HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer range?

Is there something wrong with my HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer or my drivers? It doesn't produce sound below 200hz. I can feel the subwoofer is vibrating at the midranges, so it's working. But test tone below 200hz, nothing.

I am using a 2 month old dv7-4100, beats special edition, and noticed the bass audio from the built in speakers was seriously lacking -- I didn't really notice until I got a new pair of headphones. I ran some audio tone test sites and found out the built in laptop speakers do not generate any sound below 200 Hz. In the IDT audio drivers speaker config there is only configuration for 2 speaker stereo system, no 2.1 speaker system (which includes subwoofer).

I'm miffed, because on HP advertising copy claims "HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer amplifiers put out 12W total while supporting a full range of treble and bass frequencies." Clearly I am not getting "full range" frequencies.

I now remember I had the same audio experience with a prior dv7 unit which I returned because of other, unrelated PSU problems.

 

The stock sound (IDT) has some nasty compression/EQing to it. I bypass it with SRS HD Audio Lab.. it gives more bass depending on the setting. The fact of the matter is the bass won't ever be thumping but you can actually get some decent mid-bass out of it with the TruBass setting at 150Hz. You just have to switch back and forth for different audio sources.

 

Did you buy this plug-in? SRS Labs :: HD Audio Lab Download, 1 PC License $29.99

Does it really improve the audio on the envy 17?

 

Urrgh, I hate Audio Lab. The depth of controls that you can use to control your speaker setup is limited in Audio Lab. Get the older Audio Sandbox. Audio Sandbox gives you more control in your Subwoofer settings.

 

Use the trial and try it out. The speakers on my DV7-4000 (and I assume, others) have poor high frequency response so if the Definition or Space settings are too high it will break up but if you tweak the settings just right it won't happen with most sound.
On these settings (Music - Laptop speakers) it's fine for most music at max volume but even on songs like Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent" the high notes break up.

Also, under preferences you need to change it to Line Out. Enabling SRS with these settings and turning it off gives you a remarkable difference.
Yes, compared to the Sandbox, Audio Lab doesn't have as wide of a range of settings but Audio Lab is more consistent with less distortion. But you can get more bass with Sandbox, it just doesn't sound that good to me.

 

I installed the Audio Sandbox and I have to say that I'm quite positively surprised. Maximum volume has increased by about 40% (rough estimate) and there is a bit more bass in some songs. Its louder than the built in Beats software definitely. However now I can tell that the built in speakers are running on their maximum possible load, that is at max volume there are a bit more distortions.

Overall, worth installing if you're not fully satisfied with the quality of built in speakers.

EDIT: I forgot to add that the overall mid-tone reproduction has improved, considering the fact that the ENVY does not have dedicated mid-tone speakers, which is a nice thing as well.

 

Yeah well like I said Sandbox has more ways to distort the audio. Audio Lab sounds cleaner by far and isn't as touchy with the adjustments. Either way both of the tools greatly enhance sound from the built-in speakers and especially the subwoofer.. I went back to the stock sound and it sounds horrible. So compressed. Even with SRS disabled and the sound being unaltered, it sounds much better than going thru whatever processing HP/Beats/IDT is doing.

 

The subwoofer in the laptop is weak. It was only Hp's marketing ploy to get people to buy it. Have you ever heard of a company that says that their product was crappy? if you want to hear the full range of audio, you need to buy expensive speakers or headphones. no other way around it short of getting a musician in the room.