Does it make a difference if you

[Maria Flores]

Raise the volume from the physical control of your speakers, or

Raise the volume from the virtual control (i.e. windows volume control)?

What would be the difference between the two?

quick, discuss!

 

[Solaris]

One sounds more vegetablish, the other - moorish.

 

[FrostedxB]

If you have the speaker volume down, thats the max your WMP will play at. Once you turn up the speaker volume, the music (or whatever you have on (Porn?)) will be much louder.

 

[Tyguy]

Doesn't seem to be a very discussion friendly question to be honest...

can we discuss something more fun?

 

[The Monkey]

Doesn't seem to be a very discussion friendly question to be honest...

can we discuss something more fun?

Is there an afterlife?

 

[Ren.182]

If you have the speaker volume down, thats the max your WMP will play at. Once you turn up the speaker volume, the music (or whatever you have on (Porn?)) will be much louder.

I think what they're asking is whether or not its better to turn the volume up on your computer or the physical speakers itself.

I don't know which would be better if I'm honest. I have my PC volume on half and adjust the volume using my speakers, just easier for me to adjust the volume that way.

Probably a better topic for the hardware & software section.

 

[dfc05]

I used to change the actual speakers just because it seemed quicker. However, every single set of speakers I have ever owned have been so crappy that they start to make this static noise when you turn it up. So there was probably some optimum between ease of changing the volume versus awful static.

Nowadays I have a laptop and don't use speakers (my laptop speakers and my other speakers seem about equal in crappiness. I really wish I were kidding, but I'm not). So there is no option anymore.

 

[Tyguy]

well, personally...i just keep my volume control near max and deal with the speakers. it's easier and makes more sense to me.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I can't say for sure, but sometimes when I change the volume via my computer (sound control, media player volume, whatever) it'll get not just louder but "noisier," as in more interference, more blaring. When I use my speaker controls however, it stays clean all the way up, presumably because nothing is changing with the way the sound itself is produced, only the speaker's output.

Because of this, and maybe habit, I've always kept the volume controls on my computer at 50% and adjusted my speakers. Except when I'm using this shitty USB headset, because the volume control just changes the sound via the computer.

 

[VirusType2]

I believe that the amplifier (your powered speakers) uses a variable resistor (a potentiometer) to lower the volume. Therefore, I would say it's better to leave the computer's volume high, and adjust the volume with the speakers themselves.

If you have the computer volume very low, and instead turn up the speakers/amp way up, then you may hear a humming noise.

I guess it depends on which has better components - your audio card/chipset, or the amplifier. In my case, I've got a Creative X-Fi sound card. I can turn the computer volume all the way up and not hear any extra noise. But if I turn my amplifier (home stereo) all the way up - even if there is no signal (no sound playing) I can hear quite a bit of humming.

One thing that may be worth consideration if you're an audiophile or something, is that generally, an amplifier sounds its cleanest (lowest signal to noise ratio) when its gain/volume is at it's peak, in other words, just before distortion. Of course, there are many factors to consider here, most importantly - whether or not your speakers are matched to the amp, and can handle this peak output appropriately.

 

[Adabiviak]

There's a difference for me: the CP volume affects the rear speakers more (so it's always maxed), and the volume levels are normalized with the sound card driver. I use the external amplifier volume to adjust the actual volume, especially since when I'm in game, movie, whatever, I don't need to leave the program to deal with the volume.

 

[Viperidae]

Hardware volume > software.