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8
Playback Levels
PCWorks is intended for individual
or small group listening and will
achieve surprisingly high output
levels. However, playing the sys-
tem continuously at overly loud,
distorted levels on heavy bass
program material may cause its
internal fuse to blow.
The fuse can be replaced only by
a qualified representative. To
avoid this inconvenience and a
possible non-warranty repair
charge, reduce the playback vol-
ume when the system shows
obvious signs of stress, i.e. it
sounds “raspy,” “fuzzy,” and/or
“muddy.”
The PCWorks has high input
sensitivity, so it will work well
with low signal output program
sources (like some TVs or comput-
ers). This same high sensitivity
will amplify hum or hiss present at
the output of some strong program
sources.
If hum or hiss is heard coming
from the PCWorks speakers when
there should be no sound coming
from your program source, it is
probably because the PCWorks
Volume Control is set to a high
setting and your program source’s
output level control is set to a low
setting. To reduce the background
hum and noise, use one of the
following two approaches:
Controlling Background Noise and Distortion
1. For program sources where it is
convenient to use the PCWorks
Volume Control:
Set the program source’s vol-
ume control to a high setting
(70% of its range or higher).
Please note that some computer
systems may have two software
level controls that work at the
same time (for instance, your
sound card’s software control
and your operating system’s
sound output control). All of
these level controls should be
set to a high setting. Use the PC
Works Volume Control to adjust
the overall output level, leaving
any other controls at their
higher settings.
2. For program sources with their
own convenient volume control,
like a remote-controlled TV:
Set the program source’s vol-
ume control to a high setting (70%
of its range or greater). Adjust the
PCWorks Volume Control to a
setting where hum and hiss are
inaudible. Leave the PCWorks
Volume Control at this setting and
set it aside. Use the output level
control of the program source to
control the overall output of the
system.
Keep in mind, PCWorks has
sonic fidelity sufficient to reveal
noise and distortion inherent in
many digital sound processors.
You may not have noticed these
imperfections before, even with so-
called “CD-equivalent” cards.
Background noise present in a
few, fixed-level program sources
may be audible when the PCWorks
Volume Control is set to a high
level and program material is
silent or playing at a low level.
This behavior is intrinsic to the
fixed-level signal source and is not
the fault of PCWorks.