External USB Subwoofers for Laptops?

The closest thing I could find on a search of the forums was back in '05 with http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=9982 The website's page it references no longer has the device.


Does anyone know if such a product exists? Google wasn't much in the way of help which suggests that there really isn't anything out there. While the sound on my Alienware M15x is good its a bit on the flat side. I would love to have a sub that I could plug into a USB port and put behind my screen and get a bit more bang to my audio.

BTW- I DID find one product on Google for a Mac.

 

The only one I've heard of is the one for the macs. Which actually makes sense, as a USB powered subwoofer is so silly that only mac-ies would want it. USB 2.0 will only give you like 2.5 watts. Any half decent subwoofer is 100 watts.

If you want something that will plug into the wall, then just get a 2.1 speaker system and scrap the notebooks speakers.

 

Wattage means only little in terms of sound. It's the MHz of speakers.

But I do agree that a USB powered sub is a silly idea. If you want a sub, get a wall system, 2.1 to plug into the headphone jack or 5.1 and use an SPDIF/HDMI/USB sound card output. If you want mobility and better sound, get a good pair of headphones.

 

My brother used to use a USB subwoofer. It was a good compliment to the notebook speakers. It's not that crazy, in my opinion, to use them. There have been a lot of times that I've been using my built in speakers and was wanting a bit more depth to the sound. These things obviously aren't going to compete with a 2.1 setup but it was still nice. It just makes it sound like a fuller notebook speaker. It'd be crazy to think that it would act as a substitute for a more powerful 2.1 system but I don't think anyone would expect that to be the case.

My Inspiron 9200 had a built in subwoofer and it was excellent. It is still the best sounding notebook I have ever encountered. More notebooks need built in subwoofers. I really missed it for a while when I upgraded to my XPS M1530.

Unfortunately, I don't know what model he used and I haven't come across any online. You'd be a lot happier with a dedicated speaker system like the Logitech Z2300 but that would require you to drop a lot more money. There are plenty of cheaper 2.1 systems that you can look into if you are interested in that. Pitabred makes a good point: if you need portability, there are a lot of great sounding headphones that are affordable. Headphones will almost always sound better than the factory speakers anyway.

Good luck with your search!

 

Creative p380 will blow you away if you can get some, (Cheap 2.1's)

But i agree, dedicated is much better.

Sony ericson do 2.0 speakers for phones that run at relatively low power, very high quality and very high sound (Very full sound to them also!) maybe check to see if they have anything out there.

 

USB Subwoofer is a little silly for various reasons; lack of power, lack of current, lack of quality DAC, and no doubt a tiny driver which simply wouldnt be able to do a great frequency range.

If you're after something for a more permanent setup, the best way to add a decent sound system to a laptop is to get a DAC, run that to a hi-fi amp, and then get a decent subwoofer and speakers (although make sure the amp either has a sub out, or the sub has high level inputs).
Really depends on what you want.
No teeny tiny subwoofer will ever sound great though, as they simply cant move enough air with enough pressure to hit low notes well, or with any level of control.

A DAC and decent, bass-centric hi-fi headphones would probably be a better (and cheaper) move. Look second hand if you go hi-fi kit, you can get some bargains

 

You explanation is right on as long as your perspective is understood: On a laptop scale, there are "subwoofers" that can "improve" the sound of laptop speakers (not really a big deal since they're already at the bottom) but on a true audio quality scale, all these types of teeny speakers are a joke; and the idea of a laptop subwoofer is just laughable. Still, as long as you realized you're dealing in a micro world of audio, it's ok to speak of these things as subwoofer per se.

As for me, I just plug into my home stereo when I want true subwoofer sound, and my laptop's virtual world shakes my building! Okay, that's an exaggeration. I don't really play it that loud, but you get my point. Anyway, there's some pretty good portable systems out there, but only the ones that are externally (not USB) powered.

That's another alternative but it's going in a totally different direction. Not sure that's what the OP is after?

 

Depends, he basically says he wants better, portable sound/more oomph. Some decent headphones and a DAC would give him the better 'bang' that he craves, even if not from the speakers, but it might be a more acceptable compromise in terms of what it allows him to do. He certainly wont find something that gives him any more of an improvement in sound that connects purely via USB

 

If anyone's curious, here's the mac woofer...

http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/bassjump/

$70+.....wow...

For sounds, I have a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 system that is AMAZING. Love the sound. The speaker's understated looks too.