Hello, I will be very straight forward. My laptops audio sounds slightly worse on Linux (by default). Why? It used dts audio processing on windows. There is something similar on Linux called easyeffects which I have tried. It works and improves audio significantly. But it uses a lot of cpu. So, is there a way to directly make audio better through pipewire. My speakers are Sonic Master and my laptop is Asus vivobook 14 e410ka_ew103_ws.
(Analoc speakers) and (I tried adding virtual surround sound but it didn’t work).
Im not experienced around Linux Sound stuff.
But i love high quality sound and i still have good ears and sound quality was always pretty good with my creative dedicated sound card and showed no difference between Windows and Linux.
Audio quality is always likely to seem better on Windows because it has built-in audio processing and users do not usually turn processing off to be able to make an accurate comparison to Linux
Easyeffects is a wrapper for pro-audio effects plugins with simplified controls for non-pro users JamesDSP has built-in audio effects rather than relying on external plugins, that might reduce the CPU load, but any additional audio processing will load the CPU
Sonic Master is the in-house brand name for Asus speakers
Asus also use ICE Power instead of advising the actual audio codec
Specifications state there is ‘built-in speaker’ but no power-rating mentioned
CPU is either Celeron(R) N4500 @ 1.10GHz or Pentium(R) Silver N6000 @ 1.10GHz
Have you checked audio quality with headphones or eternal speakers? if the onboard audio codec is ok without using speakers you could get external speakers with a 3.5mm jack. If it is not ok, USB speakers or a DAC
Audio quality is usually better for desktop systems with external speakers even with onboard audio codecs. Your card also has built-in DSP in ALSA that does not load the CPU
easyeffects requires pipewire and replaces pulseffects
It would be nice to have a description (as best as you can) as to how the audio differs. Lots of things can affect it.
I do have an example though, from some time back, which you won’t be able to access directly (yet) as it’s in the Member Hub, so I’ll post an excerpt here:
Thread title: [Audio improvements in a (quite) recent update, via wired connection. PulseAudio. Anyone else noticed?]
Opening post in that thread
I’m referring mainly to the deep bass response, sub 35Hz or so right down to the limits of my hearing (approx 17Hz) and crossing over well into feelable territory. Is this just me? (… I know it’s not, as my housemate has noticed as well, plus likely the neighbours). It’s accurate, precise, coherent and sounds bloody fantastic. It wasn’t like this a few months ago and I haven’t done anything to the stereo kit other than the usual volume adjustments; tone controls are bypassed.
I’m loving it, by the way, if you hadn’t already guessed that one.
Not noticed any difference with the headphones; I think the lower limit with those is about 20Hz & I use those via Bluetooth. Doqaus Care 1 which actually are a bit bass-heavy anyway within the response range.
Regarding PulseAudio vs. Pipewire: I can not tell the difference, and that is through decent audio equipment.
Though, I have no experience with audio from any Windows after 7, so I can’t compare with that; I don’t have a working Windows installation and would need to use the same hardware for a direct comparison anyway.
Most of the audio hardware is not new technology, just the same old technology but cheaper, smaller and lower power
Cortana microphones and Sound Open Firmware is new, but analog I/O is still using legacy driver snd_hda_intel under the hood
Linux LADSPA DSP plugins are almost 20 years old
OP would probably get better information from youtube videos made by audio engineers and producers than Linux users
I would suggest turn off all effects except the graphic equaliser and learn how to use that tool first
OP is not using decent audio equipment. Hardware would be ok for VOIP calls, but the bass reproduction on speakers would be negligible or non-existant - Hofmann’s Iron Law
If OP was using PulseAudio, increasing default sample-rate from 44100 Hz to 48000 Hz might improve audio quality for headphones. But PipeWire uses 48000 Hz by default
Built-in speakers aren’t exactly HiFi, even those Harman-Kardon ones in one of my netbooks. The ones in this T440 aren’t bad, but again, not HiFi.
If you’re referring to limited volume, you can override the maximum, at least in KDE. Up to 150%. But beware this can also cause clipping / distortion.
My speaker is alright. But easyeffects runs in the background and eats up a lot of cpu. Like 10/400%. It is bad. Easyeffects, like it’s name is an easy fix at the cost of high gpu usage.
Thinkpad T and X series were considered the best laptops for audio production because:
The trackpoint
Lenovo made docks for the studio and extra battery packs for mobile use
The keyboard could handle someone spilling a drink on the keyboard
T440 has miniature loudspeakers that are a lot larger than sub-miniature speakers fitted on modern laptops and a large rear enclosure, for a laptop Notebookcheck - Lenovo ThinkPad T440 20B6005YGE
I suggest you use htop and pw-top to get data about easyeffects and CPU
Turn off the spectrum analyzer
Turn off any plugins for audio input from microphone
Then turn off plugins for audio output one-by-one and see how much the load reduces
OP states that audio was slightly worse when using easyeffects compared to using software designed (and possibly configured) by a major audio company, so it might be possible to get easyeffects configured to have good sound without too much CPU load
Can you give the output of command amixer? Also please reformat properly post #12 by editing it, selecting all your terminal output text and clicking the </> button so it is readable. Do the same if you post the output of amixer in reply.
