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The volume of the internal speakers of my Dell Latitude 5490 is very low. I have run through the various trouble shooters and sound adjustment sequences, and I have not improved the sound volume. When I connect external speakers, the sound volume is normal and adjustable with the volume controls. Are my internal speakers defective and need replacement, or can something else be the problem?
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Hi @balto29734
Not sure with your model but can you alter the balance level of the internal speaker audio i.e. adjust volume more to either left or right speaker?
If you can this may be a way of checking whether it is only one speaker that is the problem. Not that this matters much because if one is faulty they come as a set of two speakers connected to the one plug.
Here's the owner manual for the laptop. Go to the bottom of p34 to view the procedure to remove/replace the speakers.
If you determine that the speakers are faulty, search online for 7Y2TF to find speaker suppliers that suit you best.
If you determine that the speakers are not faulty, here's an image from the schematic for the motherboard showing the speaker circuit for both the internal speakers and the external speaker connection.
I've shown where the speakers (both internal and external) connect to the audio codec IC and also circled some components, that if faulty, may cause problems with the internal speakers.
(click on image)
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Thanks Jayeff. The schematic caused my eyes to glaze over. However, as best as I can interpret the schematic, it appears to me that the only easily repairable parts are the speakers themselves. I don't have the skills to attempt any motherboard fixes. Replacements speakers are inexpensive so cost is not an issue. What I would like to know is some estimate of the probability that speaker replacement will solve the problem before I start to disassemble the computer, a task I have not attempted before.
Given that the external speakers work OK it would appear that the audio codec IC (major component bottom right corner of top image) is OK.
That just leaves the speakers or the capacitors and voltage suppressor zener diodes connected across the speaker inputs.
It would be unusual for just one of the components (if faulty) to affect both speakers as it should only affect one or the other, depending on which speaker they're associated with. That's why i hoped that you could alter the balance level to check if both speakers sounded the same when only one was being heard.
Try updating the audio drivers in Device Manager just in case it is a driver issue.
Here's a link to the audio drivers (Ver. 6.0.9175.1, A27.
Check that the drivers are the latest version (as shown above and if so uninstall them and the install the ones above that you downloaded.
To get to Device Manager, press the Win key and the x key (both together) and click on the Device manager link.
Once there, scroll down to Sound, video and game controllers → right click on Realtek High definition Audio → Properties → drivers.
This wil let you check the version.
To update right click on Realtek HD audio → update drivers and follow the prompts to where you download the file.
If still no good then try replacing the speakers.
Thanks jayeff!
I have checked, and my audio driver (as well as all other drivers) are up to date. With the sound level at maximum and the speaker output balanced, I tested each speaker individually. Both speakers produce a very low level of sound; but one speaker was slightly louder than the other. I also performed the detailed component test available on the Dell website. All systems passed.
Given your comments and the test results mentioned above, it appears to me that there is a high probability that the speakers are the problem. I am going to bite the bullet and order new speakers. Then I will test my mechanical abilities with disassembly, install and reassembly.
I will post the results of my efforts, most likely in a couple of weeks.
Hi jayeff,
The good news: replacing the speakers solved the problem. I now have lots of speaker volume.
The bad news: making the repair entailed disassembly of almost all of the internal components. The speaker horns could be accessed and removed by just removing the the bottom shell of the case. However, Dell, in their infinite wisdom, placed the speaker connector on the underside of the motherboard. To access this connector, I had to disassemble most of the internal components. In my view this is bad engineering design. The speakers can be easily damaged, and they shoud be easily replaceable.
Thanks for your assistance. I appreciate it.
@balto29734 awesome! all you have left to do now is to accept this excellent answer :-)
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