New Clevo/Sager Notebook? Don't like your sound quality/level? Try this solution!

So I was just helping someone else with an audio-related question, and it reminded me... I heard some people say the audio on the NP8130/NP8150/Similar Models was pretty bad.

Even heard that the 3.5mm output jack wasn't good, and some even went as far as getting a USB Audio Adapter. I heard about people playing with the THX Sound, and RealTek options, this n' that...

Well, I've never been disappointed with my sound, but I don't know if I have a solution for you, or if I'm just not picky... So if you don't like your sound... wanna try the way I have my system installed, and let me know?

UNINSTALL:
-Right Click on (My) Computer > Manage
-Go to the Device manager
-Right Click on your audio Devices > Properties
-Go to the Driver tab > Uninstall (Advanced)
-Check the box to delete all files

-Go to Programs/Features and Uninstall all entries of THX, RealTek, etc.

INSTALL:
-Reboot your computer.
-Once back up, tell the new hardware wizard not to go online, and you wish to manually browse to a location you specify.
-Point it the directory with the extracted audio drivers (See note below):

(I simply used my CD Sager shipped me, it had a directory with files already extracted. If you are using a zipped archive, extract and note where you put them... if you are using an auto-running, auto self-extractor... run it to extract the files, but cancel out when the installer starts up to actually install the driver).


This method will allow you to circumvent installing the additional things that can "modify" the sound coming out of your system via the RealTek control panel/tray icon/etc. and only install the driver it needs. I also have never installed anything related to the THX TruSound.

Everything as it is, has been excellent sound wise. The only other thing I've done was turn on the "Loudness Equalization Correction" under ControlPanel>Sound>Properties (of Speakers)> Enhancements and bumped it up one tick. This makes the default volume of the speakers on the laptop in-line with what I'd expect from them.

 

Thanks for the writeup, I'm going to use your method of installing audio drivers once I receive my notebook.

 

Thanks for this. I hope I won't need it, but it is good to have in my bookmarks.

 

i did this but it didn't make a difference other than removing some weird normalizing effects that the THX stuff was doing.

i ended up just using my M-Audio USB audio interface and plugging my headphones into that to bypass the horribly crappy laptop audio. it's a night and day difference, and i'm enjoying full sound once again.

 

I wish we still lived in the good old days, when PCI-E ports were still available...
I never use on-board sound, only my X-Fi card.

 

Im using my Hercules Deejay Trim 4&6 USB card. Its millions of light years away from the onboard realtek crap.

 

been using my hotusb1 dac + ad700 cans since the end of 2008. $160 or so. still one of my favorite investments.

though, i must say, the 8150 onboard isn't disgraceful by any means. sure it isn't anywhere near professional quality but it isn't complete crap.

 

Cool that you dug up the old post I made though. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I found all the additional "features" from the driver install + the THX stuff to sound worse, so I came up with this work-around.

Sad that quite a few people feel like the headphone quality is lack luster!


One final question to anyone here, since this has been brought back up:
Is it just headphone quality where you feel like the sound is poor, or is it on external speakers as well?

How about if you use blue tooth headphones and bypass the need for using that 3.5mm jack?

 

Tried this but not much help unfortunately. I gotta say the onboard audio is complete crap no matter what you do software-wise... I have some cheapo 20ohm Sonys laying around that it couldn't even power properly! Hooked up some 60ohm AT's and it was a complete joke - extremely low volume and virtually no bass.

As for the speakers, well they're laptop speakers... Good for everything except movies, games, or music lol In a couple days I should have a detailed review of the laptop and the accessories I bought to improve it