W520 audio upgrade -- any suggestions?

I just purchased a W520, and as many have noted the audio quality is sub-par to say the least. Playing music via my laptop from my vast mp3 archive is pretty important to me, so I've been looking at various options for upgrading the sound output. I purchased the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook Transmitter as a low-cost option, and haven't found the results to be much of an improvement.

I'm now looking at external USB soundcards/DACs and I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations? My setup is very simple-- running a line out to my Sony receiver via RCA input to external speakers. I'm no audiophile, but I would like better overall output quality, deeper bass, more volume, etc. Ideally, I'd like to spend no more than $100-150.

Any suggestions are most appreciated.

 

The output quality/base/volume does not only involve the sound card, but also the external speakers themselves. Could you specify what kind of external speakers you're using?

 

the speakers I'm using are nothing great, a pair of old Aiwa bookshelf speakers, and my receiver is a Sony STR-DH100. I was honestly perfectly happy with the quality of the output from my T60p with this same setup; it seems like the main issue with the W520 is the weakness of the signal (and the Creative card I bought allows for more volume, but sounds cheap and "tinny"). I only realized after purchasing, that this X-Fi expresscard is a notebook "transmitter," apparently not an actual external soundcard; so I'm wondering if this perhaps would provide a better solution?

 

As you have a modern digital receiver, why don't you buy a simple external sound card with a digital out such as a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro II or similar. Then all the conversion is handled by your receiver, and if it sounds bad it is definitively not your laptop's fault

 

thanks for the suggestion, Pintu... I'll look into that option. maybe that will serve my needs just as well... and save me some cash.

 

You might want to try the Dolby Drivers in my Sig. This way, you don't need to get an external Sound Card. If it isn't good enough for you either, you can always uninstall it and revert back to the original Drivers and keep looking for an external Solution.

 

thanks for the suggestion 600x, but I've already tried the Dolby drivers and they don't have much of an impact when using external speakers; it also seemed like some of the functionality was disabled-- "optimizer" & "profiles", I believe-- when using the line out as opposed to the laptop speakers... I've basically given up on the onboard card at this point and am looking at external options...

 

Why not an amplifier or turning it up on the receiving side?

 

+1
works well, if your reciever has hdmi that works too.