GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

[heavyfeul]

When I use the on-board coaxial and optical outs, the left channel is significantly louder than the right channel.

I am sending the digital output to a Dolby Headphone amplifier that accepts digital surround sound signals.

I tried other sources and they are fine through the amp, but the digital (coax and optical) output of the mobo is always favoring the left channel, even when sending just stereo feed.

Is there some settings I need to check? Could there be a driver incompatibility of some kind? Is this a hardware failure of some kind?

[svcglobal]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

Did you see if the Balance control in the Realtek Sound Manager, found at the Digital Output tab, is centered?

[heavyfeul]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

Did you see if the Balance control in the Realtek Sound Manager, found at the Digital Output tab, is centered?

I did. It is centered. It cannot be adjusted either. The volume and balance for S/PDIF are always fixed and not adjustable. Its just a straight digital stream, so there is nothing to adjust really except the sample rate.

[svcglobal]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

Well, IT is adjustable. Which REALTEK driver are you using? For Vista the last version is 2.07.

[heavyfeul]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

Well, IT is adjustable. Which REALTEK driver are you using? For Vista the last version is 2.07.

I am unable to adjust it via the Realtek interface or via the windows interface. I assumed it was because it is a digital signal, which is basically just raw binary data bits.

I am using XP 32-bit. I downloaded the latest driver directly from Realtek a few weeks ago when I built my new rig with this motherboard. I don't know which version, since I am not in front of my rig at the moment, but it is a recent version. My guess is that it is 2.0.6 for XP, since 2.0.7 came out on 10/16. It still might be 2.0.7, because I believe Microsoft Update checks for Realtek HD driver updates.

[svcglobal]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

So something is missing or the driver did not installed correctly. Under Vista it is adjustable, both balance and volume controls, see picture below.
For XP, just did look, the same version is available but different file. Try to download it again - possible corrupted driver can do strange things, you know.

[heavyfeul]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

I will try that tonight. I will remove the driver and reinstall the latest. Should I go directly to Realtek to get the drivers or download the driver listed on Gigabyte site for my motherboard?

Also, something called ATI Front Panel audio driver is installed as a device as well. I have no idea what this is for. Shouldn't the Realtek drivers handle the front panel audio or does the motherboard use a different driver for front panel audio. I wonder if I should remove that as well?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP45-DSL Audio Balance Issue

I would remove it in safe mode and if asked to reinstall driver say no. If it does install it anyway you can disable it in Device manager as you are right RealTek should handle it all.

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