Lorex Camera Audio Not Working (Try These Simple Fixes!)

It can be frustrating to set up your system only to find the Lorex camera audio not working when you need it most.

Whether you’re trying to monitor your home or communicate through the camera, the absence of an audio output is always a substantial problem. 

The issue often occurs on PoE-wired Lorex cameras, and the causes tend to include NVR/DVR issues, a faulty PoE cable, or an issue with the connected monitor. 

How to Fix When the Lorex Camera Audio Not Working?

Note: Have you checked if the live feed of all the Lorex cameras are online?

1. Enable the Audio On the Lorex NVR

Audio can add a helpful layer to your Lorex security setup by allowing you to hear what is happening in the recorded video. 

Before enabling the audio for your Lorex monitoring equipment, ensure you’re following local laws, as recording audio without consent could be illegal in some places.

Now, the audio activation depends on the model and type of your Lorex NVR recorder. 

1.1 How to Enable Audio on N883, N884 Series NVR:

For N883 and N884 Series NVRs, you’ll require an audio-enabled camera or external devices like a self-powered microphone and speaker connected first.

If you are not certain whether your Lorex camera is audio-enabled or not, consult the user manual or browse the model online.

If the camera supports audio, here’s how to enable it via the NVR:

• From the Live View screen, right-click on Main Menu.
• Click the CAMERA in the menu below the NVR page.
• Go to the Recording tab and press Recording again.
• Now, click the channel your Lorex audio camera is on.
• Allow both General (continuous) and Motion for audio.
• Check if there is audio in the Lorex camera recordings.

1.2 How to Enable Audio on N845, N846, N847, N864 Series NVR:

For N845, N846, N847, and N864 Series NVRs, audio recording and listen-in are disabled by default, and you will require a monitor with speakers for listen-in to work.

Double-check if your Lorex camera supports audio encoding before proceeding with the activation steps.

Here’s how to set up the audio output on these series of NVRs:

• From Live View, right-click, select Main Menu, and then sign in.
• Click Devices in the menu, then navigate to Recording Settings.
• Next, specify the channel with your audio-enabled Lorex camera.
• Under Main Stream, click the More Settings button in the settings.
• Now, in the More Settings window, enable the Audio Encode tile.

For accurate audio activation instructions for your own model, as older and newer Lorex NVRs have different GUIs, we recommend consulting the user manual delivered with the device. 

2. Check the Audio of the Connected Monitor

Perhaps, all components of your Lorex systems are working properly, but the sound output fault comes from the monitor instead.

In order to hear the audio of your Lorex camera recordings, the volume, mute status, and output settings of the connected monitor must be reconfigured.

Check the Volume:

The audio of your monitor might be muted or set too low, which prevents you from hearing the output of the Lorex system. 

So, check if the monitor has an audio interface with buttons, press the VOL + (Volume Up) button, or navigate to the audio settings menu to increase the volume and unmute if needed.

Check the Audio Output:

The monitor could be outputting audio to an external device, like headphones or speakers, instead of its built-in speakers.

Proceed with checking the monitor audio output settings or ports, and ensure it is set to the internal speakers. 

We recommend temporarily disconnecting any external devices, like headphones, to confirm that the sound plays through the monitor.

Check the NVR Connection:

A connection fault in the HDMI connection between the monitor and recorder could also disrupt the audio, even if your system is working properly. 

Ensure the HDMI or audio cable is securely plugged into both the Lorex recorder and the monitor, and double-check the selected input source on the monitor.

3. Verify the PoE Camera Connection

Another reason for the Lorex camera’s no sound issue could be the PoE (Power over Ethernet) connection of the camera.

Wired Lorex surveillance cameras are designed to receive both data (internet) and power over a single Ethernet cable, which connects with the NVR recorder.

Double-check if the cable is plugged securely on both ends and attempt to detect any disruptions in the broadcast of the camera. 

Check the PoE Switch or NVR Port

The PoE switch or NVR port might be faulty, so connect the Lorex camera to an alternative port on the Lorex recorder to check if the audio will be restored. 

Check the PoE Power Supply

Confirm your switch meets the Lorex camera power requirements (usually IEEE 802.3af standard) or attempt to bypass the NVR and test directly into another recorder.

Replace the Ethernet

A damaged Ethernet cable might stop the audio signal, so replace it with a brand-new, high-quality Cat5e or Cat6 cable to test the camera. 

Note: Do not forget to update the channel settings after plugging the camera into another port.

4. Adjust the Audio Format & Audio Settings

Incorrect audio settings might disrupt the audio output of the camera, even if the hardware and all connections are perfectly functional.

Adjusting these ensures the camera captures and plays back sound correctly through the NVR.

For N883, N884 Series NVRs, from the Live View screen, right-click to open the Quick Menu, click Main Menu, go to CAMERA, and select the Recording tab on the side.

Then, click the Recording tab at the top, and choose the channel with your audio camera. 

For N845, N846, N847, and N864 Series NVRs, from Live View, right-click, select Main Menu, log in (default username: admin), click Devices, and go to Record Settings.

After that, select the channel with your audio-capable camera.

Now, adjust the following settings:

• Set the Audio Compression to a G711a value (N883, N884 Series).
• Set Sampling Frequency to 8000 and hit Apply (N883, N884 Series).
• Check if the Audio Encode is on (N845, N846, N847, N864 Series).
• Use ACC or G.711A audio format (N845, N846, N847, N864 Series).

Note: Test each audio setting on the NVR to determine if there will be a change in the output. 

5. Test the Audio Via the Lorex Application

You can determine if the Lorex camera’s sound is not working through the Lorex mobile application, as long as the camera is registered.

All you need is your smartphone for this step.

Here’s how to test the live feed and audio of the Lorex camera:

• Launch the Lorex app on your phone and log in to your account.
• Tap your camera, view the live feed, and listen for audio output.
• Set the phone volume to check if the camera captures any audio.

If no sound plays, then the Lorex camera is either not audio-enabled or there is a more severe issue with the NVR.

6. Use an Alternative Monitor or a TV

The sound issue could be with the audio output of the monitor and not with the camera or the NVR system itself.

That’s why ZontSound recommends temporarily installing an alternative monitor with an audio interface of a compatible Optical/HDMI TV for testing purposes. 

6.1 If Using a Monitor

Disconnect the current monitor from the Lorex NVR, connect a different monitor with built-in speakers using an HDMI cable, and set the monitor to the correct input.

Now, reconfigure the audio output and test the audio through the live view. 

6.2 If Using a TV

Unplug the NVR from the current monitor, connect it to a TV with speakers via HDMI, select the right HDMI input on the TV, and check if the audio plays during live view.

After switching the output, you should hear the camera audio if the monitoring device works.

Note: If you can hear the system audio through an alternative monitor, there could be a fault with the audio card or output of your previous monitor/TV. 

7. Bypass the Monitor Audio Via an External Device

You can also bypass the audio of the monitor by connecting a third-party self-powered speaker to the RCA or 3.5mm input of the Lorex NVR.

This ensures the security system audio monitoring works effectively, or rules out a potential issue with the monitor.

So, acquire a self-powered (line-in)  speaker with a 3.5mm or RCA input, connect it to the “Audio Out” port on the NVR, and mount it near your monitoring area.

Now, plug the speaker into power, play the Lorex camera live feed, and adjust the volume to test the sound. 

If the audio is still absent, the issue is most certainly with the installation itself, the NVR, or the equipment.

In such a case, we recommend getting in touch with Lorex customer support. 

8. Reset the Lorex NVR to Default Settings

If the Lorex camera audio is not working after attempting all of the solutions so far, a factory reset yields the greatest chances of eliminating the problem.

The reset differs slightly for wired and wireless Lorex cameras, using either a physical button or the app to perform the reset.

8.1 How to Factory Reset a Wired Lorex Camera:

Locate the Reset button on the back or base of the wired camera and remove the housing if necessary.

Press and hold the button for about ~10 seconds, then wait for a chime and a flashing green light under the lens to confirm.

8.2 Factory Reset a Wireless Lorex Camera:

Open the Lorex app, go to Camera Settings, and find the Factory Reset option in the device section. Next, confirm the reset, then wait for the camera to restart and look for a confirmation message in the app.