How to improve the sound of your hi-fi system without spending almost anything other than time. Magazine "AudioVideo Salon"

POWER MIXER

Power Mixer is a feature-rich volume control app for Windows. The software interface is completely translated into Russian. The utility is distributed on a paid basis. To get the full version you need to buy a license. The full version costs 200 rubles, but there is a free demo version of the program for 14 days.

All useful tools for working with audio are located in the main Power Mixer window. At the top of the interface there is a sound diagram - templates for adjusting the volume. Several modes are available: evening, games, mixed, music, mute in all applications, etc.

On the right side of the interface, application users can adjust the overall sound of the operating system: balance, volume, mute or unmute the sound.

In the main program window, you can change the volume of an individual application currently running. To do this, you need to select a program from the list and set the required volume values ​​in the right window.

In addition to individual applications, the program allows you to work with a sound card. To do this, you need to select a device in the list and set the required volume values.

Machine weight

It is possible to minimize engine power losses in order to positively influence acceleration dynamics without upgrading the power unit. The first thing that is recommended to do is to throw out all the “extra” things from the car that allow the driver to feel at home behind the wheel, but affect the dynamics of the car. If you lighten the total weight of the vehicle by only 10%, the acceleration time to the coveted 100 km/h will decrease by the same amount:

1. A spare wheel and a set of tools will take about 40 kg from the total weight of the car.
2. Change of shoes to light wheels – up to 20 kg.
3. Replacing a metal or aluminum hood, trunk, fenders with alternative carbon parts – up to 40 kg.
4. Media system – up to 25 kg.
5. Filling the gas tank to 25%.
6. Removing the rear row seats or replacing them with lighter options.

After reducing the weight of the car by 120-150 kg, you can safely subtract 1-1.5 seconds from the acceleration time.

It is not recommended to remove the sound insulation from the car (as well as neglect the spare wheel and tools) and replace it with another made of lighter material. The same applies to changing the casing. The joy that the driver will experience, having received extra fractions of seconds during acceleration, will quickly be replaced by the irritation from an uncomfortable ride without music and in increasing noise.

Reasons for absence

In Windows 7, sound may disappear for several reasons:

• adjusting or disabling volume controls;
• the device is not connected or is not set as the “Default Device”;
• settings failure in BIOS;
• problems with the audio card;
• driver problems;
• problems with cables.

Volume controls

The first thing to check is the regulators. They are located on the taskbar, usually in the lower right corner of the screen, next to the date and time. When active, the sound icon looks like a speaker with sound waves emanating from it.

There are 2 options possible:

• Sound muted. Next to the speaker icon is a red circle with a line through it.
• The regulator is set to the minimum value, and in this case the speaker will have no waves.

To solve the problem:

1. Click on the icon and in the control window that appears, set the volume level to a higher one by moving the slider up the scale. If the sound is muted, click on the button under the “Enable sound” slider.
2. You can additionally check the volume control in individual applications, for example, in a browser. To do this, after clicking on the speaker icon, select “Mixer”. A window will open with individual controls; some of them may be disabled. Follow the above steps.

Playback devices

Often several devices are connected to the computer that can reproduce sound. For example, speakers and headphones. And if the output is configured through headphones, then the speakers will be silent. Or for some reason all audio devices were disabled.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Through the "Start" button, go to the "Control Panel".
2. Select the “Hardware and Sound” section, and then “Sound”.
3. Or click on the already known icon at the bottom right of the screen and select the highlighted line.
4. A window for setting various parameters opens. In the “Playback” tab, check the connection of the desired device. Next to it there should be a green checkmark and the inscription: “Default device.” If they are missing, the icon appears gray and the text changes to “Disabled”.
5. In this case, right-click on the device and click “Enable” or “Set as default”.
6. If the speakers you need are not in the list, right-click anywhere in the window and select “Show disabled devices.” Repeat the connection steps.
7. Ready. Let's check.

BIOS settings

The sound may disappear because The factory BIOS settings are lost and the default audio card is disabled. To correct the situation, you need to enter the BIOS:

1. Different computer companies have different ways of doing this. Consult your computer's manual to see what works for you. Usually this is holding down a certain key (Del, F9, F12) during the startup process.
2. After starting the BIOS, select “BIOS Setup”. In a new window, use the arrows on the keyboard to select the sound card, press the Enter key and select “Enabled”.
3. Press Enter again. Save the settings. Reboot the PC.

Audio card

Confirming that your audio card is installed correctly is one of the important troubleshooting steps:

1. In the Control Panel, go to the “System and Security” section.
2. Click Device Manager under the System category and enter your administrator password if prompted.
3. In the new window, double-click “Sound, Video and Game Controllers.” Make sure your sound card is listed. An example is highlighted in the image - AMD High Definition Audio Device.
4. If you don't see your sound card, refer to your PC's user manual for reinstallation instructions. By double clicking you can open the additional information window and view the device status.
5. It can be disabled - then next to its icon there will be a down arrow.
6. Select the Driver tab. Here you can launch the map by clicking on the corresponding button.

Cables

If the computer writes a message that “Speakers are not connected,” then you need to check all the cables. Make sure they are connected correctly and the speakers are receiving power:

1. Try turning on the speakers on another computer and check their functionality. Perhaps the problem is in the cable connecting the PC and the peripheral audio output device (this could also be the connection between the computer and the TV via hdmi).
2. If there is also no sound, then replace/repair the cable.

How to improve sound on a computer: using utility software

Special utilities are an interesting alternative to additional acoustics. They are worth using if you don’t like the sound when watching a movie or listening to an audio file. Similar shortcomings are typical for audio and video content downloaded from torrents.

But before you turn to such tools, make sure that it is not possible to adjust the sound using standard Windows OS capabilities. After all, the utility will increase the sound only if there are no serious problems with the hardware or peripheral devices. And be sure to try opening the file in another player. Among software video devices, experts often highlight VLC.

The following programs will help you boost the sound on your computer:

Types of amplifiers

Currently, there are several main types of sound amplifiers:

• Mono amplifiers designed for low-frequency subwoofers;
• Two-channel, which are used if only front speakers are installed in the car. In this case, such an amplifier allows you to reduce battery power consumption, since it affects only one pair of speakers;
• Three-channel, which are necessary if the car, in addition to front speakers, also has a subwoofer;
• Four-channel. This is a device with which you can strengthen the entire acoustic system, and not just its individual elements.

Speakers with subwoofer

Possible consequences of overclocking

In general, increasing the monitor's Hertz is a useful thing, but you need to understand that you can overdo it here: the display seems to support high frequencies, but when it comes to testing, freezes appear (video slowdowns). This is evidence that the video card cannot cope with the increased frequency.

The appearance of artifacts (several blurred images in one frame) indicates the opposite situation - the monitor cannot cope with the frequency offered by the video card.

In both cases, the frequency should be reduced until the problems disappear.

If as a result of your experiments the screen turns black, you have selected a frequency that is not supported by the monitor. Usually such moments are determined by the control program, and you have the ability to rollback, but if you used third-party software, this will become a problem. There are several ways to solve this. For example, boot into safe mode and roll back to safe screen refresh rate settings. Or use a second monitor if it is able to operate at the frequency you choose.

But, we repeat, there are no physical contraindications to overclocking that could harm the monitor.

How to increase the volume of speakers on a laptop

Another way to increase the sound on a laptop if the above option does not work is to use the speaker settings. The type and presence of an equalizer depends on the sound card of the personal computer, but the principle of operation is largely similar. Adjusting the volume using Realtek as an example:

Open the control panel through the Start menu or through the Windows 10 search form. (Fig. 4)

Rice. 4

Select Hardware and Sound, then go to Sound. (Fig. 5)

Rice. 5

Double-click (or right-click) on the speakers and open their properties. (Fig. 6)

Rice. 6

Go to the “Improvements” tab and select “Equalizer” from the entire list by checking the box. (Fig. 7)

Rice. 7

Next, open the settings window (by clicking next to “Settings”). (rice.

Rice. 8

In the window that opens, raise all the sliders up to the stop. In this case, the volume will increase, but the quality may drop significantly: grinding, wheezing and sounds unpleasant to the ear will appear. (Fig. 9)

Rice. 9

Alternatively, in the speaker settings, you can check the boxes next to the items “Equalizer”, “Virtual sound”, “Loudness”. This may increase the volume. (Fig. 10)

Rice. 10

Alternatively, go to Speaker Enhancements and check the box next to Loudness, leaving the rest blank. From above o. Click "Apply". (Fig. 11).

Rice. eleven

• Cucumber salads for the winter - you'll lick your fingers, Winter King without sterilization
• Pork in the oven: how to bake meat
• A little black dress is always in fashion - new items for women with photos

How to boost sound on your phone using apps

The Google Play app store has a huge number of programs designed to increase the volume of the speaker. You can choose any software you like to make the sound of your smartphone even more powerful.

Since all of these programs work on a similar principle, let’s consider an example of increasing sound power through the Volume Booster GOODEV application:

1. Open the program.
2. Agree with the warning.
3. Set the volume (boost) value you need.

Next, it remains to check how well the program coped with its task, and whether it was able to make the sound more powerful.

Install anti-vibration accessories

Vibrations and resonances occur with any design of the speaker and its components. The room in which the system is located also plays an important role. Anti-vibration accessories can be divided into the following categories:

1. Supports:
   a vinyl;
2. b metal;
3. in polymer;
4. g duralumin;
5. d with string structure.
6. Spikes.
7. Equipment areas.
8. Cones.
9. Toppers.

Categories 1 to 4 are distributed under system elements, toppers, on the acoustic surface or throughout the room. Each vibration isolation accessory has both advantages and disadvantages. When choosing, you need to focus on the type and dimensions of the room and audio system.

Instructions

If you are well versed in electronics, you can try to convert your amplifier by adding an additional power supply of appropriate power, which will exclusively power the output stage. So, the voltage at the previous stages will be equal to the no-load voltage. This will almost double the gain.

If your knowledge of electronics is limited only to a school physics course, we strongly recommend not to try to modify the amplifier with such gross interference in its delicate and very vulnerable inner world. In your case, there is a safer and simpler method - adding another, external amplification output stage located between the output of your amplifier and the speakers.

1. To increase the output power, we will use the simplest push-pull power amplifier on a complementary pair of transistors.

What is a complementary pair can be found here.

After codification, all the functions of your amplifier will remain the same as before, only the value of the load that can be connected to the output will increase. The output power parameters will be determined by the power of the transistors of the complementary pair. For example, we will use transistors 2SA1943 and 2SC5200; according to their technical characteristics, they can operate correctly at a power of 100 W.

First make sure they are of the same production series, this is very important for sound quality. 2

We look for the datasheet for this element and determine the emitter, base and collector

2. We look for the datasheet for this element and determine the emitter, base and collector.

3. Trying to assemble the circuit. It can be soldered by surface mounting, but for reliability it is better to separate and etch the board.

The scheme is as follows:

Diodes VD1, VD2 - any silicon.

4. After assembly, each transistor needs to be screwed to a separate radiator, and since we plan to load this mechanism with 100 W, it is better to attach a cooler to the radiator.