R3 - updating the ALC665 driver, successes?

I have tried, to update the ALC665 (Realtek codec, intel hardware) driver but without success. I tried FOUR different driver packs which should be higher quality than the Windows one, but whenever I remove the Windows driver, it just automatically installs itself again, on reboot or even without it, and the other drivers, although they report 'successful installation' do not displace the windows one (realtek HD audio).

So far i tried:

- REALTEK_ALC665_A02_R266767 (from dell ftp)
- RealtekALC665_A04_R242185 (from the web, but dell installer)
- AUD_Vista_Win7_6.0.1.6482_PV (from intel for ALC665, meant for their desktop boards, but it is the same chip)
- Realtek 2.60 driverheaven modded with Creative X-Fi MB 1.2 on top (from the web)

none of these worked at all, after many, many hours of trying all possible installations and configs and many, many reboots.

The reason why I am looking for another driver is because I am not satisfied with the sound volume and quality that the original driver gives (Klipsch speakers help, but the driver is paramount).

Any experiences/advice (other then 'why bother') is welcome,

cheers,

 

Just to clarify why would I go through all this trouble to get a better sound - I use the M11x for music production (with Ableton Live on it), so every little bit counts. Yes, I do have external music gear/interfaces, but I would like the internal sound/speakers to come at least near to the quality of the pro gear, if not too big of a hope

 

I can confirm that Realtek 2.60 driverheaven modded with Creative X-Fi MB 1.2 on top works! It required a clean install of windows and a bit decoding of the batch file. It turns out only ONE of the generated .kga file needs to be copied over, not the entire directory.

 

I'm not up there with the music thing, but I know what I like.

Have a pair of Sennheiser PX100 II which makes yer ears bleed with the over compensated bass, but sounds fine with 256Kbps Internet radio.

Saw your post and thought, dude[that's me] where are your Realtek drivers at?

Must be time to upgrade...my drivers...so I did.

Just downloaded and installed Realtek R2.66 6.0.1.6482 and now I'm going off like a Muppet on an overclocked pacemaker. Music you can twitch to.

Any better than the previous driver(which was NOT a Dell original).... me no can tell.

Hang on, I'll pump it through the ONKYO. [waiting...waiting...] [back]

Well, that worked OK. Had the floor boards moving to the beat.

Haven't tried Multi Channel, but stereo seems fine.

M11xR1. You rule. [A little bit...well just that much really.. ]

 

glad you found the post helpful I actually use Denon semi-open cans and route the external sound through a marantz classic amp and a pair of JBL studio monitors ... the modded realtek + x-fi MB do indeed make a difference in music clarity and dynamic range (perceived and measured) especially studio quality sound from some modern DAW (I use Ableton Live 8.2.2)..

also great for games and general music listening, but the enhancements are not that obvious