The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Clevo P150EM sound problems

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Rudlin, Jun 16, 2012.

  1. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hello,

    I have received my long awaited laptop, P150EM with 7970M, everything works great, except I can't seem to make subwoofer under laptop work!

    I've tried different driver versions, fiddled with the settings but it didn't help a bit; one more thing I can't seem to feel any bass whenever I use my earphones (which are infact quite bass heavy).

    I wonder if anyone knows what to do for that sound quality at the moment is really frustrating.

    Cheers
     
    Rudlin, Jun 16, 2012
    #1
  2. bkDJ

    bkDJ Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have an HM and not an EM, but if it's like mine, you need to activate/enable the THX software that came with the laptop... and every time you reboot, you need to press Fn+5 (that's the number, NOT F5).

    Disclaimer: Then again, you have Onkyo speakers instead of whatever mine has so maybe my instructions are completely wrong :)
     
    bkDJ, Jun 16, 2012
    #2
  3. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,594
    Messages:
    10,832
    Likes Received:
    363
    Trophy Points:
    501
    have you checked the user manual that should be on the driver disk you received as there are various settings.
    for the headphones make sure it is set to stereo and not 5.1/7.1
     
    MrDJ, Jun 16, 2012
    #3
  4. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I did active my THX TruStudio and did gives marginal difference to the sound, but I still feel like sound is completely bassless in both onkyo speakers and earhpones.

    Here is screenshot of how it looks like, please have a look ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
     
    Rudlin, Jun 16, 2012
    #4
  5. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    First - you need to set the subwoofer crossover frequency in THX control panel.
    No idea where it is, Im not using the THX. Try under "speaker" tab. What you need to do, is set the crossover frequency of the subwoofer to the right level for you (usually 200 Hz) in order to hear it.

    I have to ask you something - open the Realtek HD Audio Manager (you have it open on the screenshot) and click on the "i" icon in the bottom right corner. Tell me what audio codec is your P150EM using.

    Thats all :) If you need more help, post again!
     
    b0b1man, Jun 16, 2012
    #5
  6. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    ​
    There you go P150EM audio codec version:

    [​IMG]
     
    hackness, Jun 16, 2012
    #6
  7. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Mine is the same, ALC892 :D
    Damn, no improvement in the EM series on the audio side of things...

    At least P370EM is supposed to have a Creative Sound Blaster audio interface in it...

    Thanks for the screen! Did you solve the issue with the subwoofer?
     
    b0b1man, Jun 16, 2012
    #7
  8. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    I gave up on the built-in speakers :p. Now the setting I use for it: Surround 45%, Speaker 65% when using built-in speakers. I love the 5.1 sound system tho, works well with my Psyko Carbon :D.
     
    hackness, Jun 16, 2012
    #8
  9. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I've got something else.... [​IMG]

    Ssssssssony XB-700. Enough to make your ears wish they could run away from you.
     
    b0b1man, Jun 16, 2012
    #9
  10. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Nothing helped, crossover frequency makes no difference whatsoever, getting older drivers from laptop manufacturer.

    Altho, 1 weird thing i've noticed is that THX in audio device selection has 2 audio devices.

    Realtek digital output (Realtek High defintion audio) and Speakers (Realtek High defintion audio).

    Maybe my drivers are messed up somehow, though its not often I make mistakes like that
     
    Rudlin, Jun 16, 2012
    #10
  11. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    They looks like they can provide huge bass :D. I also tried the TurtleBeach Z6A with this laptop. It's really awesome with the combo of surround + cross frequency from THX Studio Pro + room correction from the Realtek panel :D.
     
    hackness, Jun 16, 2012
    #11
  12. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Your phones have their own amps, which is good.

    I have to use a seperate amp if I wanna get my phones to pump out their ridiculous bass. The laptop can never power headphones (kinda sad). But with a seperate amp, things get really "cut the midrange, drop the bass!"
     
    b0b1man, Jun 16, 2012
    #12
  13. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Little update:

    I just uninstalled realtek and THX drivers and sound quality is just as good as it was with drivers.

    Horrible! is something not right?

    Edit:

    I just tried plugging this thing http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0032AEF42/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00 and guess what - as awful sound quality as is is I finally felt some bass on my earphones, unlike through realtek audio jack.

    I have no clue what is happening.
     
    Rudlin, Jun 16, 2012
    #13
  14. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Yea for built-in speakers they won't sound good no matter what you do, but the THX studio pro does make a differencce if you use it with 5.1 or 7.1 speakers or headsets.
     
    hackness, Jun 16, 2012
    #14
  15. vilmeister

    vilmeister Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have exact same problem as OP, sound quality on my headphones when plugged in is garbage, and almost no bass. I have not found a fix yet :(
     
    vilmeister, Jun 16, 2012
    #15
  16. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    I've been using mine with an amp, the laptop's jack really doesn't output enough sadly.
     
    hackness, Jun 16, 2012
    #16
  17. bkDJ

    bkDJ Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    That's normal. You have optical digital audio out. In the dark, you can see that one of your audio ports is emitting a faint red light. If you disable the digital audio device (muting it works too I think) the light will turn off. :)

    You didn't mention if Fn+5 changed anything.
     
    bkDJ, Jun 16, 2012
    #17
  18. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Nop it didn't do nothing, user manual says it is only for 17 inch clevo laptops.
     
    Rudlin, Jun 17, 2012
    #18
  19. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    b0b1man, Jun 17, 2012
    #19
  20. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You must be wrong because laptop cards produce very decent sound quality, even for an old laptop like I had before this p150em sound was brilliant both on speakers and earphones. Someting is not right with this Clevo ive got; I'm formatting HDD.
     
    Rudlin, Jun 17, 2012
    #20
  21. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Decent for some, undecent for me and many other people.
    Have you ever tried a good external audio card with a upper-end DAC? Wolfson or BurrBrown DACs (their midrange chips)?

    My mobile phone (Sony Ericsson W995) produces a ton CLEANER and MORE POWERFUL sound that my laptop. And bass is....on a whole other level.

    Just saying.
     
    b0b1man, Jun 17, 2012
    #21
  22. Rudlin

    Rudlin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yeah well maybe you are right, its just im wondering how can my previous MSI FX 600 laptop that was worth 600£ two years ago, have much better sound reproduction than an oven fresh clevo p150em for 1200£. ;)
     
    Rudlin, Jun 17, 2012
    #22
  23. hackness

    hackness Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,237
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    427
    Trophy Points:
    101
    There's subwoofer gain in the THX Studio Pro if you output to a 5.1 or 7.1 system. I've been using mine with crossover 73Hz + subwoofer gain 15db. Powerful bass that it delivers. You won't see this option with 2.0 or 2.1 speakers/headsets.
     
    hackness, Jun 17, 2012
    #23
  24. hexum23

    hexum23 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    75
    Messages:
    307
    Likes Received:
    141
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Undecent for me. All laptops I've had always suffer from some sort of interference. Sometimes I'll hear feedback from my wireless mouse, when my hdd spools up, or other electronic devices. Even having the powerbrick too close can cause feedback. I used a soundblaster external a while back and it was way better.
     
    hexum23, Jun 17, 2012
    #24
  25. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    597
    Messages:
    1,092
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I used an external sound card too, it was noiseless. And the sound was superb. Sold it, cause I was using it rarely (couldnt take it with me, it requres its own PSU).
     
    b0b1man, Jun 17, 2012
    #25