Please help re Boston Digital BA735 issues

[marbel]

Have Boston Digital BA735 speakers from 6-yr old Gateway computer. ME edition. Worked great. Gateway died. Bought new HP w/XP media edition. Now Boston has no sound. Green light is on. Plugged in. Volume up on hardware and all computer volume controls and Advanced controls. Only place I could not up volume is digital output volume control. Gray/inactive. Won't let me change it even in advanced controls. I've checked numerous sites for downloads I might need. I read similar issue w/other user in these forums. I could not get to solution or result from what I read. So have been researching for a wk. Everywhere. Can you help? If so, feel free to answer in very elementary and specific terms. . .not tech advanced. Thank you much.

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers marbel

here is the answers (http://www.bostonacoustics.com/tec_multimedia_faq.aspx#1)
As you can see from the first two q&a, you need a particular sound card type. What sound card do you now have?

[marbel]

NooNoo thank you for your quick reply. I appreciate it. I had indeed seen that statement on Boston's site. I remain confused mostly because tech is not my forte. I just cked my system and for the sound card it says Realtek, Model Realtek High Definition Audio, Driver rtkhdaudsys. Does this tell me what I need to know re sound card? Do I understand correctly that I need to go to Realtek site and ask for help? Or better to go to HP site (my computer is HP)? Thanks for your time and any further wisdom you can impart.

[CCT]

If you have Realteck High def do you have an icon on the task bar right hand side labelled 'Sound Effect'?

If so, click it then click SPDIF then select 'output digital only'.

If you don't have that, identify your specific HP model and operating system and go to their site and download the appropriate Realtek driver package to a new folder C:\Programs\Realtek (so you can find it later).

Then post here again.

[marbel]

CCT, thank you. I will check that now and get back.

[marbel]

CCT, I cked task bar on rt. Realtek icon labelled: Realtek HD Audio Manager. Clicked on it. Window w/4 tabs: sound effect, mixer, audio I/O, and mic. Clicked on Audio I/O. Has diagram of ports for analog bk panel and front panel. And digital front. Clicked on digital. Got S/PDIF. Choice of 44.1 k Hz or 48 or 96 or 192. 48 was already selected it. I left it. Output source already had output digital audio source selected. I unselected and then reselected. Restarted computer. No change. Since that didn't work - unless I did that wrong - I'll go to HP site as you suggested and look for download. Will post. Thank you for your time and help. Appreciate it.

[CCT]

That sounds like digital is only available to front panel to me.

??

[marbel]

Um, well, I believe that is correct. I've had the speaker cable connected in front panel per tech at store I purchased computer. I've gone to HP support and now am starting the process of deciphering and trying. Will return. Thanks again.

[CCT]

If you go into Device manager and under Sound Video and Game Controllers you see Realtek High Definition Audio, right click on it and then click Update driver and let Windows search the net (be online please - haha) and then let her rip.

[marbel]

Ok. Just finished reviewing and trying HP's initial suggestions from website. Didn't work. They suggested going to realtek site. I will first try your suggestion tho. Thanks again. (And thanks for the laugh. I needed that.) Will return.

[marbel]

I just went to device mgr, etc., and rt clicked realtek high def, etc. to update drivers. Windows searched and then informed me nothing to update. Already current, up-to-date, etc. Not a waste tho. I didn't realize I could do that. Now I know. So, now I will visit realtek site. Unless you suggest otherwise. Thanks.

[marbel]

I am starting search on realtek site. Need to search more. First glance is it's not made for non-tech. . . . Here are initial downloads I saw altho I didn't specifiy my problem yet.

Does number 3 look correct? I will continue search. Thanks.

1. AC'97 Audio Codecs (Software)

2. RTL8100B(L)/RTL8100C(L)/RTL8101L/RTL8139C(L)
RTL8139C(L)+/RTL8139D(L)/RTL8100(L)
RTL8130/RTL8139B(L) (Software)

3. High Definition Audio Codecs (Software)

[CCT]

You should try and get the download from HP - run Everest Home (free) after yopu download and install it and identify your computer model.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181


For what it is worth, my speakers work fine and my SPDIF slider in the volume control is greyed out also.

Then again, I don't know if I get digital out or not - I seldom listen to music.

edit: If you look at the properties for your cd/dvd in Device Manager can you select digital? I can.

[marbel]

CCT, Thanks for responding so quickly. I went to realtek site and no help at the moment. I took their phone number in case I need to call. Trying to avoid that. When I went to HP site and got specific re my sound card info the message came up that people w/that problem are better served by going to realtek site. I took that to mean HP couldn't help me. But I will try again. I will ck cd/dvd in device mgr as you suggested. Thanks for link you gave me. I go to that after I download driver from HP? (That is if HP will help me.) Glad to know your speakers work. Gives me some hope. . .

[marbel]

CCT, I cked properties for cd/dvd in Device Manager and saw that digital was already selected. Thanks for the idea tho and hanging in here w/me.

[marbel]

CCT, Well, I think I'm done according to HP tech chat. Since their site wasn't helpful and I couldn't determine from realtek site what if anything they could help me with I did live chat w/HP. Told me that drivers fine, etc. HP known to not be compatible w/most Bostons. I think after a wk and many hrs of working on this that they might be rt. . .Unfortunately since I have great speakers!! And not in the budget to buy any. Can you recommend/suggest some very inexpensive basic speakers I can buy for now? If not, I will go to local stores and ck. Thank you very much and NooNoo as well for all your attempts at helping. And so quickly. You spent a lot of time on this and I do appreciate it. You're the best! And despite not being able to use my speakers I learned some things along the way. I also cked out the majorgeeks website. Looks great! I hope this thread will be saved so that someone else w/similar prob can save some time.

[CCT]

I still think you should download and run Everest Home (it is free):

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

Once you download it, click on it and let it install and then run it from the icon on your desktop and then click on 'Computer' then on 'Summary', then go to the VERY top of the screen and click on 'report', then 'quick report-summary' and then 'plain text' and save it then go to C:/programs/lavalys and open that folder then open Everest Home folder and then reports and click on the report which will open it in a text editor and then use your mouse to highlight ALL the debug stuff at the bottom of the report and delete it and then save that file again and then copy and paste it to here.

Since you are subscribed here anything we find out and post about will send you an e-mail from the site (not any individuals).

Your choice.

edit: click on 'Computer' at the very start added :)

[marbel]

Wow. Those were great instructions. I'll give it a go. So, forgive my ignorance, but educate me? What is the purpose of doing that? What will it do re speakers, etc.? I think I might have misunderstood before. Thanks!

[CCT]

You say you have a HP w/XP media edition which is relatively meaningless in the world of positive computer system identification.

We are looking to find out the specific model and components you have so we can get the correct software.

I think anyway.

[NooNoo]

Since we now know that marbel's hp won't talk to the bostons it's somewhat academic. All we actually need for the specs is the hp model number. However, it may be that there is work around IF the hp has the right sound card... and everest will give us the sound chipset and therefore be able to confirm or deny once and for all whether the bostons can be made to work.

In the UK marbel, you can get cheapo speakers for £1.99 but they are usually very tinny sounding... anything after those bostons are going to sound bad unless you go up markets somewhat.

[CCT]

^ yes, what she said!

:)

[marbel]

Thank you both CCT and NooNoo. And for your patience re my non-savvy about tech. HP model is a1600n. Was told in store that dig speakers would work on system. (Although I did not specifically mention Bostons since I am (was) ignorant about it being an issue.) Spoke to tech there at the time and not salesman. Don't know if accurate or not. Does this help re my sound card: Realtek ALC 888 chipset. Supported up to 8 audio channel. Dolby Pro Logic II Compatible. At your convenience. No rush. Thank you. P.S. I'm in States so wonder if that means I will have less options than UK re speakers.

[NooNoo]

If they told you instore it would work, I would be inclined to load it up in the car, find the tech and invite him to make it work.... :devil:

The land of the free having less choice? I find that hard to believe!

this article specifically goes through which cards (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313022/EN-US/) support the speakers... note that they are separate cards and not onboard sound as is with the HP... When the hp store tech can't make it work with onboard sound, you should produce this article and try and score a free sound card :grin:

[NooNoo]

just found this (http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=pw_audio&message.id=523&page=1)

Then I bought a Dell Dimension 4600 with Windows XP and thought that either the Dell or the XP were at fault for no sound from these really great speakers. After much head scratching and postings on sites like this, I tried removing the digital cord and plugging in the analog cord (purple and green ends) plugged into the analog port on the sub woofer and the green integrated audio port on the CPU - the sound about blew me across the room.
May be you can hook it up the way described?

[CCT]

Your 6-yr old Gateway computer: Do you know the specific model of that one?

[NooNoo]

CCT it doesn't matter, it is the sound card that matters.

[marbel]

Gee, I would pay you two - CCT and NooNoo - if I could what with your nonstop efforts to help. Thank you NooNoo for making me laugh. Yeah, well, I suppose you are correct that choices here are limitless. Just shows my ignorance about tech merchandise. And another laugh re getting guy at store to help me out w/o charge or produce hardware w/o charge. . .I called and they weren't too customer service oriented now that I pd for item. (I'm also working time-sensitive half-time project job plus working double-time on developing online business so doing best to avoid any further downtime or fruitless attempts at seeking help from store.) If I have to I will but holding off as long as possible. . . .Love my country but land of the free also means to some businesses that if I'm not a happy customer then there is a long line behind me of people who will pay. I will ck out article however. And also try Dell solution. Thanks again. Will get back.

[marbel]

NooNo, Not understanding this quote you send:

"Then I bought a Dell Dimension 4600 with Windows XP and thought that either the Dell or the XP were at fault for no sound from these really great speakers. After much head scratching and postings on sites like this, I tried removing the digital cord and plugging in the analog cord (purple and green ends) plugged into the analog port on the sub woofer and the green integrated audio port on the CPU - the sound about blew me across the room"

My set-up is different. I'll continue attempting to understand the quote. Thank you.

[NooNoo]

Marbel, I don't have those speakers... but the user seems to be saying that those speakers have both analogue and digital capabilities. The analogue input seems to be on the sub woofer, so you need a cable between the green input on the computer to this analogue port on the subwoofer.

[marbel]

NooNoo, thank you for interpretation. It makes more sense.

Well, here is my issue.

On bk of subwoofer are 3 cables only. One is the ac/dc power cord. So, that one's not involved. The 2nd one is control out. The 3rd is digital in.

The 2 speakers are connected to ea other by a cable that goes from one to the other. Not removable.

Then, the other side of the "ontrol out" cable on the sub is conncected to one of the speakers in a port that has no name (but even w/my techless brain I get it that means since both speakers are connected to ea other this cable allows sound to come out through the sub that it is connected to that then has a cable to the computer.)

The only cable in this speaker set-up that goes to computer is the end of the one connected to the "digital in" port on the sub. That is the one I've had in the computer but hasn't worked.

So, looking for alternatives based on your last quote from another user I looked at sub. ac/dc power cable is not the alternative. then i'm left w/dig in or control out. But dig in cable i've had in computer the whole time and tried in both the green digital port in computer and the analog port in computer. No change.

So, we go to the only other option on the sub which is the "control out" cable. If I take that out of sub and attempt to connect to "analog out" in computer it won't work. The cable has the old-style connector. I forgot the name. The kind that computers had before the current sm rectangular USBs. You know what I mean. And I don't have any of those in bk of my computer except for mouse/keyboard. All the speaker/media ports are the style of the dig cable I have been using from the start. You know, the one-prong ends. Don't know the name. You do I'm sure.

So, the only other option I desperately tried was the only other cable that is removable from the whole speaker system. That is the cable that goes into one of the speakers. The other end of that cable is connected to the "control out" on the sub. That is the one w/the end in the sub that is made w/old-style connection.

So, even tho it didn't make sense to my brain I took that cable out of speaker and connected it to the analog port in computer. No change.

Am I misunderstanding? Thank you again!

[NooNoo]

OK, the gateway supplied ones seem not have the analogue in option... your only option left is to buy the appropriate sound card (see the microsoft article) to be able to use the speakers... the live card series are not very expensive, but the OEM ones can be incredibly difficult to install so please avoid any live card advertised as Creative OEM Live!

If you do decide you want to go for a new sound card, post what you propose to buy if you want to make sure of getting the right one that's not going to cause you hassle and is supported properly by Creative.

[marbel]

NooNoo, Ok. Sound card is the only solution. I understand correctly? (Other than purchasing new speakers.)

The Microsoft article is a good one. Thanks. I need to read it a few times to grasp it all. I will do.

And, if I decide to buy the card vs. speakers then am I correct that means after I install card I need to download driver? Then it should work? If I do go forward w/card I definitely will post options before purchase.

Will I be able to install card myself? Without destroying anything in the process? Need any special tools, etc.? (Pretend you know very little about computers. . .)

Microsoft article lists the following sound cards in the article:

"The Creative currently has the following Sound Blaster sound cards for Windows XP-compatible drivers:
• Sound Blaster Audigy
• Sound Blaster Live! Value 5.1
• Sound Blaster PCI 512
• Sound Blaster PCI 16, Vibra128 and AudioPCI
• Sound Blaster PCI 128
• Sound Blaster PCI Compact (CT5808)"

Are you saying I must choose one of these but read about them first to identify whether it is the OEM ones that I won't be able to install? Or I need to research further for cards? And must be Creative?

Last question - for now - sound cards less expensive than speakers?

Thank you again. Please answer at your convenience.

[NooNoo]

Yes, sound card or new speakers... one of the two.

When you buy the card it will come with the drivers on a cd.

Yes you can install the card yourself with a few precautions, there are some tutorials on the net.... it's scary but it's not difficult. No you don't need special tools... except possibly you will need a torx head driver (star shaped) to remove a blanking plate for the card... but we can look that up later.

Creative OEM cards are downright evil. They come with no support and if you have problems installing the drivers it can be a nightmare. The thing with the oem cards is that they are much cheaper than the full retail versions... so if you do get an OEM card make sure it comes with the cd and you have the option to easily return it.

Yes it must be creative it seems... I cannot find an instance of those speakers working with any other card... sorry.

Sound cards, like speakers range in price from a few bux to hundreds. The least hassle way is to go the speaker route, the determined to use the digital speakers route will teach you alot about upgrading computers.

[diggs]

I just purchased a HP s3100y w/win vista home prem and am using my old gateway boston ba735 speakers with digital. I wasn't getting ANY sound whatsoever, not even with the headphones. I updated my realtek high def audio drivers and was finally able to get sound thru the headphones. After reading some posts on problem solving, I went into my device manager, clicked on my cd/dvd rom drive and changed the DVD region to region 1 (US), it was on some generic region, and the sound came out of my speakers immediately!!! Hope this helps!! I am using a M-RCA to M-RCA cable from the speakers to the digital output on my computer. I was unable to get sound using the M-RCA to mini plug that came with the speakers.

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers Diggs

Thank you for the information, I am sure it will help someone with those speakers.