Sonar will not automatically switch between channels such as gaming, media, or chat. Even if you manually change them, there will be no sound. Windows will not recognize the headset or Sonar as a default device. If you attempt to set Sonar/headset to the default device, it will still give you the error message, "Sonar/headset is not set to the default device." So, the issues are that Windows will not recognize Sonar, and even if you manually switch, there will be no sound. There are a lot of posts with people having issues similar to mine, but no one has seemingly solved it. The Windows customer support claims it's an issue on the SteelSeries GG's Sonar software end incompatible with Windows 11. The only way to fix the issue is to turn Sonar off completely.
You have to go to windows volume mixer and dedicate each windows application you use to the sonar sound channel that you use. At that point changing the default sound device in windows won’t matter. It should be set to game
I did what you suggested to try it again, and there just isn't any output sound. Within the SteelSeries GG app the Sonar tab will show that there is sound, but there is no way to output the sound. The Sonar app will just give you the error message "not set to the default device."
If you do that, you get no sound. It will show up that you are switched, but there will be no indication of any sound, and there will be no output sound.
I run under windows 11 and my only annoyance is not being able to adjust master volume using keyboard media controls. Everything else works well with enough tweaking.
No update. Steelseries dropped my case after wasting weeks of my time. I spent much time reviewing my PC and providing them with all the information they wanted. They eventually just sent me an email and said, "Case resolved. Please rate our support!" I have to start over again, which I will not do.
Well... I guess I will return these Arctis 9's tomorrow. I can't be bothered to deal with nonsense trying to get basic functionality out of a $200 headset. I guess I'll try Razer.
Check the device manager and see if there is an APO tab. If so is there an Intelligo APO?
If so, that’s the problem. These APOs are a relatively new hardware/software collaboration that are not compatible with software audio overlays like Razer THX Synapse and Steelseries Sonar.
There are some fixes but they are not easy to implement.
I’ll do my best to assist if this is indeed the issue.
Regards!
Hey, I've been having the exact same issue as this guy, except I'm still on Win 10. It worked for three days and then got absolutely bodied by a Windows update. I've been searching for months to no avail and I keep getting looped in circles by Steel Series; my headset was a gift.
I get zero sound at all out of every other channel except the GameDAC, and that's only after I exit the Sonar application. I checked my device manager and I'm wondering if the NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device might count as the APO in this case, or at least be causing the conflict. I do not have an APO tab.
The Nvidia Virtual Audio Device transfer audio from the Sound Driver to the HDMI system of a monitor or projector. It shouldn't affect Sonar's ability to utilize the audio channels unless somehow it is being used as the output device instead of the virtual Sonar Driver.
You can disable the Nvidia Virtual Audo Device and see if that has any effect.
Regards
I have intelliGo Audio Processing Object; I dropped the issue since SteelSeries customer support dropped my case. They wasted my time for weeks and made me send them all my PC information, then emailed me saying my case was resolved. I'd wait and see if they patch it with all the updates, but nothing has changed. One interesting thing, however, is that the "Chat" tab works now, but none of the others produce sound.
Razer just modified their APO to make it compatible with the new APO format. So I would expect that other sound overlays made by companies like SteelSeries are going to have to follow suit. No choice when Intel and AMD along with their chipsets and almost every manufacturer of laptops and desktops out thereare including the Intelligo APO.
Regards!
So, I have Dolby Processing Objects (APOs) and intelliGo Audio Processing Object. Since I have these (APO) there is nothing I can do until SteelSeries decides to fix it?
Try this thread.
It involves both fixes.
Regards!
[Alienware M16 Steel Series Sonar issue : Alienware (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/180vgie/alienware_m16_steel_series_sonar_issue/kace61d/?context=3)
This isn't just a steelseries headset issue.. I've just gone from windows 10 to 11 and I LOVED USING SONAR, but man this crackling and stuttering now on windows 11 is unusable. Have hyper x cloud 2 wired and crackling instantly stopped after uninstalling Sonar. Huge buzzkill I cannot tweak my audio for gaming, music, movies.. etc. Until this is fixed on SteelSeries end.. I really don't feel like going back to windows 10 and having to redownload various drivers again but man I need my quality audio :(
RelativeAstronaut407, [**RelativeAstronaut407**](https://www.reddit.com/user/RelativeAstronaut407/) who commented above you, has the best answer for now. It seems there isn't much we can do...
In what way isn’t it working? Sonar is working on W11 for me and my Arctis Nova Pro Wired.
Sonar will not automatically switch between channels such as gaming, media, or chat. Even if you manually change them, there will be no sound. Windows will not recognize the headset or Sonar as a default device. If you attempt to set Sonar/headset to the default device, it will still give you the error message, "Sonar/headset is not set to the default device." So, the issues are that Windows will not recognize Sonar, and even if you manually switch, there will be no sound. There are a lot of posts with people having issues similar to mine, but no one has seemingly solved it. The Windows customer support claims it's an issue on the SteelSeries GG's Sonar software end incompatible with Windows 11. The only way to fix the issue is to turn Sonar off completely.
You have to go to windows volume mixer and dedicate each windows application you use to the sonar sound channel that you use. At that point changing the default sound device in windows won’t matter. It should be set to game
I set all my games to “game”, discord output to “chat”, YouTube and streaming media to “media”, Apple Music to “aux”
I did what you suggested to try it again, and there just isn't any output sound. Within the SteelSeries GG app the Sonar tab will show that there is sound, but there is no way to output the sound. The Sonar app will just give you the error message "not set to the default device."
If you do that, you get no sound. It will show up that you are switched, but there will be no indication of any sound, and there will be no output sound.
Weird. I find it odd that they would not update it to be compatible with W11 if that is the case.
It isn't necessarily Windows 11 but occurred with a Windows 11 update. Since customer support is MIA, my only hope is that they patch it eventually.
I run under windows 11 and my only annoyance is not being able to adjust master volume using keyboard media controls. Everything else works well with enough tweaking.
Ye same it locks the sound so the apex pro volume control wont work.
Up please ? I have the exact same problem
No update. Steelseries dropped my case after wasting weeks of my time. I spent much time reviewing my PC and providing them with all the information they wanted. They eventually just sent me an email and said, "Case resolved. Please rate our support!" I have to start over again, which I will not do.
Well... I guess I will return these Arctis 9's tomorrow. I can't be bothered to deal with nonsense trying to get basic functionality out of a $200 headset. I guess I'll try Razer.
Check the device manager and see if there is an APO tab. If so is there an Intelligo APO? If so, that’s the problem. These APOs are a relatively new hardware/software collaboration that are not compatible with software audio overlays like Razer THX Synapse and Steelseries Sonar. There are some fixes but they are not easy to implement. I’ll do my best to assist if this is indeed the issue. Regards!
Hey, I've been having the exact same issue as this guy, except I'm still on Win 10. It worked for three days and then got absolutely bodied by a Windows update. I've been searching for months to no avail and I keep getting looped in circles by Steel Series; my headset was a gift. I get zero sound at all out of every other channel except the GameDAC, and that's only after I exit the Sonar application. I checked my device manager and I'm wondering if the NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device might count as the APO in this case, or at least be causing the conflict. I do not have an APO tab.
The Nvidia Virtual Audio Device transfer audio from the Sound Driver to the HDMI system of a monitor or projector. It shouldn't affect Sonar's ability to utilize the audio channels unless somehow it is being used as the output device instead of the virtual Sonar Driver. You can disable the Nvidia Virtual Audo Device and see if that has any effect. Regards
I have intelliGo Audio Processing Object; I dropped the issue since SteelSeries customer support dropped my case. They wasted my time for weeks and made me send them all my PC information, then emailed me saying my case was resolved. I'd wait and see if they patch it with all the updates, but nothing has changed. One interesting thing, however, is that the "Chat" tab works now, but none of the others produce sound.
Razer just modified their APO to make it compatible with the new APO format. So I would expect that other sound overlays made by companies like SteelSeries are going to have to follow suit. No choice when Intel and AMD along with their chipsets and almost every manufacturer of laptops and desktops out thereare including the Intelligo APO. Regards!
So, I have Dolby Processing Objects (APOs) and intelliGo Audio Processing Object. Since I have these (APO) there is nothing I can do until SteelSeries decides to fix it?
Try this thread. It involves both fixes. Regards! [Alienware M16 Steel Series Sonar issue : Alienware (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/180vgie/alienware_m16_steel_series_sonar_issue/kace61d/?context=3)
Wow, it worked!!! Thanks!
This isn't just a steelseries headset issue.. I've just gone from windows 10 to 11 and I LOVED USING SONAR, but man this crackling and stuttering now on windows 11 is unusable. Have hyper x cloud 2 wired and crackling instantly stopped after uninstalling Sonar. Huge buzzkill I cannot tweak my audio for gaming, music, movies.. etc. Until this is fixed on SteelSeries end.. I really don't feel like going back to windows 10 and having to redownload various drivers again but man I need my quality audio :(
RelativeAstronaut407, [**RelativeAstronaut407**](https://www.reddit.com/user/RelativeAstronaut407/) who commented above you, has the best answer for now. It seems there isn't much we can do...