[lordearl]

(1) Is there any laptop which offers better on board digital out than other models around?

(2) If using usb out to a usb-dac, can some laptops offer better sub out than others?

 

[flot]

I would think that laptops that offer 5.1 output will offer better stereo sound just because the motherboard reserves more power for the audio than a regular laptop that offers only a 1/8 output.
I've had 3 HP pavilion and one Acer laptops. HP laptops have better output than the Acer does, but of course not even close to a DAC/AMP.

Every time I bought a newer HP model, the sound gets better. Right now Im using a HP DV7-1270us, and the 1/8 output cannot handle my HD215's. It really needs more dedicated power source for the 1/8 output.

That's why Im going for the DAC.

I would like to hear what an Alienware laptop owner has to say about this.

 

[twylight]

Every laptop I have ever owned sucks. I have had many 5k+ models from Dell, HP, and Alienware.

Sometimes a crappy PCExpress card is ok and they usually have an optical out...but the headphone jack is noisy, low power, and mostly useless. I havent seen a built spdif in a while now on laptops. Some have them on the docking stations - lately I just use WASAPI USB or a spdif in pcExpress using WASAPI.

 

[jzhang1013]

Macbook pro?

 

[revolink24]

Just get a regular laptop and a Total Bithead and you'll be happy. It will sound the same on any laptop. Assuming you do ASIO/WASAPI/Kernel streaming.

 

[jakebot]

Newegg.com - Creative 70SB095000004 24-bit 48KHz ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook - Sound Cards

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzhang1013 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Macbook pro?

Only thing about a Macbook pro that might make it better is that it does have digital output builtin (must use a little toslink adapter).

However the onboard audio on a Macbook is just like any other Realtek chip.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzhang1013 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Macbook pro?

My thought exactly!
...or the regular MacBook for that matter. Since they have optical S/PDIF out, and seems to do little wrong earlier in the sound chain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1abrams /img/forum/go_quote.gif Only thing about a Macbook pro that might make it better is that it does have digital output builtin (must use a little toslink adapter).

Which is exactly what the OP ask for > "better on board digital out..."

No need to use TOSLINK adapter, just get the correct equipped cable.

 

[Kobra]

+2 for the MacBook Pro

Most PC laptops are made for "business sound" (PowerPoint presentations and the odd YouTube clip and thus no digital output port)

If you want/need a PC, get a descent USB DAC to go with it (a good and cheap one would be the Nuforce Icon Mobile, I happen to have one myself)

 

[Scott_Tarlow]

I have an Asus G50vt + Pico DAC/amp. Sounds of love.

 

[backtoreality15]

+3 on the MacBook Pro. You don't have to deal with FooBar2000 to get bit-perfect. I'm using optical-out and it works great.

 

[Mr.Duck]

Best laptop for audio is a dell mini 9 or mini 10. They are fanless which is important IMO. If you get a macbook you won't be able to use foobar!

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Duck /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you get a macbook you won't be able to use foobar!

That's also why I haven't changed to the MBP. Foobar is a freakin' awesome player.

 

[leveller1642]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Duck /img/forum/go_quote.gif Best laptop for audio is a dell mini 9 or mini 10. They are fanless which is important IMO. If you get a macbook you won't be able to use foobar!

I get quite a bit of upper frequency distortion on my Dell Mini 9 (running Mac OSX) making it unusable as a music player via the headphone out. It only has a 16GB SSD, so I don't care anyway.

I was wrong. I just tried another file and it seems quite ok, if a little forward in the treble.

 

[KingStyles]

I heard dell is the worst laptop for usb audio.
Computer Audio : Empirical Audio
I have a hp tablet (touchscreen) that works really well combined with jriver media center.