u/BapoNumnum

Valve Index speakers suddenly stopped working

I did not have these issues until today, but for some reason my index's speakers no longer produce any audio, and might not even be detected properly as an audio device?

My Specs:

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

RAM: 16 GB 6400 MHz

OS: Windows 10 Education Version 22H2 (before anyone asks, it does not automatically install shit like Candy Crush which is nice)

AMD Driver version 26.6.4

What I've tried:

- Reinstalling SteamVR

- Uninstalling all SteamVR devices in device manager and letting windows reinstall drivers

- Unplugging my headset from my computer and from the outlet, and plugging back in

- restarting

- pretty much every possible combination of the above

- Updating AMD GPU drivers

- Uninstalling AMD GPU drivers with DDU and reinstalling

- Swapping to a different available audio device and then back

- Disabling other audio devices

- Putting the index in a different usb port

I have basically done everything I could think of doing, short of either updating my BIOS or reinstalling Windows. If this is a known issue, I would not mind rolling back AMD drivers either.

Other things I thought were of note while I was troubleshooting:

- The display, tracking, and microphone all otherwise work fine, but when I have my audio output set to my index, there is no sound, and for some reason the microphone also stops working.

\- If I have the output set to my computer's speakers, the microphone works as normal, and there is of course sound from my computer speakers.

- The index audio output device is listed on my computer as "Index HMD (AMD High Definition Audio Device)"

\- This audio device *only* exists and is selectable on windows while SteamVR is running (*I'm pretty sure I used to always be able to select it?*) It also appears in Device Manager while SteamVR is running

\- the "*AMD High Definition Audio Device*" label is also shared with my regular monitors that appear as selectable audio outputs, which makes me think my issue is connected to some kind of **AMD driver fuckery.**

- Device manager also shows a "Digital Audio Interface (Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic)" as a separate device. This device does not show up as an audio output in settings, but it does show up as an input for the headset microphone, even when SteamVR is not running. I am not sure if this is normal, I feel that I was able to select this device as an output before and cannot anymore for some reason, but I am not sure.

Also, I am careful about how I store my index and loop my cables so I highly doubt this is a hardware issue, but I also am at a breaking point trying to figure out what's wrong with my index and/or my computer.

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u/BapoNumnum — 1 day ago

Connection to power adapter is very flimsy

I've had my Index since 2021 and the only prevalent issue I've had with it is how flimsy this part of the cord is, where the trident connects to the power adapter. If I so much as tap this thing, the headset's power is cut off entirely. Sometimes it will come back after a few seconds, but frequently I will need to jostle it before the power is restored, and often it will just get cut off again after i let go of it. It gets really annoying when I need to manage the cables on the back of my pc for any reason.

The only solution I have is to just keep the cord as far back enough so that it does not get moved at all while I'm playing. I've tried securing the connection with tape, but to no avail.

I am not sure why it is like this, whether something inside one of the connectors is messed up or maybe the connectors I got were not properly... "fitted" I guess (it does come apart and twist without much force, anyways).

If anyone else has had this issue and can offer a more effective solution, whether it be simply getting a replacement adapter or whatever else, it would be much appreciated.

u/BapoNumnum — 2 months ago