I'm pretty sure you also need to disconnect the outputs of the amp chip before things begin to work correctly. Pins 1 and 3 are the outputs.

I'm kind of in the same boat but with a 1869F. The audio is horribly clipped no matter if Windows or DOS and I'd love to find a fix to that - even if it means disabling the amplifier.

Tiido wrote on 2025-03-17, 08:26:

I'm pretty sure you also need to disconnect the outputs of the amp chip before things begin to work correctly. Pins 1 and 3 are the outputs.

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and center on the right and nothing comes out on the left. Should I just cut the amplifier off entirely?
EDIT: Turns out the 22k ohm resistor on that line was dead. I've fixed it and I get stereo sound now. HOWEVER, I think a 22k resistor is too much; the volume takes a big hit. I think since the whole amp circuit is bypassed I can take the 2.2k or the 220 ohm resistors and use them instead. I'll make a new post with my findings.

PcBytes wrote on 2025-03-18, 17:59:

I'm kind of in the same boat but with a 1869F. The audio is horribly clipped no matter if Windows or DOS and I'd love to find a fix to that - even if it means disabling the amplifier.

Are you sure your card doesn't have jumpers for that? If so you're in luck. Some of the 1868/1869 cards had jumpers to enable or bypass the amplifier. This cheap 1868F card of mine has the amp hard-wired.

megatog615 wrote on 2025-04-04, 16:54:

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and […]
Show full quote

Tiido wrote on 2025-03-17, 08:26:

I'm pretty sure you also need to disconnect the outputs of the amp chip before things begin to work correctly. Pins 1 and 3 are the outputs.

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and center on the right and nothing comes out on the left. Should I just cut the amplifier off entirely?

PcBytes wrote on 2025-03-18, 17:59:

I'm kind of in the same boat but with a 1869F. The audio is horribly clipped no matter if Windows or DOS and I'd love to find a fix to that - even if it means disabling the amplifier.

Are you sure your card doesn't have jumpers for that? If so you're in luck. Some of the 1868/1869 cards had jumpers to enable or bypass the amplifier. This cheap 1868F card of mine has the amp hard-wired.

Mine didn't have jumpers either.

Okay, through some quick testing I was able to figure out that the 2.2k resistors were the best for volume. Here's my (ugly) work. Ignore the lifted pad on R11, I don't know where that came from(he lied). I get stereo sound and the card is now poly-modded.

PcBytes wrote on 2025-04-04, 17:03:

megatog615 wrote on 2025-04-04, 16:54:

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and […]
Show full quote

Tiido wrote on 2025-03-17, 08:26:

I'm pretty sure you also need to disconnect the outputs of the amp chip before things begin to work correctly. Pins 1 and 3 are the outputs.

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and center on the right and nothing comes out on the left. Should I just cut the amplifier off entirely?

PcBytes wrote on 2025-03-18, 17:59:

I'm kind of in the same boat but with a 1869F. The audio is horribly clipped no matter if Windows or DOS and I'd love to find a fix to that - even if it means disabling the amplifier.

Are you sure your card doesn't have jumpers for that? If so you're in luck. Some of the 1868/1869 cards had jumpers to enable or bypass the amplifier. This cheap 1868F card of mine has the amp hard-wired.

Mine didn't have jumpers either.

What card is it?

megatog615 wrote on 2025-04-04, 20:00:

PcBytes wrote on 2025-04-04, 17:03:

megatog615 wrote on 2025-04-04, 16:54:

I moved the resistors and cut pins 1 and 3 off the amplifier. I only get right-channel mono sound. Descent setup puts right and center on the right and nothing comes out on the left. Should I just cut the amplifier off entirely?

Are you sure your card doesn't have jumpers for that? If so you're in luck. Some of the 1868/1869 cards had jumpers to enable or bypass the amplifier. This cheap 1868F card of mine has the amp hard-wired.

Mine didn't have jumpers either.

What card is it?

A noname card w/ no jumpers (or any way of adding them anywhere either.)