General Information About the Dell AC511 and AC511M Soundbars

Summary: This article provides general information about the Dell AC511 and AC511M soundbars.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Table of Contents:

  1. Overview
  2. Specifications
  3. Supported Displays
  4. Connecting the Soundbar
  5. Troubleshooting
  6. More Information

Overview

Note: More detailed information can be found in the soundbar User Guides:

The Dell AC511 and AC511M are soundbars that attach to certain Dell monitors. There are two variants of the AC511 soundbar:

  1. The Dell AC511 soundbar attaches to the bottom of certain Dell monitors.
    Dell AC511 Soundbar
  2. The Dell AC511M soundbar attaches to the stand of certain Dell monitors with an included bracket.
    Dell AC511M Soundbar and Bracket

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Specifications

The AC511 and AC511M soundbar technical information:

Feature Description
Dimensions (W x D x H)   16 in x 1.9 in x 1.5 in
Controls Volume knob
LEDs Power ON and OFF indicator
Mounting AC511: At the bottom of the monitor
AC511M: On the monitor stand with a bracket  
Power Supply USB

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Supported Displays

The AC511 and AC511M soundbars can be installed on the following monitors:

Speaker   Monitor Model
AC511 E1914H, E2014H, E2214H, E2214Hv, E2314H
E2414H, P1914S, P2014H, P2214H, P2314H, P2414H
P2714H, U23.8, U2414H, UP2414HQ, U34, U3214HQ
AC511M E1914H, E1914He, E1916H, E1916He, E1916HL, E1916HM, E1916HV, E2014H,
E2014T, E2015HV, E2016, E2016H, E2016HV, E2214H, E2214Hv, E2215HV, E2216H,
E2216HV, E2218HN, E2219HN, E2314H, E2316H, E2316Hr, E2318H, E2318HN,
E2318HR, E2318HX, E2414H, E2414Hr, E2414Hx, E2417H, E2418HN, E2715H, P1914S
P1917S, P1917SWh, P2014H, P2016, P2017H, P2018H, P2214H, P2217
P2217H, P2217Wh, P2219H (with mount), P2219HC (with mount), P2314H, P2317H
P2317HWh, P2319H (with mount), P2414H, P2415Q, P2416D, P2417H, P2418D
P2418HZ, P2418HZm, P2419H (with mount), P2419HC (with mount), P2714H
P2714T, P2715Q, P2717H, P2719H (with mount), P2719HC (with mount)
S2719HS (with mount), U2414H, U2415, U2417HJ, U2419H (with mount), U2419HC (with mount)  
U2515H, U2713H, U2715H, U2719D (with mount), U2719DC (with mount), U2917W
U3219Q (with mount), UP2516D, UP2716D, UP2718Q, UP3017, UP3216Q, UZ2215H
Note: If you have a monitor not on this list, you can check the monitor's User Guide for compatibility with the soundbar.

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Connecting the Soundbar

AC511:
The following instructions can be used to install the soundbar on a Dell compatible monitor.

  1. Gently peel off the slot covers at the bottom of the monitor.
    Dell Monitor Slot Cover
  2. Align the hook on the soundbar to the slot at the bottom of the monitor.
    Attaching the Dell AC511 Soundbar to a Dell Monitor
  3. Slide the soundbar to secure it on the monitor.
    Slide the Dell AC511 Soundbar to Attach to a Dell Monitor
  4. Sound bar attached to monitor complete.
    Dell AC511 Soundbar Attached to a Dell Monitor

AC511M:
The following instructions can be used to install the soundbar on a Dell compatible monitor.

  1. Pull the bracket’s clamp.
    Dell AC511M Soundbar and Bracket Attach Configuration
    Note: Use the thick rubber cushion between the bracket and the nonswivel base monitor stand.
  2. Secure the bracket to the monitor stand.
    Dell AC511M Soundbar Attached
  3. Push the bracket down to align it with the stand base.
  4. Align the tabs on the soundbar with the slots on the bracket. Slide the soundbar to the right to secure the soundbar to the bracket.
    Attaching Dell AC511M Soundbar to Included Bracket

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Troubleshooting

The following can be used to troubleshoot various issues with the AC511 and AC511M soundbars.

Symptom What You May Experience Possible Solution
Soundbar not functioning properly Soundbar that is not detected or sync.
  • Once the USB cable is plugged into the USB power source, observe if the white LED light on the right of the soundbar lights up.
  • If the LED is not lit, check if the USB cable is bad. Replace the cable with a known good USB cable, or directly insert the soundbar USB cable into the USB power source.
  • If the LED lights up after replacing the USB cable or directly plugging the soundbar USB cable into the USB source. The first USB cable is defective.
  • If no light is seen, after replacing the USB cable or directly plugging in the soundbar USB cable. Then the soundbar is defective.
  • If a light is seen, and you still have a problem with the soundbar. Remove or unplug the soundbar from the system and restart the computer.
  • Plug the soundbar back in and check if the LED is lit.
  • If the soundbar fails to connect, check if the soundbar is present in Windows Device Manager.
  • Swap the USB soundbar to another USB port.
  • If the other USB port works, the first USB port maybe faulty.
  • If the other USB port does not work, go to the next step.
  • Test a known good USB speaker or device (keyboard or mouse) or try the problem soundbar on another computer.
  • If known good USB device is not working on the same port, or the original soundbar works properly on another computer. The other computer's USB maybe defective.
  • If known good USB device works, or the soundbar does not work on another computer. Then the soundbar is defective.
No Sound The speaker has power, and the power LED indicator is on.
  • Playing audio through USB, ensure that the audio file is playing from the computer and the volume level is not at 0%.
  • Playing audio through an external audio device such as MP3 player. Ensure that the audio line-in plug is properly connected.
  • Ensure that the external audio device volume is not at 0%.
  • Playing audio through USB, set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
  • Play other audio content on the computer (CD, MP3, so forth)
  • Turn the volume to a higher level by rotating the soundbar volume knob clockwise.
  • Clean or reseat all audio cables.
  • Test the soundbar with a different audio source.
  • Go to the Windows Control Panel of the computer and click Sound. Try different audio ports. Reinstall the audio drivers. Restart the computer. Try with a known good speaker.
Distorted Sound Computer's audio is used as the audio source.
  • Clear any obstructions between the soundbar and yourself.
  • Confirm that the audio line-in cable plug is inserted into the audio port.
  • Set all volume controls to their midpoints.
  • Decrease the volume of the audio application.
  • Turn the volume level to a lower setting by rotating the soundbar knob counter clockwise.
  • Clean and reseat all audio cables.
  • Troubleshoot the computer's sound card.
  • Test the soundbar by using another audio source.
  • Ensure that no loose objects are touching the speaker.
Distorted Sound Other audio sources are used.
  • Clear any obstructions between the soundbar and yourself.
  • Confirm that the USB cable or audio line-in plug is inserted into the audio port.
  • Decrease the volume of the audio source.
  • Turn the volume level to a lower setting by rotating the soundbar knob counter clockwise.
  • Clean and reseat the audio cables.
  • Turn the bass or wave setting lower.
  • Turn the "Wow Surround" setting lower.
  • Ensure that the soundbar is attached correctly to the monitor.
  • Ensure that no loose objects are touching the speaker.
Unbalanced Sound Output Sound from only one side of the portable speaker.
  • Clear any obstructions between the soundbar and yourself.
  • Confirm that the audio line-in cable plug is inserted into the audio port of the soundbar or audio source.
  • Set all Windows audio balance controls (L-R) to their midpoints.
  • Clean and reseat all audio cables.
  • Troubleshoot the computer's sound card.
  • Test the soundbar using another audio source.
Low Volume Volume is too low.
  • Clear any obstructions between the soundbar and yourself.
  • Turn the volume to a higher level by rotating the knob clockwise.
  • Set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
  • Increase the volume of the audio application.
  • Test the soundbar using another audio source.
Buzzing Noise from Soundbar Speaker Is the soundbar speaker properly attached to the monitor and there is no obstruction?
  • Ensure that the soundbar is attached properly to the monitor and no loose objects are hanging or touching the soundbar.
  • Try reducing the volume to a low level by rotating the knob counterclockwise.
  • Ensure audio wires are not interfering with the soundbar.
Line-in No Sound Is the audio line-in cable plugged in?
  • Ensure that the audio line-in cable plug is properly plugged into the soundbar line-in audio jack and on the line-out port of the audio device.
  • Try using different or known good line-in cable.
Line-in No Sound Is the external audio device turned on or playing audio?
  • Check if the audio device is turned on or playing audio.
  • Ensure that the audio device volume is not set to a 0% volume level.
  • Try testing with a known good audio device.
Line-in Distortion Is the line-in cable properly plugged in?
  • Clear any obstructions between the soundbar and yourself.
  • Confirm that the audio line-in cable plug is inserted into the port of the audio source.
  • Decrease the volume of the audio source.
  • Turn the volume level to a lower setting by rotating the soundbar knob counter clockwise.
  • Clean and reseat the audio cables.
  • Turn the bass or wave setting lower.
  • Turn the "Wow Surround" setting lower.
  • Ensure that the Soundbar speaker is properly attached on the monitor.
  • Ensure that no loose objects are touching the soundbar.
Headphone Jack Has No Sound USB or external audio source not playing music or volume is at 0%.
  • Check if the audio player or external audio source is playing audio.
  • Check if the audio source and the soundbar volume are not set to 0%.
Headphone Jack Distortion Is the headphone line-in cable properly plugged in?
  • Check if the headphone plug is properly inserted into the soundbar headphone port.
  • Check if the headphone plug has a bad connection.
  • Check if the audio file is not distorted when playing without the headphone or using a known good headphone.
Cable not long enough and extension cable cannot connect to soundbar USB cable USB extension cable
  • Check if the USB soundbar cable length is not enough to connect the soundbar to the USB port. Use the USB extension cable to connect the soundbar to the USB port.
  • Check the USB cable to see if it is damaged.
Soundbar Cannot Mount To Monitor T-Hook
  • Check the T-Hook to see if it is missing.
  • Check if the T-Hook is damaged or broken.
  • Check if the monitor or soundbar slot is open and has no cover or obstruction.
Missing Items Package check.
  • Open the box on top and check if the USB extension is present inside the package.
  • Check if all packaging literatures are present inside the package.

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More Information

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Affected Products

Dell Stereo Soundbar - AC511M, Dell USB Soundbar AC511
Article Properties
Article Number: 000125748
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 11 Nov 2025
Version:  20
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