Tune Up Your PC Sound System in Windows Vista

Does your PC sound compressed like an audio toy? Without bass, not cleared, you may used to it. Or does your multimedia speakers sound roaring and uncomfortable? There are actually some steps to enhance your audio system.

In order to have a good sound from your PC, a pair of external PC speakers is a must. The sound that comes out from the LCD monitor is flat and has no bass at all! But it can be used as a center speaker if your multimedia set does not have it.

Of course for the simple way to get a better sound is as simple as upgrading your speakers to a better, larger and expensive one. But, even if you upgrade your speakers, these few steps will still available and yet are needed to maximize the performance of your PC audio system.

So, no matter if you upgraded your speaker or not, the following steps will help you to enhance your system:

A) Adjust "Audio Manager" in Control Panel;
B) Enhance "SRS WOW Effects" in Window Media Player;
C) Tuning your speakers.

(A)"Audio Manager" in Control Panel

First of all, go to "Audio Manager" in Control Panel. Look for an icon labelled "Realtek HD Audio Manager" from "Hardware and Sound" (for Acer PC, yours maybe not called "Realtek" but should be similar as audio manager). Make sure you not clicking "Sound" it is not for this purpose. You can also find it via the "Classic View".

So now you are in the "Audio Manager". There are 4 sections "Speaker Configuration", "Sound Effects", "Room Correction" and "Default Format".

"Speaker Configuration" ~ if you haven't connected your speakers or maybe you just bought a set of multimedia speakers. You can follow the diagram on the right column "Analog", mouse over the round icon to get the correct connection. The center speaker and subwoofer may need to plug into the same output jack; you will need a 3.5mm stereo socket to connect both in one output.

Some multimedia speakers come with a set of speakers which passed by subwoofer that controlled volume by subwoofer. Here you may need to separately plug them into front output and sub output to get a better sound. You may need to get another set of front speakers with volume control. A pair of speakers without volume control will be dumb while others are live in the multimedia set.

So ensure your every pair of speakers with volume control in order to play them in individual outputs.

Then you can start to click on the drop down button to select a suitable set. If you just have a pair without any surround or sub, the "Stereo" is just nice. Therefore "Quadraphonic" is for 2 front and 2 rear speakers; "5.1 Speaker" for additional of subwoofer and centre speaker. If you do not have a complete set (eg. No subwoofer or rear speakers), just simply uncheck the box in "Optional Speakers" which did not have. Then, "7.1 Speaker" for a side pair add up.

Check the "Optional Speakers" for what you have and "Full-range Speakers" if your front and rear is a full range speaker. Not be afraid to try them and see whether sound distorted or improved. Then check the "Speaker Fill" for the virtual environment playback on surround system and check the "Enable Bass Management" for enhance bass signals with subwoofer.

Now run a sound test by clicking the "Audio Test" button with triangle icon to ensure your every piece of speakers connected at the correct position. If you can't hear the bass from your sub then you will need to check the "Swap Center / Subwoofer Output" box.

Next's the interesting parts, "Sound Effects". It includes "Environment" and "Equalizer". You can play some CDs and play around with all environments. Although there are a wide range of choices, you may perhaps use only one effect for convenience. So select the most suitable for your listening environment and taste. My favourite is "Carpeted Hallway" which comfortable for all playbacks. Do not checks the "Loudness Equalization" box if you are not using loudspeaker.

Then come down to the "Equalizer", this is a choice by your taste. You can follow the rule, "Pop" for pops, "Classic" for Classical music and "Jazz" for jazz and so on, or simply one selection which you feel suitable for all. I select "Live" for all as a convenience. There is a key selection for "Karaoke" tuning.

Now come to the "Room Correction" section. It looks technically hard for understand with the distance and "dB" signs, but it is simple. It is for adjust the distance between each speakers and you in order for a balancing signals received from each speakers. You can do it by check the "Enable Room Correction" box, and adjust each single speaker distance to you. You can increase or decrease the "Gain" for speaker which affected by the environment with an unbalanced sound level output.

You can skip this until you have tuning your speakers then back to adjust "Room Correction", it is your wish.

Finally come to the "Default Format" section in the "Audio Manager", if you are eager for the best quality playback on your CD or DVD, I recommend you select the "24Bits, 192000Hz (Studio Quality)" as a best choice. It may not be significant improved on PC speakers but maybe in a loudspeaker system. This will also enhanced the quality of ripping music to your media player from CD or DVD. As a music enthusiast, I always select the highest! But, for playback of the sound files ripped on your hard drive, you can't play with "24Bits, 192000Hz (Studio Quality)" or even "96000Hz". You can only play them in "24Bits, 48000Hz (Stereo Quality)" or lower (DVD or CD quality). Click the "Restore Defaults" to go back to the default setting.

There is a "Main Volume" with "L" and "R" on the top left, you may move the slider for all speakers on the right or left for a balancing sound level by that.

(B) "SRS WOW Effects" in Window Media Player

By doing this step, you will improved your PC audio with better bass and 3D sound stage.

Launch your Window Media Player and right click on the blank space of menu bar. Select "View" and "Enhancements". Select "SRS WOW Effects". You will see it on the bottom of the centre screen. You can see an underline texts "Turn on", clicks it to turn it on. Then you will need to change it to "Large speakers" if you are having a loudspeaker system. Use "Normal speakers" for PC speakers or multimedia.

Now you can play with the "TruBass" and the "WOW Effect". The bigger the value the effect is more powerful but not the necessary, you need to find a balancing point there.

"TruBass" is a bass enhancement and "WOW Effect" is the 3D sound effects. It is not the more the better; you need to determine the level acceptable from your speakers to prevent distortion and booming bass. You can adjust while playing for a nice balancing bass and 3D effect. You can tune your "TruBass" associated with the volume on the subwoofer.

The "WOW Effect" also linked with your "Environment" setting in "Audio Manager", but you can select your favourite setting in "Audio Manager" first then make a further improvement here for a better 3D sound stage.

(C) Tuning your speakers

The last step is to tune your speakers, if you have a "Treble" and "Bass" buttons on the speaker panel, you can tuned them to the maximum to push up the high frequency and lowest the bass. You may get more details on the midrange sound, especially for the vocals in loudspeakers.

The next is the position of the speakers; ensure your speakers place at the correct position, just at the same distance on your left and right, for the front and rear. The sub should put on the floor. The rear can be at your back or further backwards from the front speakers.

If you are limited by the space and your speakers are not equally positioned, then you will need to adjust them from the "Audio Manager" "Room Correction" as mentioned above.

Try to toe-in a little angle to facing you for all speakers, and if the bass ports of the front set are at the back panel, you probably can't let them too near the wall. This will prevent a booming bass especially for loudspeakers.

Conclusion

Try a few albums with quality high pitch, good bass, stunning vocals and various instruments to test your system. It is no harm to check and uncheck all the boxes in "Audio Manager" to compare and make your own decision for the best result. The better result is a balancing sound with no booming bass and comfortable high frequency, and you can hear more details on your favourite music.

If your speakers came with a removable dust cover, you should remove it when you are listening. Another tip for better sound is does not put any things like books on your subwoofer and speakers. You will hear the difference if you take out those things.

If you found that some track with a sissy high tune or booming bass while other tracks not, you can make a minor adjustment by moving the slider in the equalizer at the Media Player. Same as the channel for adjust "SRS WOW Effects" look for "Graphic Equalizer". Pull down the 16 KHz slider a bit lower to reduce the sound level of high tune or adjust bass at 31Hz slider by same method. Ensured the centre round box at the left is selected for moving sliders together in a loose group.

I suggest do this final tuning here instead adjust from speaker or the equalizer from the "Audio Manager". This is because at Media Player, it allows a smooth adjustment. You can see the nearest frequencies follow down or up by a curve for a smooth tone.

Now you can sit back and relax, enjoy your favourite music.

(Original copy published on Ciao.co.uk)