Speaker Problem

I'm trying to setup some additional speakers with my laptop. Also I'm trying to hook up a subwoofer as well. I plugged everything in and my problem seems to be in the left speaker and the subwoofer. The left speaker is barely heard even when the volume is at its max. The right speaker works completely fine. The subwoofer does not even respond at all. Does anyone know any solutions to this problem??

Thanks. Pictures posted below for further details.

Have you changed the number of speakers in Windows? Go to Conrol Panel and select the catagory Hardware and Sound, then select Sound. On the sound go to the playback tab and select your speaker output (if you have [SPEAKERS] and [DIGATAL OUTPUT] choose [SPEAKERS] as this is analogue. Press configure and you will be presented with a Speaker Setup box where you can change your speaker configuration. If your setup is 5.1 then choose that, if it is quadraphonic choose that. Now if it is 2.1 then it should work on the standard setup for 2 speakers. Try pressing test to make a sound on all the speakers. Press next and you are asked if the speakers are full range (select if they are) press next and you're done. If this didn't work then I'm not sure what is wrong, if you can include the model and make of your laptop and make and model of speaker set that would help

Well did you get anywhere?

That didn't work :/. I set them up but then they weren't balanced again. They're harman/kardon speakers but I don't know what model number.

rclaxx14 wrote:

That didn't work :/. I set them up but then they weren't balanced again. They're harman/kardon speakers but I don't know what model number.

The problem could be with the inputs. On my computer if you want to use 5.1 (quickly looks in manual) the green socket is for front speakers, the pink (mic) becomes centre speaker and subwoofer, and the blue becomes rear speaker output. I looked on the harman/kardon site and couldn't see any black speaker sets - the only ones I saw were silver.
Hey I think I know why it doesn't work. I think the input on your speakers is meant to be a special 3.5 mm jack that has 3 sections on it instead of 2 so it would carry more than one signal on the same cable. If you're laptop has some sort of integrated high definition audio then it will be similar to my desktop (i use integrated audio too) in the fact that your line in will turn into a speaker output. Looking at the picture of your laptop it had 3 3.5 mm sockets on it so I'm sure that the reason you can't hear the sub is because the signal isn't being transmitted. What you need is a cable that has 3 seperate 3.5 mm jacks on one end which converts to the special 3.5 mm jack on the end which goes into the speaker input. I'll check again on the site. In the meantime try and look at the spaekers to see if there's a sticker witha model number or something.

The model number is HK395.

Ok this is really weird, I was trying to figure out the problem today and I found out what's causing the left speaker to malfunction. When I adjust the volume nob to the right and up a little bit (like jiggle it around) the left speaker works fine. So basically when I adjust the volume from now on I have to turn the nob, then push it to the right and up haha. It's a matter of bad connectivity between the speakers. Oh well, they're almost ten years old what do you expect.

Thanks for the help though Martin.

Maybe they need resoldering, if you lived in the uk, I know a mate that's pretty good at that kind of stuff. They don't need a special cable as the instructions state
https://support.dell.com/support/edocs/acc/hk395/en/setup.htm

here's there spec for your speakers if you lost the manual

https://support.dell.com/support/edocs/acc/hk395/en/specs.htm#system_specifications

I found the problem, it's bad connectivity between the two speakers. I need to open up the right one and fix the wires or something because when I hold the volume nob a certain way it's fine.

rclaxx14 wrote:

I found the problem, it's bad connectivity between the two speakers. I need to open up the right one and fix the wires or something because when I hold the volume nob a certain way it's fine.

I know thts what I meant. The volume knob may need resoldering inside and there's probably a lose wire or two in there. If you're not confident enough to do it find a cheap electronics shop that does repairs

What are the chances I break something?

rclaxx14 wrote:

What are the chances I break something?

What by soldering it yourself? If you've never soldered in your life then I wouldn't bother but if you are proficient at it then give it a go. All it should be is a loose connection but what you have to worry about is that it's a mains powered item so it has to be done properly coz any short circuits could be hazardous and you don't wanna wreck your speaker set. If you seriously don't know what your doing then leave it to someone that can do the job. A place like a TV/Stereo repair shop should be able to do the trick. I bet what it is coz the speakers are 10 years old that the power knob's been turned so many times that the connection to it has gone loose and that is why you have to push it a certain way for it to work. If you was going to do the job yourself you would have to remember exactly how the wires go so really I think you need a repairman for the job.