The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M14x R2 Waves MaxxAudio

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by ali_ale, May 27, 2012.

  1. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi guys, I was thinking of upgrading my M14XR1 to R2 so was wondering hows the sound like on the R2 and if it has the awesome Waves MaxxAudio. Please can someone post the pictures of the audio panel and also the creative recon3di sound panel :)
     
    ali_ale, May 27, 2012
    #1
  2. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    170 view and still no reply
     
    ali_ale, May 29, 2012
    #2
  3. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    I thought the only difference between an R1 and R2 is the graphic and CPU chipset?
     
    Mobius 1, May 29, 2012
    #3
  4. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    No, the sounds different too......was hoping someone with an R2 can put some light on it
     
    ali_ale, May 29, 2012
    #4
  5. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Will do it for you when I get home , unless someone did.
     
    iPhantomhives, May 29, 2012
    #5
  6. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Hope this helps.
     

    Attached Files:

    • THX.png
      THX.png
      File size:
      339.1 KB
      Views:
      905
    • THX2.png
      THX2.png
      File size:
      313 KB
      Views:
      316
    iPhantomhives, May 29, 2012
    #6
  7. Nivaku

    Nivaku Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    128
    Messages:
    689
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Wait im confused, the speaker on the R1 differ from R2? Where's the sub-woofer located also?
     
    Nivaku, May 29, 2012
    #7
  8. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    hmmmm......seems different from the r1
     
    ali_ale, May 30, 2012
    #8
  9. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    So its a new software but still the same exact speakers. Im sure you could just download Maxx audio from Dells support site. Im sure itd be compatible.
     
    Gearsguy, May 30, 2012
    #9
  10. Lancer91

    Lancer91 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    249
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    In my opinion, the new software recon3di is far superior to waves. It actually has a setting (for FPS games) to increase the surround sensitivity so you can better hear the enemies behind you or in your perepherals. it supports 2.1. The quality of the output is just much better. Also it has some easy software to support the input jacks so with a simple click you can setup the inputs (headphone, mic, line in, etc) and it only takes two seconds. So if you want to just quickly LINE IN your android mp3 device or whatever takes just a few seconds. (to clarify) you have 3 input jacks on the R2 just like the R1. With this machine (and the recon software) you can just click how you want the jacks setup. (switch from mic to input or mic to headphone)
     
    Lancer91, May 30, 2012
    #10
  11. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I hope Maxx works on the R2 coz sound blaster software on my M14xR1 was crap
     
    ali_ale, May 31, 2012
    #11
  12. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Can the drivers from creative website be installed in place of the drivers provided by dell?
     
    ali_ale, Aug 21, 2012
    #12
  13. salanos

    salanos Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The R2 is dramatically improved over the M14xR1's audio.
    The speakers are the same Klipsch designed 2.1 system, but the sound chip is no longer a half-dweched RealTek integrated chip that simply has a software overlay for this ' WavesMaxx' you mention. It is a honest to the lords SoundBlaster Recon3Di, so its audio output is much better. The Recon3Di control panel also has a fair amount of controls available.

    In plainer speak, the R2 uses a far better Creative audio chip, instead of a RealTek chip with some software in the R1. No, the R2's drivers are incompatible with the R1's.
     
    salanos, Aug 21, 2012
    #13
  14. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    You are right, the audio quality is way better on the R2.........my only concern is that i am thinking of installing windows 8 and dell does not yet officially has the drivers for it so is it possible to use the drivers for the recon3d from creative's website. The drivers from creative should work if the R2 has the recon3d chip but i am not sure if its a software solution like the sound blaster xi-fi on the R1 or it has the actual sound blaster hardware
     
    ali_ale, Aug 21, 2012
    #14
  15. Scharfschutzen

    Scharfschutzen Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    to be honest the r2 has some of the best sounding audio i have ever heard on a laptop and I am damn happy with it. And love the recon3Di software.
     
    Scharfschutzen, Aug 21, 2012
    #15
  16. the_psychologist

    the_psychologist Closed Duplicate Account

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    From an audio (semi)buff standpoint, I think the software is only good when you're using the laptop speakers. If you switch to headphones, the sound is kind of overdriven and "hot" to my ears. I disable the sw if I'm using headphones or an outboard audio system. The r1 speakers sounded great w/o the software running, whereas the r2 speakers sound crap w/o the software. But if the base hardware is superior, then that makes me happy. Still no digital output, though...
     
    the_psychologist, Aug 22, 2012
    #16
  17. salanos

    salanos Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I personally disable all enhancements when using an audio-out (although it depends on the quality of the external speakers/headphones) on my R2, but my point is that the quality of the underlying hardware and chips is far better than that of the R1.
    And I do appreciate the wide functionality of enhancements available on the Recon3Di panel, which makes it easier to tune the external speakers to my taste (which do sound mediocre without TruStudio enhancements, yes)
     
    salanos, Aug 22, 2012
    #17