What headphones are you using with the TM8204?

To those that own the 8204, what headphones are you using with it, and what are they performing like?

I'm using a Genius brand headset with boom mic (sure, they're cheap, but they work!), and the volume levels are absolutely terrible - the built in speakers sound twice as loud, no exagerration.

The Genius are 32 ohms and 101dB sensitivity - on all my other machines these things can easily achieve uncomfortably loud volume levels, but on the 8204 they can barely compete with the ambient noise at a sidewalk cafe.

So how do yours go? If possible, please specify the impedance and sensitivity ratings of your set so we can see what type of specs are required to get decent performance. Thanks!

 

Try to get some noise canceling headphones or some thing that fully covers your ears. I've got a set of Bose Triport headphones and they practically make anything sound good and traps out ambient noises. The Quiet Comforts are the noise cancelling ones, but the Triports does a pretty good job as is. They're probably one of my best investments ever.

 

As soon as I get 8204 I'll let you know, however I use Shure headphones (E2C) which so far have worked great for every laptop I've ever used, they aren't noise cancelling, but are in-ear headphones that block out quite a bit of noise just by the design.

 

I would suggest getting one of those Creative Audigy ZS cards, they work wonders for you music.

 

The thing is the 8204 already has what *should* be a reasonable audio device (Realtech HD Audio). The volume through the speakers is very acceptable, it's just headphone output that's low.

Hrmm, maybe I'll just get some USB headphones..

 

Have you tried other headphones?

 

I know this is a stupid question, but have you made sure all the volume controls are up...

I don't know how many the Acer has, but most laptops I find have at least one physical control, and then of course the headphone output from speaker control.

 

Yes, I did that before I posted in a public forum

The only other headphones I have is a pair of Koss in-ear ones (no idea of the model/specs) - they are even worse!

AFAIK, there's only two specs that have any bearing on the volume:

1. Impedance - lower impedance headphones will get more wattage delivered to them, thus louder. 16ohm headphones will get double the power of 32ohm headphones - which is an additional 3dB.

2. Sensitivity - how much volume is output at a given input power (1mv for headphones?). Higher sensitivity = more volume at the same power level.

The thing is, the phones I have are already > 100dB sensitivity and are 32ohms, which is about mid-range. The most effecient (and expensive) headphones are around 115db sensitivity, but I need something with a boom mic, and something very compact for travelling, so donut sized home style phones are of no use to me.

As noted above, I think I might just have to fork out for some USB headphones - as they have their own audio hardware they should be immune to the deficiencies in the 8204's audio hardware.. Am I looking at this right?

 

Just a follow-up to this, I ended up purchasing the Sennheiser PC165 (top of the range) heaphones, that come with a USB sound card that can be used as an option.

Even though the Sennheiser's have 114dB sensivity (about as high as it gets), when connected to the 8204's headphone output the maximum volume is quite simply woeful. However, when using the included USB sound adaptor that comes with the PC165's they absolutley rock - I'd say in the range of +14 to +16dB, which is around 3x louder subjectively.

If you're just as unimpressed with the 8204's audio as I am, a good set of USB headphones might just be the ticket for you too.

 

I'd seriously question whether your sound card might be broken or something, because I can listen to my 8204, using my headphones (Shure E2C) at the lowest volume level in most environments, planes I need to turn up the volume a bit, but not that much.

 

My 8202's sound is pretty weak too. I tried with other 8202 and it's the same thing. I even tried different not so bad headphones (koss and bose) and even with everithing set at it's maximum it just won't cut it. It's sad because the sound is great when played through an external amplifier like a TV.

I agree with Travel Matey, Realtek HD should have a very decent performance -it has optical output for pete's sake!- Maybe our laps are defective and Acer will release some firmware/drivers or something? i haven't had a response from support. It seems i'll have to resort to buying the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZX card which is a shame to pay for after spending $2100 in a great lap. Music is very important to me.

 

Seriously, I'd question whether something is wrong.

One thing I HAVE noticed, is that the headphone socket you need to make sure you push the jack in all the way, mine I found I could push it in most of the way and get fairly poor sound, have to shove it a little bit to get it all the way in.

But if the volume is that pathetic, I'd suggest either getting new better headphones (again, my Shure headphones have NO issues whatsoever) or getting then to check your laptop, because mine works just fine.

 

My 8204 sounds fine with headphones...until you get on a plane. I just back from our 4th of July vacation, and my 5 year old was pissed that he couldn't hear his movies! :0 I made sure everything was turned up all the way, but we couldn't hear anything over the plane noise. Finally, I found the Realtek HD controller in the Control Panel, and turned all the settings on the synthesizer to full. We could barely make out the voices on the movie.

Looks like I (I mean my son) will be getting a set of usb headphones too.