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headphones so quiet on max volume windows 11

Ask By Justin H.2,051 views

my headphones are super quiet even with volume at 100. other devices are loud with the same headphones. so its the pc. what to do

Brand
Beyerdynamic
Model
DT 770 Pro 250 ohm
Connection
Wired 3.5mm Jack
System
Windows 11
Browser
Chrome 130
Sample Rate
48 kHz
Output Channels
2 channels
Volume And Decibel LevelsHeadphones
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Short Answer

High impedance headphones like 250 ohm need more power than a laptop jack can give. Use a headphone amp or DAC, and also check the Loudness Equalization setting.

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Alistair Cross
Alistair CrossAudio Team
Headphone Benchmark Lead · 5+ years experience · Answered Oct 9, 2026

Headphones that sound quiet on a PC but loud on another device are often high impedance models. A 250 ohm headphone needs far more voltage than most laptop jacks supply, so it cannot reach a comfortable level.

A small USB DAC or headphone amplifier solves the problem. Before buying anything, check for Windows enhancements that reduce level.

Step By Step Fix
  1. Open Sound settings, your headphones, Properties, Enhancements and test with all enhancements off
  2. Switch the Loudness Equalization option on to raise the quiet parts
  3. Check the app volume mixer so that the app is not turned down
  4. Try the headphones on a different PC or output to compare
  5. Add a USB DAC or headphone amp if the headphones are 80 ohm or above
Sources
  1. Microsoft Support

Checked by Rishabh Sharma on . How we verify answers

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Community Replies 3

  • Chris PattersonCommunity Member

    check the loudness equalization in the enhancements tab. made a big difference for me

  • Austin ColeCommunity Member

    also the headphone impedance matters, high ohm ones need an amp on laptops

  • Anjali DeshmukhCommunity Member

    For me it was the headphone impedance. Mine were 250 ohm and a small USB DAC fixed the low volume.

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Alistair Cross
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Alistair Cross

Headphone Benchmark Lead at Sound Test

Alistair Cross is the Headphone Benchmark Lead on the Sound Tester Audio Team. Expert in transient response tracking, left/right separation, and driver matching for studio monitors. Shares high-end headphone benchmarks and hardware metrics on LinkedIn. On Sound Tester he answers discussions about weak or uneven headphones, mismatched drivers and buying questions, and checks fixes with the Headphone Test and Left Right Test.

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  • 9 answers on Sound Test
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