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.

    Software to Improve Sound Quality

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Silent, Jun 28, 2006.

  1. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Does anyone know of software or drivers that can be used to improve the performance of sound cards and thus provide better overall sound quality?
     
  2. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,659
    Messages:
    5,066
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Are you talking about your internal sound cards? The problem is that usually the soundcards in laptops are not very good to begin with, so there is only so much that additional software can improve. If you really want to increase your sound quality, you might want to consider getting an external sound card (usb or PCMCIA).

    One thing that Dell has recently started doing is installing SoundBlaster software, and most of the users seem to hear a difference when using it.
     
  3. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes, I'm referring to internal sound cards on notebooks as well as on desktops.

    Apart from the Audigy Advanced HD MB software, do you know of any other alternatives?
     
  4. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

    Reputations:
    436
    Messages:
    3,651
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    are we talking about sound from your notebook speakers?
     
  5. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes drumfu, I am looking for alternatives to the Audigy Advanced HD MB software.
     
  6. _radditz_

    _radditz_ Fallen to the Sith...

    Reputations:
    120
    Messages:
    1,584
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think theres a plugin for WMP called DFX or something like that which allegedly improves sound quality.
     
  7. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks radditz, I'll definitely check it out.
     
  8. nickster87

    nickster87 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    186
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There is also Toshiba Virtual Sound which has worked well on many Dells, and I assume should work on other notebooks. It adds SRS and a bunch of other settings! It really works great and gives a VERY noticeable boost in speaker volums. I'll find a link for you...

    Here you go: http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=9518&st=0
     
  9. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thx for the link nickster87!
     
  10. rjacobs

    rjacobs Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    That software/driver works pretty good, it sounds better on the built in speakers of the dell e1705, however I use bose speakers hooked up at home and they sound better with no SRS tweaking.
     
  11. nickster87

    nickster87 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    186
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well of course that's gonna sound better!! ;) But the TVS works quite well for the stock speakers...
     
  12. Silent

    Silent Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't think it is safe to install TVS in any other laptop but a Toshiba.

    The creator even said to use it at your own risk.
     
  13. nickster87

    nickster87 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    186
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Many people have been using it fine, including myself. No problems for me whatsoever. I think use at your own risk applies to just about everything in life...