diff --git a/sys/dev/isa/ess.c b/sys/dev/isa/ess.c
index 75a2b3b22074..85345d992124 100644
--- a/sys/dev/isa/ess.c
+++ b/sys/dev/isa/ess.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: ess.c,v 1.48 1999/11/02 17:05:05 augustss Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: ess.c,v 1.49 2000/01/18 22:11:05 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright 1997
@@ -2421,18 +2421,16 @@ void
 ess_speaker_on(sc)
 	struct ess_softc *sc;
 {
-	/* Disable mute on left- and right-master volume. */
-	ess_clear_mreg_bits(sc, ESS_MREG_VOLUME_LEFT, ESS_VOLUME_MUTE);
-	ess_clear_mreg_bits(sc, ESS_MREG_VOLUME_RIGHT, ESS_VOLUME_MUTE);
+	/* Unmute the DAC. */
+	ess_set_gain(sc, ESS_DAC_PLAY_VOL, 1);
 }
 
 void
 ess_speaker_off(sc)
 	struct ess_softc *sc;
 {
-	/* Enable mute on left- and right-master volume. */
-	ess_set_mreg_bits(sc, ESS_MREG_VOLUME_LEFT, ESS_VOLUME_MUTE);
-	ess_set_mreg_bits(sc, ESS_MREG_VOLUME_RIGHT, ESS_VOLUME_MUTE);
+	/* Mute the DAC. */
+	ess_set_gain(sc, ESS_DAC_PLAY_VOL, 0);
 }
 
 /*