the1trujok3r Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Is there a special way to enable the subwoofer? I don't seem to hear anything from it and adjusting the bass has 0 effect in the IDT panel.The sound seems very hollow as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenxowens792 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 You have to...1. Right click on your speaker in the taskbar2. Choose playback devices3. Right click on speakers4. Choose configure speakers5. choose 5.1 (next)6. Deselect center and rear.. make sure subwoofer is selected.7. select full range if desired.8. finish and applygood question BTW. I had the same one myself last week.Best Wishes,StevenX 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1trujok3r Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 I did that and my sound is worse as doing do disables the Waves Audio as it says 6 channel is enabled and it will not allow the waves maxx settings to be turned on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenxowens792 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Waves only works on stereo (not 2.1). So its a one or the other deal. Sorry man... Edited May 20, 2011 by Stevenxowens792 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1trujok3r Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 So did you notice a decrease in volume with the 5.1 option as well? Do you have an M18x for comparison? I've heard more than just me complaining in other forums about the hollow sounding audio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Brian Posted May 20, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 20, 2011 Its hollow for me too and the bass adjustment doesn't seem to do much if anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw86 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Often in every laptop sub woofer combo I've heard they are tiny and punchy for a 1'' or less speaker. I would never complain. It takes a rather decent size speaker and power to create bass at 120Hz and below. These things sometimes reach close to that and its amazing... they will never be very strong sounding but will give a nice low tone to sound better than any set of "full range" speakers in a laptop because its not very big and therefore can't produce the average frequencies we consider to be bass but the fact that its a sub woofer enhances the other speakers. Plug in to a stereo and indulge if your home and gaming.Edit: If you have a equalizer like in the IDT control panel you can raise 60Hz 120Hz 240Hz maybe 500Hz and you'd hear what the sub woofer can do if it is going to be noticeable at all. Edited May 20, 2011 by mw86 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Brian Posted May 20, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 20, 2011 I wonder if that soundblaster software would enable subwoofer adjustments? So far IDT + windows = fail for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw86 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'll be picking it up with mine I'd let you know what I think... maybe someone here already as it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1trujok3r Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Well at least it's not just me that hears the hollow sound. I'm not expecting miracles here but having no adjustment on the sub is really bad. I have a studio xps 16 with a sub on it and i can definately hear a difference when i adjust the bass. It's not thumping bass by any means nor would I expect it to be but I would hope that adjusting the sub would give a more fuller sound at least boosting midrange...but I hear nothing on the m18x and on my studio there is definately a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Michael Posted May 22, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 22, 2011 Isn't that Creative soundblaster thing a software only ? If so why can't those that didn't purchase it with the M18x run it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1trujok3r Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 I'm not sure. I looked around the web and there seems tons of info on running the software on RealTek chipsets but absolutely nothing with running it on IDT. I know part of the MB xfi stuff is licensed but the other stuff is not so you would think that the IDT stuff would be as readily available as the RealTek info but it's not. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Brian Posted May 23, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 23, 2011 T1TJ: I'd recommend going into the windows sound properties and changing the playback from 16 bit (default) to 24 bit 44.1k, it will substantially increase the quality of sound. Also, try configuring the IDT equalizer, it helps a lot with bass. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Michael Posted May 23, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 23, 2011 so to sum up - sound system sucks ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unreal25 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 LOL.... I guess if one wants a good screen and good sound system, one should go with Dell XPS. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bifnewman Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 LOL.... I guess if one wants a good screen and good sound system, one should go with Dell XPS. that's a shame, really... i think alienware should have the best all-around components(including sound system and screen) because of the branding and advertisements they put on it... im not talking about the m18x in particular, just alienware in general... i actually love the m18x screen from the look of the pictures, but the only thing i can compare it to is my samsung syncmaster 23" 1080p monitor..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenxowens792 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 @Brian - what type of performance hit going from 16 to 24bit sound? I know 1 percent of an I7 doesn't sound like much but on heavy games it can lead to decreased frame rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Brian Posted May 23, 2011 Founder Share Posted May 23, 2011 @Brian - what type of performance hit going from 16 to 24bit sound? I know 1 percent of an I7 doesn't sound like much but on heavy games it can lead to decreased frame rates.Haven't measured it yet but I don't think I took any hit or if there was one, I didn't notice it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw86 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 T1TJ: I'd recommend going into the windows sound properties and changing the playback from 16 bit (default) to 24 bit 44.1k, it will substantially increase the quality of sound. Also, try configuring the IDT equalizer, it helps a lot with bass.Great Idea I like using higher rates on my audio too especially if hooked to an external stereo! To give a heads up certain older games can crash is not set to the audio rate they like and prefer usually cd-dvd rate 16bit 44khz. But if all your games launch fine don't worry about it. Or if gameplay is choppy change it back too. Saw the videogame caused issue at starting the game when in different sound rate. Aliens Versus Predator newest version had choppy gameplay at higher sound rate.... this was on my M17x R2. Like I said if you experience no probs don't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanXbix Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I have the sound blaster software with mine and it just adds more fancy surround sound algorithms to the IDT control panel. To me the sound is very shallow but have yet to play arround with it fully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widezu69 Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 On the M17x R3, the sound is really hollow by default. I don't know whether the IDT control panel is the same on the M18x but I leave the EQ at default (flat) but I use the WavesMaXX tweaks. Check Attachments Most other settings make the sound feel like it's passed through a filter but with these, it sounds fairly neutral will good bass and a general better hearing experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanXbix Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I have the Soundblaster Software which just adds thing to the IDT control panel But the best fix for this is in the windows sound setting right click on Speakers/Headphones a new dialog box opens and goto enhancements and turn on Loundness Equalization Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widezu69 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Yep loudness EQ is good. Especially if your speakers seem too quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts