New audio engine speakers are unbalanced volume levels, even though I have rechecked all connections and verified through system preferences speaker balances. please help?

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Level 1

8 points

New audio engine speakers are unbalanced volume levels, even though I have rechecked all connections and verified through system preferences speaker balances. please help?

I have a iMac desktop less than 1 year old, I upgraded to El Capitain from Yosemite. All is fine, except the quality of internal speakers. I received brand new audio engine 5+ external speakers yesterday. Hooked up per instructions. Volume levels between speakers are totally out of balance. Checked sound through system preferences- balanced in middle, 50/50. Checked output through applications/utilities-audio MIDI, all is set properly. I can get balance only by decreasing right side speaker volume to almost nothing, but then I have no more volume than what the internal speakers offer. Any solutions would be greatly appreciated.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Dec 8, 2015 9:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

bobbydoo Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2016 6:21 AM in response to bobbydoo

To my newest best friend, I tried your headphone advice. I figured out that I have a bad headphone out jack in my iMac. I purchased audio engine D1 Dac. All balance issues are solved and the music has truly come alive. Thanks for all your help. - Rob

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Answer 2

Gmon750

Level 1

14 points

Dec 16, 2015 12:07 AM in response to bobbydoo

Are you using the audio-out line from your Mac to input to your speakers, or are you going through an external DAC first?

I also have the A5+ speakers, and I'm also using their USB D1 DAC which then runs audio-out to the speakers. Yosemite was a constant headache with my setup but seems to have been eliminated with El Capitan. I've upgraded OSX to El Capitan, as well as later doing a clean-install of El Capitan purely for my wanting a clean system and in both instances the audio was fine. Those are fantastic speakers, best I've owned yet.

Can you be more specific with how your output from the iMac is done? As usualy, always check, then double-check your connections into your speakers and make sure the audio-cables are intact and not frayed. If you're using the headphone jack, make sure the headphone cable is sturdy and does not look like it's damaged/kinked.

You might consider getting AudioEngine's DAC to handle your Mac's audio as it is way better than the built-in one that comes in your iMac. I'm using it on my new 5K iMac I just received a couple weeks ago.

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Digital-Audio-Converters/D1-24-Bit-DAC

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Answer 3

bobbydoo Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 16, 2015 12:53 PM in response to Gmon750

I am using the audio out (headphone port). I have used the wires supplied by audio engine. I have checked, re-checked all connections too many times. Great, pure, clear, loud sound out of right(passive) speaker. Great, pure, soft sound out of left(powered) left speaker. I have checked, rechecked balance through system preferences and MIDI (utility application) many times. Audio engine suggested checking the internal wire connections in the left (powered) speaker. After close inspection and wiggling, all connections are sound and proper. The only way for me to achieve a balanced sound is to slide 80% to 85% of output to left (powered) speaker and then maxing out total volume level. A quick fix, but hardly satisfying. I also upgraded to El Capitan from Yosemite and have had no issues. What is a USB D! DAC?. What are benefits and cost involved? Thanks for your time, and if any ideas come to mind, please send them my way.

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Answer 4

Gmon750

Level 1

14 points

Dec 19, 2015 9:17 AM in response to bobbydoo

I included a link to AudioEngine's DAC that I too use for my A5+ speakers. Here's the link:

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Digital-Audio-Converters/D1-24-Bit-DAC

Here's a youtube video about it. I really suggest you watch it to get an idea of what it does.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usLMRMkVgsI

The Digital/Analog converter that's built-in on an iMac is pretty weak to say the least. Think of it as a high-end external sound card and also includes a built-in amp to power headphones. If you really care about audio, a DAC is kind of a no-brainer. It made my A5+ speakers really shine and I immediately noticed a difference between sound quality, vs using a headphone-line into the speakers.

That being said, I have to say I'm a bit perplexed as to the sound issues with your setup. I almost want to lean to the side that there may be something wrong with the powered (non-passive) speaker's circuitry.

If you plug some headphones directly into the headphone jack of your Mac, do you get any of the sound-level problems that your A5+ speakers are exhibiting? If you do, then there's some kind of problem going on with your Mac. If your headphones work fine, then there is definitely something wrong with the powered speaker methink.

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Answer 5

bobbydoo Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 19, 2015 9:21 AM in response to Gmon750

Obviously, I cannot thank you enough. Your time, energy, thought and experience are greatly appreciated. Your ideas, I shall explore. I will post the results after all is said and done. Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you.

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Answer 6

bobbydoo Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2016 6:33 AM in response to Gmon750

I posted this incorrectly at first. Let me try again.

Thank you again for your time and effort. Turns out to be a problem with iMac headphone jack. I purchased audio engine dac D1. Balanced, clear, true music bliss. What a great New Year gift. Thanks, Rob

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Answer 7

Gmon750

Level 1

14 points

Jan 3, 2016 10:19 AM in response to bobbydoo

Glad to hear you resolved it! An external DAC really makes a difference when using quality, external speakers as you discovered. 🙂

Even though you may not use it, consider having your iMac repaired since it's still in warranty. Even though you may never use it, it could affect your resale-value should you ever decide to sell it.

Happy listening!

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