Have you started a movie, noticed low surround volume, and wondered why your surround sound speakers are so quiet? Speaker issues can be frustrating and can happen at any time. Many things could go wrong. But why are your speakers so quiet when you aren’t the one turning them down?
Several things could be causing your speakers to become quiet. It could be unoptimized audio settings, the device you watch your movie from, or the physical wire connection to the speaker.
There are several ways you can figure out what the cause is. There are simple steps to troubleshooting. Once you know the reason, you can fix it. Continue reading to learn what you can do!
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Why Your Surround Sound Speakers Are So Quiet
There are quite a few reasons why your speakers are so quiet. Some issues may be dire, while others not so much. Here are some of those possible issues for this symptom:
- It could be the device you are streaming on.
- The wires are loose.
- The wires or cables are damaged.
- It is the volume setting.
- The speaker is damaged.
Knowing the causes can help you figure out what is wrong with yours and what you can do to solve it.
Could Be The Device You Are Streaming On
Sometimes the device you are streaming on may be the problem. Have you ever noticed that when you watch a Blu-ray, it’s quiet, but then you open up an application on your television, which is blaring?
Maybe the device or the application you are playing through is the cause of your speakers being so quiet. This happens more often than you may think, and although frustrating, this is the fault of the programming of the devices and applications.
Wires Are Loose
Sometimes wires can become loose and disrupt the circuits. It could be a loose circuit connected directly to the speaker or a connection to the receiver. There is even the possibility it is a cable connection from the receiver to the TV.
Wires Or Cables Are Damaged
Any damaged wires or cables can cause this “quietness” from your speakers. This is because the information cannot be appropriately sent to the speaker due to the damage. Wires get damaged all the time.
If you have wires running where there is high traffic, then it is easy for this damage to occur. It may also be the case if you have mice. They love chewing wires. But your problem may be a little more domestic. It could be your pet, like a cat or dog. Even children can be the culprit.
It Is The Volume Setting
Sometimes the settings on your stereo receiver can get all jumbled up. This could be due to curious children or just by accident. Sometimes you just need to optimize the levels. Whatever the case, this can cause your speakers to be on mute or low volume.
The Speaker Is Damaged
The worst possible reason for your surround sound speakers being quiet is that the speakers are damaged. It could be damaged for many reasons: liquids fell on it, something hit it, or a faulty part.
How To Fix This Problem
You can fix this issue without involving a professional or replacing the speaker entirely. Here are some of those options:
- Check if other streaming devices work.
- Secure all connections.
- Replace or check the wires and cables.
- Adjust the volume settings.
- Replace the speaker.
Many of these are within your capability to fix, even without any electrical or technical background.
Check If Other Streaming Devices Work
Double check to see if other devices or other applications on your devices work. Remember, there may just be something wrong with those things, so you don’t want to blame your speakers immediately.
If your speaker works on those other devices and applications, you will know the source is those platforms. You can then report the problem for those devices and apps to the company.
Secure All Connections
Go back through and unplug all your connections that could be the cause. Then reinsert all the wires and cables. Ensure that they are secure once you connect them. Once completed, you can turn on your speakers to see if they work.
If your speakers are now working, you know something was loose somewhere among all the connections. This often happens when you do the installation yourself, or you don’t have a professional complete the task.
Replace Or Check The Wires And Cables
Look through all the wires to see any tears or damage. Especially check high traffic areas or areas children or pets may have access to. These will be the best places to start your search and then move to more inconspicuous places.
Once you find the damaged wires, replace them with new ones. Wires and cables are inexpensive compared to replacing an entire speaker. It won’t take long to replace it; when you do, ensure it’s protected from whatever damaged the original wires.
Adjust Volume Settings
If you think it is the volume settings, you can just go into the settings and find the speaker that needs to be adjusted. Adjust the volume level to your liking and start watching your shows.
You can also calibrate other audio settings. It should save this modification for the next time you use those speakers.
Try Resetting Everything
Before you reset entirely, try to do a simple reboot of your devices. Power cycling fixes many things, so you will want to try this if you haven’t already. If you still have the issue, try resetting everything to default to see if that will fix the problem.
After resetting to the defaults, you will have to recalibrate and perform other setups you had previously done. You will want to keep an eye out on your speakers to ensure that the problem doesn’t persist.
Replace Speaker
If nothing seems to work, you may need to replace the speaker entirely. Many companies provide a warranty on their speakers, so you want to check with the company what the warranty covers.
If your system is brand new, they will replace the speaker. Faulty speakers happen, so contact the seller to inform them of everything, and they will send a replacement immediately! No money out of your pocket!
Outro to Why Your Surround Sound Speakers Are So Quiet
It is aggravating when your surround sound speakers are acting up. Hopefully, it is an easy fix, like calibrating your setup, checking or replacing one of the wires, and if not, always check with the seller or manufacturer. You don’t want to spend money realizing you could have replaced a defective speaker or unit for free.
