Audio problems for Harman/kardon HK 695

Question

I have the Harman/kardon HK 695 speakers with subwoofer from Dimension 4550.

I'm having odd problems with my audio. Sound works perfectly fine for some programs like Windows Media Player (movies and music) and some games I tried, however it doesn't work for browsers (both Firefox and IE; e.g. sites with video don't have any sound), and likewise it doesn't work for Winamp.

When I tried outputting via HDMI cable to my TV, sound was fine there - it worked for browsers as well.

I just moved and am not sure if I'm missing any wires (before moving everything was fine). Right now I have the black and green ended cables from the subwoofer going into my PC. Are there supposed to be any more wires than that?

Although I did purchase new speakers to try (cheap ones without a subwoofer), and they only had the same black and green ended cables, yet gave me the same exact problems - no audio for browsers.

fireberd · Answer

Those speakers are only '2.1' and only the GREEN speaker plug should be connected to the GREEN speaker jack.  I have no idea where or what the Black connection is for unless it's for something internal in the speaker system.   As far as some audio not working, that is a different problem.  Just moving the PC should not have caused any software or configuration problems, unless you have actually changed some settings.

Kadence · Answer

Thank you.

No, I didn't change any settings. I've checked all volume controls I could think of and they are also on. And again, if I use HDMI to output to my TV (where the TV speakers are used instead of PC speakers), all the programs work fine.

And since the speakers do work for most stuff (just not browsers or Winamp), they aren't broken or anything. So this is a very perplexing issue.

Kadence · Answer

Thanks, but I only tried the HDMI out after having the audio problems. That wasn't setup when I started having them.

Under Speaker Settings->Advanced, Speaker setup is at "Desktop stereo speakers". Is that what it should be?

fireberd · Answer

On some systems, if you are setup for audio to the HDMI output that cuts off the speaker audio.  Check the Control Panel/Sounds and see what the configuration is.

fireberd · Answer

Yes, Stereo Speakers is the correct setting.

You keep mentioning the black wire and the only thing I can think of is that is for the AC power. The speakers do require AC power to work.

As some sound does or did work, check the Volume Control Panel to see if any of the sound types are muted or if the volume control (slider) is in the down (0ff) position.

Kadence · Answer

Yes, that was the first thing I checked, and all sliders are non-muted and set to max.

fireberd · Answer

Uninstall your sound device in the Device Manager then restart the PC and Windows will detect and reinstall the Sound. This fixes many different problems.

To access the Device Manager, hold down the Windows key and press the Pause/Break key.

Kadence · Answer

Well, I did that - uninstalled the driver, restarted, reinstalled, restarted - but now no sound at all works on my PC :(

Kadence · Answer

Although once more I tried it, and if I again plug in my TV via HDMI cable and clone the display, sound for all software works through the TV speakers just fine.

Kadence · Answer

OK - finally got things working :) I unplugged and replugged the speakers (which I'd tried before), but this time it actually worked.   Thanks for the help :)

diowrite · Answer

One of the biggest complaints when people set these HKs up is that there is little or no sound.
OK. I figured it out.
Make sure you have the right sound driver for your sound card, computer, and speakers. Then, look on top of the right satelitte speaker: there is a (+) and a (-) sign on top on either side of the green light. Press the Plus sign and the volume increases (awesome). Your know the rest.

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Audio problems for Harman/kardon HK 695

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