DELL Slim Soundbar SB521A User Guide
- June 6, 2024
- Dell
Table of Contents
Dell Slim Soundbar
SB521A
User’s Guide
Soundbar Model: SB521A
Regulatory Model: SB521A
Note, Caution, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better
use of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data
if instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
Copyright © 2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell,
EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
2020 – 08
Rev. A00
What’s in the box
- Dell Slim Soundbar
- Security chain
- Documents
NOTE : The documents shipped with the soundbar may vary based on your region.
Features
- USB cable
- Security loop
- Magnetic tabs (2)
- Power indicator
Setting up your Dell Slim Soundbar
-
Align the magnetic tabs on the soundbar with the slots on the Dell monitor to secure the soundbar to the monitor’s base.
-
Connect the USB cable of the soundbar to the USB port of the Dell monitor. In cases where you connect your monitor using HDMI or DP cable, ensure to connect the upstream USB cable that comes with your monitor to your computer for the soundbar to work.
NOTE: The power indicator on the soundbar turns on indicating that the soundbar is turned on.
-
Install the security chain and security lock, if required.
Specifications
General
Model number| SB521A
Connection type| USB
Supported operating systems| Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 10
Chrome
Mac
Linux
ThinOS
Electrical
Operating voltage| 5 V
Audio input| USB Digital Audio Input
Output power| USB 2.0: ≥ 1 W x 2 at THD ≤ 1%
USB 3.0: ≥ 1.8 W x 2 at THD ≤ 1%
where THD refers to Total Harmonic Distortion
Physical
Height (including magnetic tabs)| 298.21±0.5 mm (11.74±0.02 in.)
Length| 24.20±0.5 mm (0.95±0.02 in.)
Width| 17.50±0.5 mm (0.69±0.02 in.)
Weight| 0.114±0.005 kg (0.25±0.01 lb)
Environmental
Operating temperature| 0°C to 40°C (0°F to 104°F)
Storage temperature| -40°C to 65°C (-40°F to 149°F)
Operating humidity| 90% maximum relative humidity, non-condensing
Storage humidity| 90% maximum relative humidity, non-condensing
Troubleshooting
| Problems | Possible causes | Possible solutions |
|---|
Soundbar is not
functioning properly| The soundbar is not detected or
synchronized|
- Ensure that the USB upstream cable is connected between your computer and monitor to activate the USB ports of the Dell monitor. This additional USB upstream cable connection is required if your Dell monitor and computer are connected through an HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
- Once the USB cable is connected to the USB port, observe if white light appears in the power indicator located at the bottom of the soundbar. If the power indicator is not turned on, check if the USB cable is connected properly to the USB port.
- If the power indicator is turned on and the soundbar does not function, remove or disconnect the soundbar from the USB port and restart the computer. Connect the soundbar again and check if the power indicator turns on.
- If the soundbar still fails to connect, check if the soundbar is present in the Device Manager. Test the USB port by connecting a working USB device.
- If the USB port is still not working, swap the soundbar with another working USB speaker or USB device such as a keyboard, or connect the soundbar to another
monitor. If the USB device is not working on the same port, or The original soundbar works properly on another monitor, the USB port on the former monitor might be defective.
No sound even though
the power indicator is
on| Volume might be low or Dell
Slim Soundbar SB521A might not be set as the default playback device.|
-
Ensure that the soundbar is the default playback device of the monitor.
-
Try connecting the soundbar USB cable to dierent USB ports.
-
Ensure that a music file is playing and the volume level is not 0%.
-
Set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
-
Play some audio on the computer.
For example, an audio CD or MP3 player. -
Clean or reconnect all cables again.
-
Test the soundbar with a dierent music source, such as from another computer.
-
Go to the Control Panel in your computer and click Sound. Check if the Dell Slim Soundbar SB521A is displayed in the list of playback devices under the Playback tab of the Sound dialog box. If Dell Slim Soundbar SB521A is not the default device (indicated by a green tick beside the icon), right-click the Dell Slim Soundbar SB521A and select Set Default > Default Device.
No sound| No sound from USB audio source|
- Reinstall the onboard drivers or the sound card drivers. Restart the computer.
- Try with a USB speaker that is in a working condition.
- Increase the volume using Windows volume control.
- Increase the volume of the audio application.
- Test the soundbar with a different music source such as another computer.
Distorted sound| Computer’s sound the card is used as the audio source|
- Set all volume controls to their midpoints.
- Decrease the volume of the audio application.
- Test the soundbar using another audio source such as another computer.
- Ensure that no loose objects are touching the soundbar or stuck near the magnet on the soundbar.
Distorted sound| Other audio source is used|
- Decrease the volume of the audio source.
- Turn off the sound processing of the audio source.
- Ensure that the soundbar is attached on the monitor.
- Ensure that no loose objects are touching the soundbar or stuck near the magnet on the soundbar.
Unbalanced sound output| Sound is coming from only one side of the soundbar|
- Set the Window audio balance controls of left and right speakers to their midpoints.
- Troubleshoot the computer’s sound card.
Low volume| Volume is too low|
- Set all Windows volume controls to their maximum.
- Increase the volume of the audio application.
- Test the soundbar using another audio source such as another computer.
Buzzing noise| Noise from the soundbar|
- Check if any foreign material is attached to the soundbar.
- Ensure that the soundbar is attached to the monitor and no loose objects are hanging or touching the soundbar, or stuck near the magnet on the soundbar.
- Try reducing the volume using Windows volume controls.
- Ensure that the cables do not interfere with the soundbar.
The soundbar cannot be mounted on the monitor| Magnetic tabs on the soundbar are missing, damaged, or broken.|
- Confirm if the monitor model used supports the soundbar. For more information about the supported monitor models, see the SB521A page at https://www.dell.com.
- Check if the monitor’s soundbar slots are open and there is no Mylar cover obstructing the slots.
Statutory information
Warranty
Limited warranty and return policies
Dell-branded products carry a three-year limited hardware warranty.
For U.S. customers:
This purchase and your use of this product are subject to Dell’s end-user
agreement, which you can find at https://www.dell.com/terms. This document
contains a binding arbitration clause.
For European, Middle Eastern and African customers:
Dell-branded products that are sold and used are subject to applicable
national consumer legal rights, the terms of any retailer sale agreement that
you have entered into (which will apply between you and the retailer), and
Dell’s end-user contract terms.
Dell may also provide an additional hardware warranty—full details of the Dell
end-user contract and warranty terms can be found by going to
https://www.dell.com/terms, selecting your country from the list at the
bottom of the “home” page and then clicking the “terms and conditions” link
for the end-user terms or the “support” link for the warranty terms.
For non-U.S. customers: Dell-branded products that are sold and used are
subject to applicable national consumer legal rights, the terms of any
retailer sale agreement that you have entered into (which will apply between
you and the retailer) and Dell’s warranty terms. Dell may also provide an
additional hardware warranty —full details of Dell’s warranty terms can be
found by going to https://www.dell.com/terms, selecting your country from
the list at the bottom of the “home” page and then clicking the “terms and
conditions” link or the “support” link for the warranty terms.