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headphones directional audio issue

Anonymous
2024-06-21T23:51:28+00:00

if it matter's the headphones are razer kraken's i've had for many years now.
so, a while back i accidently karate chopped the cable to my headphones. and suddenly the audio kinda just, stopped working. partially anyway it was all really weird, playing some sounds and not other's.

for a while i thought it would just be like that and i'd have to get a new set of headphones, but i think i might be able to salvage it? because when i was playing fallout 4, having them on not expecting anything, i turned away from an npc i was talking to and suddenly i could hear them, so i tried it again and i think i've deduced that the front part of the headphones are broken, while the back part of them still play audio (i THINK)
i also have realtek audio console, turning on/off headphone virtualization / front left and right full-range speakers both done nothing, and loudness equalization helped immensely but there's still stuff missing.

is there any way to make it so all audio plays through that back part? i've already tried turning on mono-audio(which practically muted it, the sounds WHERE all there, just INCREDIBLY quiet even turning all the sound's up to max), and windows sonic spatial sound (which helped marginally)

an alternate solution may be to keep mono-audio on, and find a way to somehow turn my audio up high enough to where i can hear it (also yes, i've double checked nothing's on low volume + it play's loud when mono audio's turned off)

edit: upon a bit more experimentation, i think the alternate solution would be my preferred one.

sorry for a bit of a long post, lmao.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-23T03:42:16+00:00

    Hi Welcome to Microsoft community. It sounds like you've identified that your Razer Kraken headphones have suffered some physical damage that affects the directional audio, and you're looking for a way to make them usable by playing all audio through the working part of the headphones. Here are a few steps and suggestions you can try to achieve this: Step 1: Enable Mono Audio and Adjust VolumeSince you mentioned that enabling mono audio makes the sounds incredibly quiet, you can try to increase the system volume and the application volume to compensate. Here’s how to do it:

    1. Enable Mono Audio:
      • Open Settings.
      • Go to Ease of Access > Audio.
      • Toggle on Turn on mono audio.
    2. Adjust System Volume:
      • Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select Open Volume mixer.
      • Ensure all volume sliders are set to maximum.
    3. Adjust Application Volume:
      • Open the application you are using (e.g., Fallout 4).
      • Go to the audio settings within the application and ensure the volume is set to maximum.

    Step 2: Check Realtek Audio Console SettingsSince you have Realtek Audio Console, ensure it’s configured correctly:

    1. Open Realtek Audio Console:
      • Search for Realtek Audio Console in the Start menu and open it.
    2. Check Speaker Configuration:
      • Go to the Speakers tab.
      • Ensure that the Headphone Virtualization and Front left and right full-range speakers are configured correctly.
    3. Use Loudness Equalization:
      • Go to the Enhancements tab.
      • Enable Loudness Equalization to help balance out the audio levels.

    Step 3: Hardware Fix (Optional)If you're comfortable with a bit of DIY, you could try to repair the headphone cable. This involves:

    1. Cutting the damaged part of the cable.
    2. Soldering the wires back together or using a new 3.5mm jack.
    3. Covering the exposed wires with electrical tape or heat shrink tubing.

    There are many tutorials online that can guide you through this process. However, this requires some basic knowledge of electronics and soldering. If none of these solutions work, it might be time to consider investing in a new pair of headphones.

    Let me know if you need further assistance. Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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