Audio randomly jumps between normal volume and low volume

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jtrevor9158302e0

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Feb 6, 2021
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So...has anyone had issues with v2.82 yet? I'll try that procedure if others who have tried it have had success with it. Very frustrated - I gave MSI the link to this thread and told them it probably was a driver issue before sending it in for BOTH RMAs (at their insistence)...and the issue still persists. Many times I can't even hear movies, and/or I need to double the volume of the left speaker to balance the audio.
 
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terieme14c202c8

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Sep 30, 2021
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No issues yet on v2.82. It's a solid driver!

One note though; if Nahimic Sound Enhacning doesn't work, then just uninstall it and reinstall it. Then all works as intended. Running several days without problems.

Also I'm running W11 - again solid.
 
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jtrevor9158302e0

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Thanks. Before switching to R2.82 (=6.0.8186.1), I'm going to try a few other versions, starting with 6.0.9067.1, which was the latest available when I purchased my laptop. Maybe it'll be possible to figure out which version the issue started in?

I know others mentioned they had problems with 6.0.9049.1 so I may need to go back further. We'll see...
 
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terieme14c202c8

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I have been running v2.82 the last week or so.

Z E R O issues. Sound is perfect and it works with Nahimic improvements...
 
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jtrevor9158302e0

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Questions.
1. Do any of you that are struggling with this use a USB antenna (for a mouse, game controller, etc.) on a regular basis? I do and I wonder if that might be a complicating factor.
2. Which "User Scenario" do you tend to use (if you use Dragon Center)? I keep mine on Balanced and wonder if reduced volume is a "feature" of not using Extreme Performance.

This time, I have proof of the audio reduction: I downloaded an app on my phone that logs decibels over time, and was able to record (1) the sudden drop in volume overall, and (2) the difference in volume between the left and right speakers. 3-4 dB difference in both cases; mathematically that's a 50% volume decrease.

It's a shame that reverting to an earlier Realtek driver didn't help me. I'm open to any other suggestions. Meanwhile I'll have to keep the speakers at close to max volume at all times, and keep the output settings imbalanced so they actually are balanced.

The last time I tried Chat Support, I got a manager who accused me of lying about all the stuff I've done to try to fix this. "Others who have had the problem you described got if fixed when they did the things you claim you have." Yeah, and if those had worked for me, one round of which was done live with a technician that you have the transcript/recording from, or if the RMAs (where they found issues, both times) had succeeded, I wouldn't be wasting my time with you. The manager also tried to claim I'd installed something other than Windows "because it was in the notes". Yeah, no, those notes are wrong and I'll send you MS's online Windows Update logs to prove your technician screwed that up, if I have to.

Warranty expires on December 7 so I'm going to have to send it in for a third RMA before that. I've tried absolutely everything suggested here, by MSI, or in online reading. Nothing's worked and MSI just keeps suggesting I do the things I already have proven don't solve it. Tried to get them to read this thread or one of the many others on the same topic on their website, but the same guy who accused me of lying also said "30 people having the same problem doesn't warrant an investigation since most people aren't experiencing it". And how do you know what percentage of users with these models are experiencing this, when you didn't look up RMA history, forum threads, customer complaint logs, or info on how many people have these models?

In short, I have a machine I paid $2000 for that doesn't work as advertised, MSI keeps trying the same solutions that have already been proven to fail, I've been without my laptop for 3 of the 11 months I've owned it with more to come, and they're just going to run the warranty out without resolution. After I tried to get them to investigate the possible driver issue by reading this or other threads, or offer SOME solution which isn't a repeat of what's already failed, which they responded to by calling me a liar. I'll definitely be warning everyone I know away from purchasing from MSI, and if MSI fails to back up their warranty after this last chance, I'll be pursuing more serious avenues.
 
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dvdori14e602cc

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Feb 24, 2021
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Can confirm I was experiencing the same issues on my MSI GE66 and the steps in post 49 worked for me. So annoying knowing that if you contact MSI about this, they'll tell you to reinstall your entire operating system, then tell you to RMA the computer, then send it back still not working. There's a reason why I bought this thing for $2500 in March and can already get it for $1500 on e-bay in brand new condition. Now I'm just waiting for the hinges to start snapping off a week after the warranty expires.
 
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Crazydonkey

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dvdori14e602cc said:
Can confirm I was experiencing the same issues on my MSI GE66 and the steps in post 49 worked for me. So annoying knowing that if you contact MSI about this, they'll tell you to reinstall your entire operating system, then tell you to RMA the computer, then send it back still not working. There's a reason why I bought this thing for $2500 in March and can already get it for $1500 on e-bay in brand new condition. Now I'm just waiting for the hinges to start snapping off a week after the warranty expires.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the latest nahimic driver from your product utility page?
 
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jtrevor9158302e0

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I've tried the latest Nahimic and latest Realtek drivers. No effect. However, I did have something odd happen today.

I upgraded SteelSeries GG, which almost immediately crashed after loading. Within a few seconds of the crash, my speakers returned to normal volume. Is it possible SteelSeries is doing something...? Does anyone know which Windows services SteelSeries runs?
 
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josephku.j156b02e1

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Please ensure ec and bios are up to date and perform clean installatoin on the audio drivers and apps.

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jtrevor9158302e0

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josephku.j156b02e1 said:
Please ensure ec and bios are up to date and perform clean installatoin on the audio drivers and apps.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, but I have already tried that multiple times. Specifically, I followed the attached guide provided by MSI Support, and I also executed EC reset and BIOS/UEFI updates. Even two full factory resets, and replacing the motherboard (twice) and speakers (once), in two different RMAs, did nothing.

Since the above post, I have confirmed that the Realtek audio driver is the problem. If I uninstall the Realtek driver, disable the Internet connection, then reboot (so that the generic Windows audio driver is installed instead, and the Realtek driver cannot be reinstalled), all the issues vanish. The old Realtek driver suggested in post #49 did not resolve my problem, but I may try it again.

It is clear there is a problem related to the Realtek driver; this is NOT a hardware problem. I have video evidence of the speakers dropping volume (and having imbalanced volume) with the driver, and then behaving exactly as expected without the driver. But, considering I was called a liar by MSI last time I tried to get them to help, I'm not sure I'll bother giving it to them.
 

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jtrevor9158302e0

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By the way, MSI has made a newer driver, 6.0.9238.1, available. It's not obvious though. In the Downloads --> Audio section for my laptop (a GE66 Raider 10th gen), MSI lists 6.0.9088.1 as the latest. But then in the Utilities section, under Nahimic 3 there's a link to the newer driver. I've copied the link below.

I uninstalled the Realtek driver and Nahimic with the Internet connection disabled, performed an EC reset, then installed this driver and the latest Nahimic, then executed a Windows Update. No word yet on if any of that will make a difference.


MSI Realtek 9238 driver
 
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