z63a audio jack volume?

How is the sound on the asus z63a? I've read some reports that the volume is too low on the built in headphone jack. I'd like to be able to hear DVD dialogue over airplane noise. Do I need to buy an external solution for that? The turtle beach's USB audio looks like it'd do the trick; anything better in that price range/form factor?

 

With headphones, it's not bad at all. With external speakers, it sucks.
Since on an airplane, I'll assume you use headphones, so no...it shouldn't be a problem at all.
No need for external soundcard...

 

Somebody mentioned that turning the RealTek manager up to +12 db on all ranges would help tons. I haven't tried it though. USB headphones can always solve the prob, if there is one. I wouldn't not (love the double-negative) buy this notebook due to the volume.

 

Thanks, looks like mine should be arriving thurs. so I'll be able to test before getting on a plane. I'm a refugee from the lenovo z series pre-order debacle. Hard to believe the asus ships same day instead of ~3 months like the lenovo

 

Lenovo is a big company...most asus resellers are small companies, so they have more one-to-one interaction with their customers.
In a way, that's why I prefer buying from small businesses..

 

I tried it without realktek manager and the volume was not good. For example, at max volume with the headphones laying on the desk in a silent room, you could barely hear anything coming from the headphones during DVD playback of dialogue. I'm sure it would not compete with airplane noise even with the noise canceling headphone switch on. With the +12db, things are much better. Should provide the necessary range. Volume at +12db is about the same as my 4 year old thinkpad. Thanks for the tip.

 

Different headphones have a wide range of sensitivities. My current favourites are Koss Plug . You will see that the sensitivity of these is 112 dB SPL/1mW. Many headphones have sensitivities of less than 100dB and some less than 90dB. The foam on the Koss Plug provide reasonable sound isolation with an overall result better than the noise cancelling headphones that I have tried.

I'm also using PowerDVD 5 which has some audio configuration options. I have it set to "Noisy Environment". However, with all these tweaks the audio is best described as adequate rather than loud.

John

 

Headphones with built in amp. Isnt there such a thing?

 

I have sony mdr-nc5 headphones - noise cancelling with 100db sensitivity. Also sony mdr-nc11 noise cancelling ear buds with 102db sensitivity but they let more noise in. Since they are noise cancelling they already effectively have a built in amp. 1 has a volume control. I don't think I should have to replace good sounding $100+ headphones to get good volume. Anyways, I think I'll be OK with the realktek driver tweak. Yes, when I use powerdvd I configure it with "noisy environment" and that helps too. I seem to get different results each time I upgrade powerdvd/windvd however.

 

Maybe even turning the Windows sound control volume (the Wave part, not master volume) all the way up would help.

 

you too, eh? my z63a will be ready for pickup sunday, unlike the "indeterminate ship date" that I got the last time I called Lenovo Canada.