Laptop: how do I control subwoofer volume independently of speaker volume?

[m654321]

Hi [member=458]m654321[/member]

I need to be able to independently control (reduce) the volume on the subwoofer

You could try alsamixer to see if there's an option for that. Open your terminal and type

Code:

$ alsamixer

this will open the tool in the terminal. Also, in pavucontrol there's a padlock, click on it to unlock other controls and see if that helps. Another option is to try "Pulse Audio Equalizer". To install it in your terminal type

Code:

$ sudo apt-get install pulseaudio-equalizer

and see whether or not there's an option that helps you to do what you want to. Sorry not to offer more help but I dont have a "home theater sound system"  to try with, I used to though, but I traded it for an old but really cool stereo sound system  8) ;D
Hope this helps!

Okay, I had a closer look at each of these in turn, after everyone had woken up in the house and I could test it!

Pavucontrol is the one that works: looking at volume control for "All Output Devices" option - as you advised I clicked on the padlock and this shows separate sound controls designated 'front-left' and 'front-right'.  I found that the front left = subwoofer (bass); front right = rear speaker(s) (higher frequencies). Great, I now have control over the sound balance and have no annoying intermittent cutting out of the subwoofer anymore !  8)

Just a comment on the other two you mentioned:
Alsamixer: only seems to have a master volume (not separate front speaker/subwoofer controls, at least I couldn't see them)
Pulseaudio-equalizer: not listed in Ubuntu 16.04 repository (but I think is listed in 17.04),  so consequently sudo apt-get install pulseaudio-equalizer did not work.

Many thanks again Moltke
Have a great day 

Mike