, so I always have to go to Sound preferences to balance the volume to 50-50. The global volume also defaults to max volume.
Is there a way for macOS to default to 50-50 balance and remember the last global volume level when the DAC is connected?
So I did a bit more of investigation and I tried to plug the DAC onto another Mac, also running macOS 12.6. The default volume balance was correctly set at 50/50. Also the format defaulted to 16bit 48Khz. So it made me wonder if the format has any influence. I went back to my computer plugged the DAC and change the format 16bit 48Khz. Then unplugged and plugged back. The volume balance now defaults to 50/50... Then I switched the format to my preferred 24bit 88.2Khz, unplugged and plugged back again. Volume balance now defaults to the correct 50/50.
The problem appears resolved for now, but there seems to be a bug at hand in macOS, so I need to use the DAC a few more times, including switching the audio format, depending on what Apple Music is spitting out at the moment. I'll come back and report to let everyone know if the problem returns.
Thanks. I also have a Qudelix 5K. That one behaves normally. One curious difference is that Audio Midi setup only allows changing the primary volume of the Qudelix (i.e. can't change L & R separately). The opposite is true with the Violectric.
I don't know for sure, but maybe you can set this more permanently in Audio MIDI Setup.
I don't suppose you have another device you can use to test it?
I would contact Violectric.
When I plug it in, left channel automatically raises to 100% volume, and the right channel automatically lowers to about 10%. So I always have to manually correct the L/R channel balance after I connect the DAC.
You're welcome. Personally I never checked how the AudioQuest DACs behave since I have no reason to change the balance. Most USB DACS have no volume or balance controls to my knowledge, so one has to adjust the volume and/or balance on the computer. I'm not familiar with either of the ones you have.
I've tried that, but there's no option there. It's where I go to fix the balance every time I connect the DAC.
What USB DAC are you using? I have Audio Quest Red and Cobalt DACs and 7 Macs. Plugging them in has no effect on the balance or volume settings.
Violectric Chronos.
Are you saying when you plug it in the sliders for volume and balance actually change? I don't see how that would even be possible since an external DAC is not bidirectional.
Left and right volume are mismatched when USB DAC is connected
