XPS15/17 - Waves MAXXAudio 3 Questions

1) I see that the XPS15/17 laptops offer standard Waves MAXXAudio 3 functionality, but what exactly is it? Is Waves MAXXAudio 3 the integrated audio controller on the motherboard? Or is it a software sort of thing?

For example, on other laptops I've owned, Realtek and IDT were some of the integrated audio controllers.

2) Second, is the audio from the headphone output really that much better than the audio from other laptops? (AKA: do you think the Waves MAXXAudio 3 makes a significant positive difference in audio quality?)

 

Realtek makes the hardware audio controller. MaxxAudio 3 is a set of algorithms implented in the audio driver.

The major limiting factor of audio quality has been the speakers--that's where the biggest difference will be seen, and is the biggest difference I've seen.

I just did some playing with turning MaxxAudio on and off, and there is a difference--when it is 'on' the sound feels much richer, and it does a pretty good job of simulating surround sound from both the headphones and the built in speakers. I've also tried flipping between MaxxAudio and the X-Fi MB... at least for movies, I think the MaxxAudio does a much better job than the X-Fi. I have a feeling the only use for the X-Fi might be for games using EAX effects.

 

Thanks for the clarification I originally looked at the description on the Waves MAXXAudio website, and couldn't tell what it was exactly.