How have laptop audio solutions evolved?

[ChoppedBroccoli]

After being dead set on buying a desktop, I am now considering buying a laptop for college. But after plugging my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system into my old Toshiba Satellite notebook, I was disgusted with the sound quality (no surprise really, its an old laptop). I listen to a lot of music and sound quality from my computer is a must (especially with terribly accurate Grado headphones and Klipsch speakers, which both seem to highlight any bad quality from input sources). The soundblaster AWE64 card in my PII desktop, despite being ancient in terms of desktop audio, made my Klipsch system sound golden after I tweaked with the EQ in winamp and my DFX plugin settings...but the audio quality from my Toshiba laptop on the other hand, made my Klipsch system sound like junk...

My question is, how have audio solutions for mobile laptops changed (hopefully for the better )?

For example, using my Grado headphones with my Toshiba Satellite I can hear faint but noticeable sounds of the CD spinning, etc. There is a horrible hiss, very flat sound reproduction, and a arrow freq. response.

Do mobile audio solutions come even close to desktop audio solutions in terms of sound quality?
Do they eat up a lot of processing power?
Are they able to create 3D sound and spacial/ambience effects effectively?
What solutions are there for multichannel/dvd playback?

I am currently looking at Dell, Compaq and Toshiba laptops.

Thanks in advance!

 

[VBboy]

One word for you, my friend: Extigy

 

[MWink]

I consider sound to be the biggest down side to todays laptops. I think most of them use the integrated audio in the chipset. My Inspiron 8200 has Crystal Audio sound and it is pretty bad. I had gotten really used to my TB Santa Cruz.

This chip does have a little 3D (I think) but nothing like EAX. My biggest complaint is it does not support bass/treble adjustment. I was able to use the "Dee" plug-in for Winamp to make it a little better (actually quite a bit, though still not perfect).

If you really play with the integrated sound you can get it to sound pretty good (IMO), but it will never sound like a good desktop sound card (unless you buy a real sound card for it). There is also the Extigy but I have not tried it and I have heard some not so good things about it.

 

[VBboy]

MWink, can't you just use the WinAmp's or Media Player's equalizer to adjust the bass/trebble? It works pretty well. And besides, what kind of sound can you expect from those tiny, nearly flat speakers? Look at the size of a Klipsch speaker, and look at what you have inside the laptop. It's mostly the speaker's, not the sound card's, fault.

If you really need good sound, check out reviews of the Extigy.
I wouldn't expect very good sound from a laptop, just like you couldn't expect good 3d a year ago.

 

[MWink]

can't you just use the WinAmp's or Media Player's equalizer to adjust the bass/trebble? It works pretty well

That's what I do but it still does not work like a sound card that supports bass/treble adjustment. When I increase the bass/treble using the software eq's the sound gets distorted.

And besides, what kind of sound can you expect from those tiny, nearly flat speakers? Look at the size of a Klipsch speaker, and look at what you have inside the laptop. It's mostly the speaker's, not the sound card's, fault.

Nope. I never use the laptops built-in speakers. They ARE horrible. I use either external speakers or headphones (the same ones I used to use with my desktop). So, it IS the sound cards fault.

just like you couldn't expect good 3d a year ago.

You could get good 3D on a laptop a year ago. You couldn't get good 3D on a laptop 2 years ago.

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

Just to clarify, I was planning on using my Klipsch 2.1 with my laptop (not the laptop speakers).

I have been reading a lot about the Extigy and despite its good sound quality, it seems its biggest downfall is its usb connection...any ideas on alternatives?