[v0id]

I'm using an Asus P5GDC-V motherboard with CMI9880 integrated sound. Music (specifically trance, house and progressive) sounds pretty bad through headphones connected directly to the back port but half-decent through external speakers. The problem with headphone sound is the noticeable lack of bass and way too much treble. I've adjusted my equalizer settings to compensate but it's still pretty bad. Low-frequency distortion is also quite apparent.

Is this a problem afflicting integrated audio hardware in general (i.e. do I need to shell out a few $$$ for a dedicated card?), or are my settings awry?

 

[Jedi_Master]

Howdy v0id...

Don't really know where to start with this, but a lot of sound cards ( the CMI9880 which is a C-Media card/chip ) will use the MIC, Line In as outputs for sound...

Now where do you have your Headsets plugged in, is it the MIC or the Line in ?

Since it sounds half-decent through your ex. speakers I'd say that there are some sound software settings that you may have to play with to achieve your goal...

Not real sure of the software you are using to control the sound card...

 

[winbob]

Howdy v0id...

Don't really know where to start with this, but a lot of sound cards ( the CMI9880 which is a C-Media card/chip ) will use the MIC, Line In as outputs for sound...

While I can't comment on the particular 'card' that you have referenced, I'm having trouble understanding how you can get OUTPUT from INPUT sources?

No output voltages should appear at these sockets.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Howdy winbob...

With these cards (actually some of the older cards/chips will as well ), the software can switch these inputs to outputs, its's how you get 5:1 sound out of these cards ( no offense but how do you get 5:1 sound out of one ouptut on a card/chip )...

I know I've had/worked on some of these cards/chips the software can switch between output and input on the connectors...

All you have to do is to go into the software and tell it hey I want 5:1 sound, then the sound output will become the rear speakers, the Line In will become the front speakers and the Mic will become the big hooka bass speaker ( depending on your setup )...

 

[TRS-80 vet]

I'm using an Asus P5GDC-V motherboard with CMI9880 integrated sound. Music (specifically trance, house and progressive) sounds pretty bad through headphones connected directly to the back port but half-decent through external speakers. The problem with headphone sound is the noticeable lack of bass and way too much treble. I've adjusted my equalizer settings to compensate but it's still pretty bad. Low-frequency distortion is also quite apparent.

Is this a problem afflicting integrated audio hardware in general (i.e. do I need to shell out a few $$$ for a dedicated card?), or are my settings awry?

What you're hearing is the last link in sound output, after source, hardware, then output. If it's that bad, I think the place to start is the sound source. Is it a home-burned disc, or a store buy? If it's streamed stuff, what's the play speed, and the ISP connection quality? If it's recorded into the pc, was the record volume optimal? I think EQ settings should be neutral, and used for fine-tuning, after all other factors are in proper order...

 

[kenleekenlee]

What headphones are you using? This usually has a good deal to do with the sound you're hearing.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

All you have to do is to go into the software and tell it hey I want 5:1 sound, then the sound output will become the rear speakers, the Line In will become the front speakers and the Mic will become the big hooka bass speaker ( depending on your setup )...

This is really interesting!!!

How many TSG posters found in their pc sound properties this setting for 5.1 sound, not knowing exactly what they were doing, and then posted with non-recording mic problems???

 

[Jedi_Master]

This is really interesting!!!

How many TSG posters found in their pc sound properties this setting for 5.1 sound, not knowing exactly what they were doing, and then posted with non-recording mic problems???

If you look back through some of the archives there are some who actually did !

No offence, I'm just posting

Back to lurking...

 

[TRS-80 vet]

If you look back through some of the archives there are some who actually did !

No offence, I'm just posting

Back to lurking...

:up:

 

[winbob]

Jedi,
Thanks for the clarification. I only use 2.1 sound on my desktop....never tried to switch to 5.1, probably never will.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Jedi,
Thanks for the clarification. I only use 2.1 sound on my desktop....never tried to switch to 5.1, probably never will.

Good don't, if your sound card isn't one of those hight end hooka dollar cards, I don't think you're not going to notice the difference...

I've got a SIS audio, and with the reciver I've got, and the speaker setup I have, I have'nt realy noticed the difference ( I'd tell you if I did, trust me ) between the two ...

Which is what I think the OP should do, is to set the audio to 2:1 and use the speakers as an output to the headphones...

But don't really know what is going on with v0id, untill he/she posts back ...

 

[v0id]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I've been working on resolving CPU heat issues all day.

I usually use Gentoo Linux (kernel 2.6.17-r4, using ALSA 1.0.13 for the *nix heads) and since Asus doesn't officially support Linux, I'm using the primitive alsamixer configuration tool. The headphone problem isn't limited to Linux though. In Windows, the official driver does allow me to retask each of the 6 rear ports for different things, as Jedi_Master alluded to. I'm currently in Linux, so I'll try using each port and hopefully will figure out the best one.

I recall fiddling with the graphical configuration tool in Windows and setting it to 2:1, retasking the relevant port as well.

TRS-80 vet, I'm playing a 320 kbps mp3 sampled at 44.1 kHz. It sounds excellent when burned onto a CD-R and played in my discman (same headphones; bass is incredible as well, so the headphones aren't the problem).

Addendum: I'm using Panasonic RP-HG20 headphones, kenlee. Cheap but decent and durable.
Also, I take back the "half-decent" comment about external speakers. They sound good - can't really expect much more from $15 Labtec speakers ;-)

 

[v0id]

Eureka! Trying each port did the trick. Everything sounds great now.


Thanks for all the help folks!