Only one side of headphones works

[Cereal Milk]

I've bought the steelseries arctis 5 headphones about 2 weeks ago and when I turned on my pc last night I found that only the right side was emitting sound while the left side wasn't at all.

Does anybody have any idea of a fix for this or what may be wrong with my headphones?

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Plug your headphones in and run a test. Look in audio> playback >properties of the headphones.

[Cereal Milk]

I ran a test and I heard something a sound on the left side, but it was faint compared to the right side of the headphones.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

ok, next step USB or 3.5 mm?
Check the cable is pushed in correctly if using 3.5 mm.
Its connected to the right playback port.
If its USB try a different USB port.
Then
Open Realtek HD audio manager at the top.. easy way is to rightclick the red speaker icon on the taskbar >Sound manager . red one ok. not yellow its over at the right bottom corner if using desktop near clock.
In sound manager look at the speakers configuration, are they using 2 or more? click the blue play icon. Below is Full range Speakers

[Cereal Milk]

I've plugged in the headphones to a different usb port and checked if it was fully plugged in, I still run into the same issue.

I plugged in the headphones to my dads laptop and I wasn't running into the issue.

I do not have Realtek HD audio manager, instead I have Realtek audio Console

[Jaunitta 🌸]

What did you use to listen in playback on your dad's laptop?
I researched this video for you may help as it explains the cables needed.
Are you on a laptop or desktop?
Just FF to interesting bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b2pr9Prog

[Cereal Milk]

I am using a desktop right now.

I just went on "change system sounds" which is in control panel and I went to playback to test both sides of the headphones.

I will check out the video but I think I am using all the cables needed.

[Cereal Milk]

Jaunitta 🌸 a écrit :

What did you use to listen in playback on your dad's laptop?
I researched this video for you may help as it explains the cables needed.
Are you on a laptop or desktop?
Just FF to interesting bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b2pr9Prog

Just in advance, I wanna thank you for helping me.

Even though you may not find the solution to my issue I appreciate the time and effort.

[Cereal Milk]

I think I have found the issue.....

So when I went to properties of the headphones in the sound options in control panel, I click on the "levels" header and then clicked on the balance of the headphones. I had found that the left side of the headphones were only functioning at a level 20 while the other was functioning at a level 80.

I had adjusted the left side so that it has matched the right and now they sound normal.

I have no idea how this occurred as I have never touched those settings.

Anyways I think I have fixed my issue and I greatly appreciate you for helping me.

Take care and Happy Holidays!

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Sounds true I couldnt see what you had and that was one thought that crossed my mind.
Thats awesome nice and simple, enjoy your headphones your ears will love it
all the best

[DuarfS]

Your solution worked! I still cant turn down my voice chats with the added dial. Also am I crazy or does the game channel sound better

[Cereal Milk]

DuarfS a écrit :

Your solution worked! I still cant turn down my voice chats with the added dial. Also am I crazy or does the game channel sound better

Make sure you select Arctis 5 chat to "default communication device" and Arctis 5 game to "default device" in the playback setting in "change system sounds" , that is how the headphones should be set in terms of software.

If you do this you should be able to turn down voice chat volume with the dial SteelSeries gives to you.

[Haaze99]

If you guys are having trouble go to "sounds" in control panel or right clicking the speaker in the bottom right. "playback" and right click the device in question. Click "Properties" and go to "Advanced" tab. Your headphone may have defaulted to "1 channel" when the headphones need to be on 2 channel, one for each side. Change it to a "channel 2" setting you like and it may work. This was the issue I had with Arctis 7 SteelSeries. Might or might not work but if you are this far down give it a try.

TLDR
Sounds, Playback, dev Properties, Advanced tab, channel 1 to channel 2.

[PanzerPandaNinja]

Haaze99 a écrit :

If you guys are having trouble go to "sounds" in control panel or right clicking the speaker in the bottom right. "playback" and right click the device in question. Click "Properties" and go to "Advanced" tab. Your headphone may have defaulted to "1 channel" when the headphones need to be on 2 channel, one for each side. Change it to a "channel 2" setting you like and it may work. This was the issue I had with Arctis 7 SteelSeries. Might or might not work but if you are this far down give it a try.

TLDR
Sounds, Playback, dev Properties, Advanced tab, channel 1 to channel 2.

Awesome, this solved my problem, although the "Chat channel" of my Arctic 7 seems to only have channel 1 and still works on both ears... Anyway, thanks to you the game channel also works on both ears now :D

[feizex]

Sorry Old thread but fix for Arctis 1 is:

Windows > Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Select Speaker > Properties > Advanced > Default Format > Change from 48Khz to 44KHz

[jwiensz275]

didn't work for me

feizex a écrit :

Sorry Old thread but fix for Arctis 1 is:

Windows > Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Select Speaker > Properties > Advanced > Default Format > Change from 48Khz to 44KHz