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    sound blaster card for M1530

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by red123, May 6, 2008.

  1. red123

    red123 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm planning to use a speaker for the M1530 and is wondering will X-fi sound blaster card makes a different in the sound quality for my speaker? I don't want to waste money on something that is not needed. I am currently using the regular High-Definition sound card.
     
    red123, May 6, 2008
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  2. azn4l1fe

    azn4l1fe Newbie

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    I don't know if this will help you or not but I'll say it anyways... I just ordered a M1530 with the sound blaster card so I havent actually used the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Express yet... But I do use a Sound Blaster X-Fi (cant remember which model) on my Desktop... and I believe it makes a big difference...

    Just a thought...
     
    azn4l1fe, May 6, 2008
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  3. disciplined

    disciplined Notebook Geek

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    YES

    oooh yes it makes a difference! Ofcourse I am comparing the sound between the X-FI plugged in and without on the same laptop.

    Without the X-Fi (going through the regular audio jack), on high end speakers it makes a hollow and tingy sound, sometimes even robotic.

    With the X-Fi music soundes richer and deeper. Games sound way more intense. I would say its worth the $50 for sure.

    Plus it is really annoying to have the headphone jacks at the front of the laptop so this moves it to the side.
     
    disciplined, May 6, 2008
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  4. stevey5036

    stevey5036 Notebook Evangelist

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    The X-Fi card is well worth the money if you are using a nice set of speakers.
     
    stevey5036, May 6, 2008
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  5. stephen6119

    stephen6119 Notebook Consultant

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    the sound blaster card is definitely worth it, if not for the waaaaay better sound quality, then for the better audio jack location as long as you have a decent set of speakers to hook it up to.
     
    stephen6119, May 6, 2008
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  6. azn4l1fe

    azn4l1fe Newbie

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    I buy for the sound quality boost... Buying for the sole purpose of moving your audio jack... idk doesnt make sense to me...
     
    azn4l1fe, May 6, 2008
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  7. mp213

    mp213 Newbie

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    What if you're just using the regular in ear earphones or something? Does it make a difference? I usually use earphones or headphones, so I'm wondering whether I really need the sound blaster? Insight would be helpful.

    ETA: Also, just one other thing. Does the card ship separately from the laptop or does it come pre-configured? It's a stupid question, I know but I'd like to know.
     
    mp213, Jun 12, 2008
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  8. raindog_mx

    raindog_mx Notebook Consultant

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    I had the Audigy SZ PCMCIA sound card and it was an improvement from here to the moon.

    I can't get X-Fi bundled with my laptop in my country but I'm deffinitely getting a sound card upgrade be it a PCI-X X-Fi or an USB one.
     
    raindog_mx, Jun 13, 2008
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  9. disciplined

    disciplined Notebook Geek

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    The sound card ships in its own backs and has its own tracking number, but mine arrived with my laptop.

    With the question about using headphones, its a matter of the limiting factor. If your headphones suck then ya it wont matter the quality of the signal going into them. But if you have decent headphones then the laptop will be the limiting factor and the sound card makes a difference. The sound straight from the jacks without the card isn't horrible, its just that the card makes it better.
     
    disciplined, Jun 13, 2008
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  10. mp213

    mp213 Newbie

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    Ahh...thanks for that. I already ordered my laptop, without the express card. It's coming with the integrated audigy sound blaster software however, so I might not be too badly off. I figured I could always get the sound card at a later time if I wanted to.
     
    mp213, Jun 13, 2008
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  11. raindog_mx

    raindog_mx Notebook Consultant

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    Bad news, if you research around a little you'll found out the Sound Blaster software is useless, or so they say in the forums.

    I order my laptop with it but now I think I shouldn't have.
     
    raindog_mx, Jun 13, 2008
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