Sound output problem Creative SB X-Fi PCI

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md88pilot

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Dec 30, 2010
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HI everyone! Here's one for you. Recently and all of a sudden my speakers stopped working. They were old so I replaced them thinking it was the speakers. The reason I thought it was the speakers is because the dxdiag showed no problems with my sound card. Also, the device manager showed no problems with my sound card. Also, when I open the volume mixer I'm showing sound output (green bars moving up and down). However I'm not getting any sound to my speakers.

I'm also using a headset (the analog inputs are connected to a USB cable) that are connected via USB. I pulled the analog green plug and put it into my soundcard on the back of the computer and there was no sound to my headset. SO, I took the analog green plug from my new speakers and plugged it into the green port on the USB cable and voila, sound out of the speakers. SOOOO, something must be wrong with the jack on the sound card?? That's what I'm thinking. Probably need a new card but I wanted to check here in case I was missing something obvious!

Thanks!
Bob
 
Solution
edogawa
What specific sound card are you using?

For analogue you should see this:
1846019-XL8DQ8Q.png


If your having issues with the sound card, the best steps to take are the following:

1. Uninstall drivers in device manager for the sound card.
2. Shut Down.
3. Unplug the sound card and re-seat it.
4. Install the latest drivers for your OS from the Creative website.
5. Restart.
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If you have the creative software installed, try to use the restore defaults option just in case a setting for messed up.

It is not often that the jack on a sound card goes(sure it started to go on my old SB 16, but that was years of heavy use[swapping speakers and headphones all the time]).

Also make sure that under Sound(start search SOUND) -> Playback that the X-fi is the default playback device or it will not play anything.
 
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Thanks Nuke. The only software I have is the Creative Audio Control Panel. When I try and run that it gives me an error saying the audio device supported by this application is not detected. Also, the SPDIF OUT (my X-FI) is the default device. I have also just updated the driver to the most current one on their site. It did not fix the issue.
Thanks
 
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Forgot to mention that....no it did not. I updated my initial post. Thanks for asking and catching that.
 
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It's analog. Still researching..like I said, it worked fine and now it doesn't...My sound card is very old, like 7 years old so that could be it. And yes, the SPDIF is my default.
Ok, here's more..when I check my playback under sound it has my headset as "Speakers". This is the config I had been using. When I wanted to go to speakers I would make the SPDIF the default. It was the only way I am able to switch between headset and speakers, the switch I bought didn't work. Could be because I have this configured wrong. lol
Thanks
 
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What specific sound card are you using?

For analogue you should see this:
1846019-XL8DQ8Q.png


If your having issues with the sound card, the best steps to take are the following:

1. Uninstall drivers in device manager for the sound card.
2. Shut Down.
3. Unplug the sound card and re-seat it.
4. Install the latest drivers for your OS from the Creative website.
5. Restart.
 
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Solution


Thanks, I'll look into it and let you know, have been out of town.
 
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OK, so I did the uninstall of the driver, shutdown the computer, reseated the sound card and installed new drivers. It does not show speaker at the top of the list under Sound. If I plug my headset in it will show the headset. What I have showing under sound is SPDIF Out and Internal Aux jack as part of the X-Fi SB card...
 
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Are the speakers plugged into the right place?

The card has some detection from what I see.

If you have an xfi with modes, try setting Entertainment mode(stop ALL audio before swapping modes) because it will show what is plugged into the card.

EDIT

Right click the sound->playback section and make sure that Show Disabled and Disconnected devices is selected as well.
g9us.png


Just in case it is not detecting being plugged in.
 
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I have a question.

Are you running Windows 8?

The reason I ask is that I have been on 8 since release and was on the 8.1 preview until recently when I changed to the full 8.1 (gotta love TechNet). I also have a SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatality Pro and in 8/8.1 when I would first start 8 the sound would not work but I would see the device in device manager and so on. To fix it I would have to go to the control panel and open up the sound then open the X-Fi control panel (or if it is 8 its under all apps). Switch it from the default Gamer mode to Entertainment and it would start working.

Its a known issue for this card, and I am not surprised since its pretty old and PCI.

I have since moved on to a SB Z and it works great so far. The sound quality is the same or better than the X-Fi plus I have no issues with it not working. To top it all off it has a designated headphone jack so I can switch between headphones and speakers without having to go to the back of my machine, as the X-Fi didn't have a normal front audio out (you switch in the software).
 
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Even the PCI-E sound blaster X-fi's(Titanium models) had that issue.

I have no clue why, It just started working in my Windows 8 preview one day. Someone had mentioned something about putting the system to sleep then waking it up(Something I do from time to time).

It literally just started to work perfect one day(saved settings and all. Fast boot was OFF).

Also a CTsomething or other file could be placed as a shortcut on the desktop that would reset the card without having to go swap modes, but it would still loose all settings and default to game mode.

Very good point you bring up. It looks like all the "hardware" X-fi cards had that issue.
 
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Yea I remember some of the low end X-Fis didn't even have a X-Fi chip just the brand.

I am fine with changing to a new one. Its like other components. It worked great from XP (when I first got it) to Vista and in 7.

The Z is worth the $100 I paid as it works without issues and gives the same or better sound as the X-Fi I had.
 
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