[SOLVED] Z690 AORUS PRO ALC4080 No loudness equalization option W10

[gatorepollo]

I'm using the latest Realtek USB Audio Driver 6.3.9600.2306 but I don't have access to the Enhancement tab in the device audio properties of Windows 10 (ver 20H2) neither for the SP/DIF digital output nor the analog 3.5 mm Jack.
I have also installed the Realtek Audio console (1.30.258.0) and it doesn't show me any audio equalization option. As consequence I experience very low dialogue but very loud sound effects.
One common fix for the missing enhancement tab is to install Microsoft generic High definition Audio Driver, but the ALC4080 is not compatible with such driver. I already tried with 3 different drivers versions and non of them fixed the problem: Microsoft USB Audio 2.0 and Realtek 6.3.9600.2300 and 6.3.9600.2306.

 

[dwd999]

The whole point of the ALC4080 chip is that it is part of the computer's overall USB system; thus no external drivers are needed for sound output, they are provided by Microsoft as part of the Windows installation. The only thing achieved by installing the Realtek drivers is that you can then enable and select Stereo Mix as a recording option. You might be able to compensate for the sound level problems you are having by using the App Volume and device preferences menu found at the bottom of the Settings, System, Sound, Advanced Sound Options menu. Note that available options only appear when a specific device and specific software program are already running; otherwise they don't appear. Alternately, if you are using multichannel sound e.g. 5.1 then you could increase the level of the Center channel where all the dialogue comes from in relation to all the other channels.

 

[gatorepollo]

Thank you for your reply. I connected the same speaker via bluetooth, got access to the enhancement tab, checked the loudness equalization option and "solved" the volume level problem (it makes sense because it's a total different connection and driver).
Unfortunately the app volume didn't fix my problem if I connected via SP/DIF and I'm not using a multichannel sound system . The thing is, I wish I could get the option to turn on loudness equalization as I get via the bluetooth connection and I can't understand why I don't have the option.

 

[dwd999]

Thank you for your reply. I connected the same speaker via bluetooth, got access to the enhancement tab, checked the loudness equalization option and "solved" the volume level problem (it makes sense because it's a total different connection and driver).
Unfortunately the app volume didn't fix my problem if I connected via SP/DIF and I'm not using a multichannel sound system . The thing is, I wish I could get the option to turn on loudness equalization as I get via the bluetooth connection and I can't understand why I don't have the option.

You don't have that option because (a) the programmers who created the drivers and software don't think you need it because its supposed to be built into your receiver and they think they know better than the users; or (b) the company and programmers that write the drivers and software are cheap and/or lazy and can't be bothered writing software just because the users think they need it. This is why there's a burgeoning third party utility software business. Basically we're on our own and have to use whatever we've got the best we can.

 

[gatorepollo]

At this point I guess I'll just buy a soundcard

 

[dwd999]

At this point I guess I'll just buy a soundcard

There are less expensive 3rd party sound playback utilities which you could search the web and download.

 

[gatorepollo]

Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. Is there any you could recommend?

 

[dwd999]

Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. Is there any you could recommend?

You could start with these:

Equalizer APO

Download Equalizer APO for free. A system-wide equalizer for Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11. Equalizer APO is a parametric / graphic equalizer for Windows. It is implemented as an Audio Processing Object (APO) for the system effect infrastructure introduced with Windows Vista.

sourceforge.net

PC Equalizer - GUI

Download PC Equalizer - GUI for free. GUI for Equalizer APO, Instantly Boost Your Computer's Audio. PC Equalizer is a Graphical User Interface for "Equalizer APO" which is a parametric / graphic equalizer for Windows. Tired of lackluster sound quality on your computer?

sourceforge.net