Sound on laptop is Dull, lifeless...even my iPod is better now - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Nocturnal310 · 05-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi guys,

something is seriously wrong with my laptop sound card.

i plugged in my new senns HD205.

they sound awesome on any other device but my laptop.

even after preAmping them the songs sound so dull.

there is no depth in music....all flat.
i tried EQ also.

Can someone help me figure out the problem.

its Conexant High definition Audio soundcard.

and i used Winamp, iTunes, VLC & WMP.

iTunes sounded much better though.. but not as great as portable music players.

I mean laptops are supposed to be more powerful than portable players rite?

why is the Amp so poor?

P.S: Portable devices were ipod, Sony Discman, sony ericsson W800i ..all sounded better with same songs.

i tried a huge range of songs .. over 100 songs.

So please recommend some enhancements or technical solution or softwares.

thanks!

1UP · 05-03-2008, 06:29 PM

Good bet your soundcard has a godawful headphone amp circuit.

Get a different card with a better headphone amp circuit, or consider running a dedicated head amp from the card's line out.

Kel Ghu · 05-07-2008, 11:50 PM

The soundcard on my Lenovo T61p is just fine to me. The sound has about the same presentation as my Pico, but less clear.

Skywatcher · 05-07-2008, 11:58 PM

The laptop itself is more powerful (processor & stuff), but a music player is designed to do that only. What I mean is, when brands make a music player, their concern is to make it sound good. When laptop brands make a laptop (especially if it's from the "office work" line) many times they don't care what audio chip they put in there, the cheaper one will do. After all, that thing is to work, not hear music

My advice: An USB Dac/Amp (or just dac, as you seem to already have an amp)

Nocturnal310 · 05-08-2008, 04:58 PM

I fixed it... i set my sound to 24 bit..

Sound is processed really well, sounds very detailed

And Crystallized.

jilgiljongiljing · 05-08-2008, 05:52 PM

Your problem is the soundcard. Change it and you will see a significant improvement.

Nocturnal310 · 05-08-2008, 06:18 PM

Which Soundcard can u quickly recommend for a beginner?

smthg USB based

jilgiljongiljing · 05-08-2008, 06:31 PM

I whole heartedly recommend the EMU 0202 to anyone who is looking for a reasonably priced USB DAC/Soundcard. You can consider the EMU 0404 as well. I compared the two a while back, you can look at that to get an idea on which one to get.

There are several other options beyond 200$, but if you would like to stay in the 100$ territory, the 0202 is hard to beat and I still havent had the urge to upgrade it cos I am quite happy with it.

Nocturnal310 · 05-08-2008, 06:38 PM

Thanks a lot... i think sub $100 is my area :P

gregorio · 05-12-2008, 01:54 PM

Bare in mind Nocturnal that a <$100 sound card is probably not going to compete with say an iPod sound quality. Remember a sound card for your laptop is probably both an ADC and a DAC, breaking your costs down, that probably means $20 or less for each of the two DACs. The iPod (at a guess) probably has more expensive and therefore better quality DACs.