SoundMAX tuning tool boosts notebook audio quality

Posted on Saturday, January 12 2008 @ 2:21 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Geoff from The Tech Report heard a demo of the SoundMAX System Tuning tool at CES 2008 and was quite impressed with the results. He writes the tool was capable of dramatically improving the sound quality of integrated speakers like those found on notebooks:
We sat in on a SoundMAX tuning tool demo at CES and came away impressed with the results it can achieve. Integrated speakers that sounded tinny in their standard configurations gained warmth and depth after just a few variables were tweaked. Improved bass was achieved without distorting or otherwise muffling vocals or the upper range of the spectrum, as well. The tuning tool can't work miracles—there's only so much one can squeeze from tiny integrated speakers—but the improvement in overall sound quality was striking.

The SoundMAX tuning tool is only being released to OEMs, so end users won't be able to fiddle with it on their own. That's unfortunate, but Sonic Focus explains that the level of control available makes it possible to really screw up your system's audio. If enough OEMs using Analog Devices codec chips take advantage of the tool, we could see a marked improvement in laptop and integrated speaker audio quality.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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