Hardware Volume adjust on 3DS XL - disappointed it's a slider

Hanafuda · Jul 7, 2012

I don't know about anyone else, but for me one of the best features on the DSi XL that makes it awesome, besides the obvious screen size, is volume control being done by click-index buttons, instead of the usual shit-feel slider. I believe the GB Micro had a similar volume adjustment ... on the micro I'm thinking it was more like a up/down rocker than two buttons, but basically same thing. There's something about that method of adjustment that just feels more durable and of better quality than a wobbly slider. So, I was surprised to see the 3DS XL has a slider for volume adjustment. Bummer. However awesome the rest of the build quality is, that's gonna suck.

Sorry, that's all. Just had to say so.

Deleted_171835 · Jul 7, 2012

I actually prefer sliders. I can get more accurate volume control versus some dumb buttons.

chavosaur · Jul 7, 2012

Meh i have mixed feelings. I like the slider to pinpoint the volume level i really want, but the buttons give me a simple, easier control method. Personally, im happy with either option, and i think instead we should have somthing that shows our speaker volume level (like the idevice speaker level display)

Janthran · Jul 7, 2012

I liked the little gear thing on the GBC.
A pain to use after trimming your nails, though.

QuietShark9 · Jul 7, 2012

I prefer sliders too. The buttons only give us 6 or so levels of volume, which sometimes doesn't feel enough. I didn't like the DS's slider because it was too small, but all the other sliders were good. I like the 3DS one.

syko5150 · Jul 7, 2012

I don't care if the volume is buttons or sliders, but I want the volume levels to be higher. I always keep my 3DS on max volume and it's still too low even with headphones on for some games.

Hanafuda · Jul 7, 2012

syko5150 said:
I don't care if the volume is buttons or sliders, but I want the volume levels to be higher. I always keep my 3DS on max volume and it's still too low even with headphones on for some games.

I agree, the regular 3DS does not produce volume levels that I consider satisfactory either. The DSi XL does, though. It really does. So with any luck, we'll see the same effect with the 3DS XL. As far as I can remember reading once, the DSi XL uses the same speakers that are in the regular DSi, but because there is a greater space inside to mount them in (the equivalent of a speaker cabinet), a much greater volume was possible.

As for those who prefer the slider, I understand the appeal of the theoretical infinite levels of adjustability, but in practice it seems to me much more difficult to fine tune the slider. Seems I always end up trying to nudge it one way another just another 1/2 mm to get the right level, and I end up pushing it too much. I know, amateur. Also, I tend to end up bumping it during gameplay (I was especially prone to doing this on the DS Lite, due to its unfortunate placement).

MelodieOctavia · Jul 7, 2012

I prefer the original volume wheel on the original Gameboy all the way up to the Gameboy Advance SP. I know it's outdated tech, but I prefer it all the same.

Deleted-236924 · Jul 7, 2012

syko5150 said:
I don't care if the volume is buttons or sliders, but I want the volume levels to be higher. I always keep my 3DS on max volume and it's still too low even with headphones on for some games.

Can depend on the earphones you have too.

syko5150 · Jul 7, 2012

Pingouin7 said:
syko5150 said:

I don't care if the volume is buttons or sliders, but I want the volume levels to be higher. I always keep my 3DS on max volume and it's still too low even with headphones on for some games.

Click to expand...

Can depend on the earphones you have too.

It's not that at all because I've tried multiple types of headphones. The 3DS just has terrible sound quality. Some games have pretty good sound (not great) like Super Mario 3D Land while other games like Tales of the Abyss are really hard to hear. In the case of Tales of the Abyss the cutscenes are extremely terrible sound quality and I can barely hear the voices. The same problem with Centipede Infestation (I know this games sucks) can't hear in cutscenes. I don't want to have to play with my headphones on all the time and I don't want to put the 3DS next to my ear just so I can hear what's being said. I didn't have to do that with my DSi, and I don't want to with my 3DS. If they're making the screen bigger they could at least fix the sound issues with it too.

Pleng · Jul 7, 2012

I like volume wheels the best. Like the GameGear had, if I remember correctly. And the Pandora had one too.

Can't think of any other devices that used them though?

The Real Jdbye · Jul 7, 2012

syko5150 said:
Pingouin7 said:

syko5150 said:

I don't care if the volume is buttons or sliders, but I want the volume levels to be higher. I always keep my 3DS on max volume and it's still too low even with headphones on for some games.

Click to expand...

Can depend on the earphones you have too.

Click to expand...

It's not that at all because I've tried multiple types of headphones. The 3DS just has terrible sound quality. Some games have pretty good sound (not great) like Super Mario 3D Land while other games like Tales of the Abyss are really hard to hear. In the case of Tales of the Abyss the cutscenes are extremely terrible sound quality and I can barely hear the voices. The same problem with Centipede Infestation (I know this games sucks) can't hear in cutscenes. I don't want to have to play with my headphones on all the time and I don't want to put the 3DS next to my ear just so I can hear what's being said. I didn't have to do that with my DSi, and I don't want to with my 3DS. If they're making the screen bigger they could at least fix the sound issues with it too.

Volume level and sound quality are 2 different things.
Anyway, I don't have problems with the volume of the 3DS most of the time, it's vastly improved compared to the DS Lite both in volume and sound quality.
One suggestion though, buy a headphone amplifier, for example one of these: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fiio-e6-portable-headphone-amplifier-102124?item=4
I have the E5 model, and it really comes in handy when I occasionally want higher volume than the 3DS can provide.

YayMii · Jul 7, 2012

I was expecting a different complaint about the slider.
Honestly, the only reason why I like button volume control is that it allowed on-the-fly brightness control on the DSi/DSi XL. Unless there's a (different) way to do it on the 3DS, then that would be a noticeable omission IMO.

Eerpow · Jul 7, 2012

Sound quality is great depending on the software used, same thing with volume.
Nintendo already said that the 3DS XL wouldn't improve speaker quality, but it's not like it really needs an improvement anyway.
In any case the speakers are already a lot louder than what any of the DS iterations had.

I prefer those volume wheels too, but a slider should do fine and in my opinion better than buttons since it's faster to flick a slider than it is pressing buttons a few times to set the volume from minimum to max and vice versa.

Fear Zoa · Jul 7, 2012

Pleng said:
I like volume wheels the best. Like the GameGear had, if I remember correctly. And the Pandora had one too.

Can't think of any other devices that used them though?

Every iteration of gameboy had them up till the SP I believe

Pleng · Jul 7, 2012

Ah ok. Never had a gameboy.

chris888222 · Jul 7, 2012

Slider and buttons have its pros and cons.

I remember with my broken DS Lite the slider will just go down when playing.

However, sliders are definitely more accurate than buttons.

Buttons are still easier to control IMO.

chavosaur · Jul 7, 2012

Ah the little wheels were awesome. I remember having to use one wheel to fix my volume on gameboy, and the other wheel to fix the contrast of the screen (yup im talkin original green screen gameboy) and i found both to make things very accurate. Therefore, there should also be a wheel to control screen brightness/contrast on 3ds...

raulpica · Jul 7, 2012

Wheel or slider all the life.

Slider/Wheels
Pros: More than 4-5-6 preset volume levels, ability to mute the darn thing before powering it on (awesome during boring classes), more accurate.
Cons: Not great for people who hate them.

Buttons
Pros: Huh... it's a button?
Cons: Can't fine tune volume, only works after system has powered-on, can break easily if you press them too hard

MakiManPR · Jul 7, 2012

People say that I post pointless threads but look at this one.

I preffer slider.

Hardware Volume adjust on 3DS XL - disappointed it's a slider

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