P151HM1/8130 options for improving sound quality

Hi,

so I think we can all agree that one of the very few down sides to this wonderful machine is the quality of the onboard sound & built in speakers.. i wanted to start this thread to see if what other users are doing (hopefully something) to improve the sound.

- there are some Soundblaster USB sound cards out there.. has anyone tried these and do they make much difference on the on board speakers. I'm not referring to any headphones or external speaker options at this time.

- is there any way to replace the on board sound card internally so I dont have a huge usb dongle hanging out of my laptop ?

- any way to replace (and upgrade) built in speakers and/or subwoofer on the bottom?


thanks!

 

Sadly, I believe the answers to all your questions are no.

The USB cards will provide audio downstream from the card - headphones, external speakers, etc. If headphones are your primary source of audio, this would be a good option. You could also consider a USB headset, that integrates the audio into the headphones: USB Headsets at Newegg.com

The soundcard is part of the mobo - no replacing it, i'm afraid.

Can't speak to the last item, but I'm pretty sure it's a no-go. You'd need to find speakers with similar dimensions and resistance to go in the case.

 

you could probably replace the speakers, but it would be more of a mod most likely than a straight replacement.

 

Did you install and register the THX software that comes with the machine? While it will never match a system such as the Dell XPS 15, it makes a big difference.

If you want to go the external route, you could try something like a DAC. Do a search; there are a couple threads on the topic here.

 

I bought a Macally laptop cooler with built-in speakers- it's pretty awesome! It was a $70 purchase but I find it to be worth it. There is another great option of getting the Logitech Z305 USB speaker for about $45 on amazon that comes with great reviews. With this, you clip on the speakers on top of the screen. I can't speak for the Logitech option, but my purchase, I am able to play it in a room and it sounds superb.

 

I'm planning on getting this laptop but i use headphones most of the time so i guess there will be no problem.

 

are there any eq programs that work well other than thx. honestly im dissapointed with it. i have taken 3 years of audio engineering classes, and if i could just use an eq to filter the sound output it would be a major improvement.

 

Sadly, I feel the same way. Glad I'm not the only one. This laptop is great, and I have no qualms about it other than the terrible audio. The THX software helps a bit, but it's still nowhere near what it should be. Vocals are shrill and sibilant, the bass is rather mushy. Thankfully I can always buy a DAC, which is what I'll do.

 

I'm currently browsing for a new laptop and am pretty set on a P151HM1 variant. This thread has me just a little concerned.

Is the sound really that bad?
I know most people don't have much to compare, but is it worse than average? Is it bad even with headphones?
And finally, is the sound better on the P150HM ?
It's always an option for me. While the rubber finish and larger PSU do not make up for the glare screen and higher price, better sound could make it worth it. There's also the fact that the P150HM may not come with a matte screen anymore, according to Sager's site...

 

Well, I use some very high quality headphones. If you aren't huge on sound, and maybe use something like the earbuds that come with an iPod, then this shouldn't be a huge dealbreaker, especially with the Realtek and THX software options. However, if you bought some nice headphones and expect to get 100% out of them, then you will be disappointed.

For movies and games, the sound is fine. Just for music do I have an issue. I have my Zune HD with me, and with a pair of Q-Jays headphones, there is definitely a marked difference between the two that just about anyone could hear. The sound feels compressed, like you're in a vaccum. The speakers are fine, though. It's like the average ones you seen on laptops these days.

As for the P150HM, I'm not exactly sure sorry. But I would assume the sound is the same.

 

According to many people's review, the P150HM's sound is average at best. I doubt it is any better than the P151HM. Don't quote me on that though, I don't know for sure.

 

Why don't you guys just get an MSI gt680 instead?

 

p150hm and p151hm1 Are physically the same machine, aside from the power brick and exterior finish. The sound quality between the two is identical.

 

That's what I expected... Oh well, can't have it all if you don't spend more.

 

Because it's orange.

Seriously, The power + low profile looks are why I went to Clevo/Sager over Asus or MSI.

 

yeah if i was going to get the 560m i would have gone with the 15" msi that has the hm67 chipset, because it has 2 hard drives and raid.