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  • Re: Changes in volume when listening to SoundCloud and YT

    From Roy J. Tellason, Sr.@3:633/10 to All on Monday, September 21, 2026 04:20:02
    On Saturday 19 September 2026 03:59:18 pm David Christensen wrote:
    Linux audio has evolved over the years. ˙This Arch Linux wiki page identifies the several subsystem choices. ˙Beware that they can be
    mutually exclusive:

    ˙ ˙ ˙https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Sound_system

    It's been a matter of confusion over time for me. That page is an interest
    ing read, and one heck of a rabbit hole to dive into.

    Alternatively, STFW "Linux digital audio workstation".

    https://html.duckduckgo.com/html?q=linux%20digital%20audio%20workstation

    I didn't follow that link, but by way of the one above found my way to Ard our.org and have been browsing their docs for a while now.

    When using analog audio devices, ensure that the impedance is matched
    for all devices in the signal chain. ˙The "Line Out" jacks found on
    the
    back panels of most desktop computers are typically designed for 10 kOhm

    impedance, such as the "Line In" jacks of powered computer speakers. ?
    ?If
    I connect 32 Ohm headphones or 8 Ohm loudspeakers to a "Line Out" jack,
    the impedance is mismatched, the operational amplifiers in the computer cannot supply the required current, the signal distorts and clips, and
    the sound is terrible. ˙

    If you get any sound at all, trying to drive a speaker with a line-level o utput jack. But a lot of sound card hardware has an amplifier available th
    at can be enabled by a jumper. It's not a matter of impedance but more wha
    t signal levels are expected to be found at a given point.

    Headphones require a "Headphone Out" jack or a
    headphone amplifier. ˙Loudspeakers require a power amplifier.

    Yup. The first computer speakers I had didn't have any amplification in th
    em, so they needed that. A lot of the subsequent ones did have amplificat ion, so no problem if the sound hardware didn't provide it.


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    rs"
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    es
    M Dakin

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