How do I improve my audio output from my Dell Vista Home Premium MCE PC?

[ASK]

Currently I have the following configuration:

Dell Dimension 9150
(with Intel Viiv Technology)
Processor: Intel Pentium D 950 Dual Core (3.4GHz 2x2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
- 945P Chipset
Memory: 4GB NECC Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz SDRAM
Video: 512MB PCIe x16 ATI Radeon X1900 XTX w/TV OUT and DVI
Key/Mouse: Dell Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
- Running Logitech bluetooth Vista drivers
LCD Monitor: Dell Flat panel 2407WFP
Hard Disk: 500GB SATA 3.0GB/s with Native Command Queuing
DVD Drive #1: 16X Max DVD-ROM Drive
DVD Drive #2: 16X DVD+/-RW with Dual Layer Write Capabilities
Tuner card: 1 x Hauppauge NovaT 500 Dual Tuner card
O.S. Windows Vista Home Premium (upgrade from the Dell supplied XP MCE)
Audio (on Dell motherboard): SigmaTel (driver: 6.10.0.5343 date: 12/01/2007)
Speakers (connected via standard 3 wire plugs): Logitech Z-5500 Digital

My main issue (apart from the odd audio error appearing in Vista MCE when playing music) is the sound quality.

As you can see from the above configuration I have a SigmaTel (on the Dell motherboard) audio (which supports 5.1 surround sound). I have tested from Vista to check if all speakers are working via Playback Devices and all 4 speakers and the SubWoofer work.

The problem begins when I simply play an MP3 from MCE or play SD TV, since all I hear
is sound from the main Left and Right speakers. I have checked my MCE speaker setup and that is also setup to 5.1 surround.

This maybe correct, since when I play channel 7 HD TV and they have a HD program playing I get 5.1 surround sound. Also a DVD movie that supports 5.1 surround sound also works as expected.

Now for my main issue, the sound playback quality.
1) For stereo playback (eg. SD TV) the spoken audio is very weak, however the music playback is very good.
2) For 5.1 surround sound (eg. HD TV and DVD 5.1) also the Music seems very strong and clear whereas the spoken voices are soft and dull.

My Logitech speaker control is set to Input: Direct Effect: 6 ch Direct. I have tried using some of the Dolby Music or Movie settings but that seems to make the output gain less overall and does not increase the spoken voice out.

Does anyone have any advice as to how to improve my audio quality coming out?

Some questions:
Q1) Would the audio output improve if I installed a new sound card? Eg. one of the latest Creative labs cards? Once the Vista drivers are sorted for these?
Q2) If I ran either an optical connection or COAX (which is supported by my Logitech speakers) would that help?
Q3) I noticed that even the latest and greatest Creative labs audio cards would need another device to be connected on the back of their cards to enable an optical connection. Has anyone tried this and is this approach worthwhile?

I happy to experiment in order to improve my system, however any advice would be great.



Andrew (Fairfield, VIC)

[Adster01]

Nice setup you have there!

Pretty similar to mine, except I'm using the X-Fi Extreme Music. This card has the option of using CMSS which expands your stereo output to surround. Apart from that, your audio system sounds like it is doing what it is meant to do.

[vlad]

Do you have SPDIF out (9200 has) - if you have than get optical/coaxial cable and connect your speakers with it.
If not than get an audio card witch does.
You can try to go to Control Panel=>Sound and configure analogue sound . Any SigmaTel applets in Control Panel?

[ontik]

Originally Posted by ASK

As you can see from the above configuration I have a SigmaTel (on the Dell motherboard) audio (which supports 5.1 surround sound). I have tested from Vista to check if all speakers are working via Playback Devices and all 4 speakers and the SubWoofer work.

4 speakers or 5? (not including sub.)

The problem begins when I simply play an MP3 from MCE or play SD TV, since all I hear
is sound from the main Left and Right speakers. I have checked my MCE speaker setup and that is also setup to 5.1 surround.

This maybe correct, since when I play channel 7 HD TV and they have a HD program playing I get 5.1 surround sound. Also a DVD movie that supports 5.1 surround sound also works as expected.

That is correct, that is what it should be doing. mp3s and SD TV really only contain a stero signal, so your PC cannot fabricate a surround signal from a stereo one (well, not very well anyway. I reckon surround 'effects' suck personally)

Now for my main issue, the sound playback quality.
1) For stereo playback (eg. SD TV) the spoken audio is very weak, however the music playback is very good.

Having a Logitech type speaker setup may cause you limitations in this context because it will be up to the capabilities of your soundcard software (or playback formats provided by your amp/speakers) as to how you can configure your setup. I use an external amp that allows me to apply what is called Dolby 3 Stereo. (Not a listed format for your Z-5500s I'm afraid) What this does it extract voice range frequencies from a stereo signal and channels them to the center speaker (and gives it a bit of oomph using a technique called compression) leaving the remaining sounds to be played back via the front L&R. This stops my grunty, bassy fronts from drowning voices.

Having onboard though won't give you much control so it will be up to your speaker kit.

2) For 5.1 surround sound (eg. HD TV and DVD 5.1) also the Music seems very strong and clear whereas the spoken voices are soft and dull.

Work with the volume and equalization settings offered by your Z-5500 particularly your center channel (push the volume up)

My Logitech speaker control is set to Input: Direct Effect: 6 ch Direct. I have tried using some of the Dolby Music or Movie settings but that seems to make the output gain less overall and does not increase the spoken voice out.

Does anyone have any advice as to how to improve my audio quality coming out?

Your Z5500s should have the ability to automatically change to the required format dependant upon the signal they are receiving. Do this if possible and see if you can sort of save your settings for each format.

Some questions:
Q1) Would the audio output improve if I installed a new sound card? Eg. one of the latest Creative labs cards? Once the Vista drivers are sorted for these?
Q2) If I ran either an optical connection or COAX (which is supported by my Logitech speakers) would that help?
Q3) I noticed that even the latest and greatest Creative labs audio cards would need another device to be connected on the back of their cards to enable an optical connection. Has anyone tried this and is this approach worthwhile?

I happy to experiment in order to improve my system, however any advice would be great.



Andrew (Fairfield, VIC)

Firstly, all audio card companies are real slow in bringing out drivers for new OSs. Secondly you don't have to spend the earth to get optical out, many CL cards have (even my mobo has it onboard!) but coax will do just fine. For the time being, switch to SPDIF output over coax. If your Z5500s can (as I suspect) auto switch based on signal, you will need to be running SPDIF because SPDIF carries more data than just audio signal so make this your first step.

I've just been checking the Logitech site and from what I can tell, those speakers are highly configurable. Plug in your SPDIF then go through the following article and see how you get on. Let us know how you go.

http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/...i=&p_topview=1


ontiK

[ASK]

Thanks for all your replies.....Food for thought indeed.

Based on all your comments I would be wise to look into using SPDIF out, however I do not think my Dell Dimension 9150 has a SPDIF out (even though it uses the Sigmatel Audio on board).

What would it look like and where would it be located, as I cannot see anything near my 3 audio out jacks.

If there is no SPDIF out, then which Sound Card should I go for? Creative Labs seem to require an extra box to enable SPDIF? Any comments would help.

Thanks,

Andrew

[ontik]

SPDIF will look like either an RCA Jack, Headphone jack on some instances or and optic fibre output. If you don't have any of these, then it may jaust be the case that you need an output plate because it has been a long time since I have seen a mobo that doesn't have and SPDIF connector on the actual deck inside the box.

Take a decent res. pic of the back of your box and post it up. I'll see if I can point it out, or tell you if its not there.


ontiK.

[traumatyzd]

ok are you able to convert the spif connector on board to rca or anything else?

[bodogbodog]

Originally Posted by ASK

Currently I have the following configuration:

Audio (on Dell motherboard): SigmaTel (driver: 6.10.0.5343 date: 12/01/2007)

My main issue (apart from the odd audio error appearing in Vista MCE when playing music) is the sound quality.

As you can see from the above configuration I have a SigmaTel (on the Dell motherboard) audio (which supports 5.1 surround sound). I have tested from Vista to check if all speakers are working via Playback Devices and all 4 speakers and the SubWoofer work.

The problem begins when I simply play an MP3 from MCE or play SD TV, since all I hear
is sound from the main Left and Right speakers. I have checked my MCE speaker setup and that is also setup to 5.1 surround.

Andrew

Have a look at http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...d=25129#M25129 - there is an issue with the latest Sigmatel Drivers and a setting which is described here - it might help - here's hoping.