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Topic: Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO (Read 11510 times) previous topic - next topic
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Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

So I was shopping at Best Buy today and I noticed an HP display in which it claimed it had redesigned what computer audio should be - they call it "Beats Audio" and they also claim it has "remastered" computer audio for what it should be. Ostensibly, they feel that it helps (dramatically) improve the sound (compared to your typical computer).

I didn't see any posts directed at this (maybe it's too new), but I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this new technology? Just thought I'd give people out there a heads up. I'm beginning to do my research on it. I'm sure it can't compare to something like the Transporter, and we all know that many claims of "improved" audio quality are just that. There consultants for this project were Dr. Dre and Producer Jimmy Iovine, I think I would have been more impressed if Dr. Nerd and some producer wizard had been in charge. Hopefully their idea of revolutionizing PC audio wasn't the equivalent of CD producers cranking up the db level.

Anyway, here is a review link (the only one I've found so far):

http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/hp-envy-15

Actually, here is a much better article:

http://computers.bhinsights.com/content/ea...und-system.html

and also a quote from the former:

"Where the Envy 15 really shines is its Beats audio system. HP took extra care to isolate the audio components on the motherboard to avoid the interference that can result in static on some PCs, and it also added an amplifier and DSP to boost and enhance the audio. The results on the built-in speakers are good—volume and clarity are above average. Plug the Envy 15 into external speakers or a good set of headphones, though, and you'll find the audio is nothing short of astounding for a notebook. We listened to a number of tunes by Dr. Dre on the Beats headphones that are available with the special Beats Edition of the Envy 15, and the clarity and punch of the tunes was superb. Even on a pair of stock iPod earbuds, the music sounded great. Hitting Fn-B to toggle off the Beats enhancements shows that the system is adding significant depth and additional bass to the audio."

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #1 –
Sounds like they are just putting better sound cards into regular PCs. I've used plenty of Dells that have horrific on board audio. I mean like clearly audible static and crackling.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #2 –
From everything I've now read, they do not provide any actual specs to justify their claim. It sounds like it just pumps up the bass (possibly artificially).

Looks like it is just a marketing tool. Here is the HP claim:

"upcoming Dr. Dre HP Envy laptop so freakin’ special. The most obvious difference is the all black matte casing with the glowing Dr. Dre “Beats” logo on the top…Yea. Hell Yea… but it doesn’t take a computer genius to see that difference. What will make the Dr. Dre x HP Envy so special in which they declare as the “Mac killer” "

Nevermind 

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #3 –
Quote from: danc6433 on
I'm sure it can't compare to something like the Transporter

Perhaps, perhaps not, though I'm pretty sure I could get something that converts digital to analog every bit as well as the Transporter for only a small fraction of the price or a Transporter.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #4 –
Quote from: greynol on
Quote from: danc6433 on
I'm sure it can't compare to something like the Transporter

Perhaps, perhaps not, though I'm pretty sure I could get something that converts digital to analog every bit as well as the Transporter for only a small fraction of the price or a Transporter.


Yeah, but would it have those cool VU meters 

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #5 –
I've heard of this HP Beats Audio-thing before. I have no experience with it but I would surmise that if it's like the full-size Beats headphones, that are demoed in Best Buy and Hot Topic, I'd personally pass. (They over-emphasize bass big-time. It would be fine, IMO, for certain types of music...but obnoxious for anything other than hip-hop or certain electronica.)

Emon: you are quite right about Dell's onboard audio. I don't even want to get into that. I guess I'd prefer anything to a lousy soundcard.

I'd be willing to have a listen. If you see one on display take a pair of "normal" headphones and a USB stick with like a portable F2K and some of your own music. I don't suspect it would be as "biased" as the headphones are. IDK.

I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop but I'll be fair: I think Dr. Dre is probably one of the best in his genre. I hear some of his "beats" and I can't help appreciating them for what they are.
The Loudness War is over. Now it's a hopeless occupation.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #6 –
Oh, puh-leeze....

They really used the term "remastered"?  As Slappy Squirrel from Animaniacs would say: "Just shoot me."

The best part:

Quote
Hitting Fn-B to toggle off the Beats enhancements shows that the system is adding significant depth and additional bass to the audio."

After running it through BSBabelfish: "We have different EQ than the other guys that's enabled by default."

Although I've never RMAA'd the onboard audio on my Mac Mini, I have no doubt it would do very well, and when plugging my Sony MDR-V6 headphones into the headphone/line out, it is dead silent.

As has been pointed out many times on this forum, onboard audio can have a myriad of problems...but it doesn't have to.  Competent engineering and manufacturing practices can produce excellent, noise-free audio from anything...you just have to know what the f*ck you're doing.
"Not sure what the question is, but the answer is probably no."

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #7 –
Quote from: mixminus1 on
As has been pointed out many times on this forum, onboard audio can have a myriad of problems...but it doesn't have to.  Competent engineering and manufacturing practices can produce excellent, noise-free audio from anything...you just have to know what the f*ck you're doing.

Correct! That was the expression I was searching. This HP laptop and it´s 'remastered' sounds a lot like a smokescreen to me. But hey, if it´s 'tuned' by Dr.Dre it must be good. Just imagine something other than Hiphop with it.    It really sounds like another version of the Creative 'Crystalizer'.

I have a new laptop (not even a costly one), a Lenovo SL510. It has a built-in sound solution of course and what can I say: it measures excellent for an integrated audio chip. Noisefloor is around -83dB, noise is unnoticable. I don´t hear anything from the HDD or the GPU, nothing. There are fairly low distortions. And it also sounds good - without a boomy bass. So one can build a cheap sound solution with good sound for little money and the HP isn´t needed.
marlene-d.blogspot.com
 

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #9 –
Quote from: danc6433 on
"Where the Envy 15 really shines is its Beats audio system. HP took extra care to isolate the audio components on the motherboard to avoid the interference that can result in static on some PCs, and it also added an amplifier and DSP to boost and enhance the audio. The results on the built-in speakers are good—volume and clarity are above average. Plug the Envy 15 into external speakers or a good set of headphones, though, and you'll find the audio is nothing short of astounding for a notebook. We listened to a number of tunes by Dr. Dre on the Beats headphones that are available with the special Beats Edition of the Envy 15, and the clarity and punch of the tunes was superb. Even on a pair of stock iPod earbuds, the music sounded great. Hitting Fn-B to toggle off the Beats enhancements shows that the system is adding significant depth and additional bass to the audio."


Envy is a trade name that  VIA uses on their audio chipsets. For example Envy 24 is a family of chips that are used on audio interfaces for pro audio.  I presume that this is just another case of branding and there are switches or controls that can render the audio section of this PC reasonably transparent.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #10 –
First in line on my list of candidates next laptop is an Envy 15 or 14, and the audio features is one considerable, um, consideration. I wonder what field is Dr. Dre's doctorate though. His "beats" headphones and "Beats" brand in general seem like typical overhyped pseudo-audiophile products, although more geared to the hip-hop crowd.

Anyway, I have an HP DV5 with pretty OK audio. I have no static whatsoever. The thing about the Envy's audio that does it for me is the integrated Dolby features, specifically Dolby Headphone. I really couldn't care less about the "Beats" brand, and if it made them cheaper, I'd opt out of it. But as said above, at least it's good that they're emphasizing component noise in their marketing, even if with audiophool pretensions.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Envy is a trade name that  VIA uses on their audio chipsets. For example Envy 24 is a family of chips that are used on audio interfaces for pro audio.  I presume that this is just another case of branding and there are switches or controls that can render the audio section of this PC reasonably transparent.

Envy is just the name of HP's fanciest laptop line. I don't think those two "Envys" are connected.

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Engelsstaub on
I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop but I'll be fair: I think Dr. Dre is probably one of the best in his genre. I hear some of his "beats" and I can't help appreciating them for what they are.

I like his music but his albums and tracks he has produced often suffer from horrendous clipping and over compression. To use his name to sell something that is supposed to sound good is funny.
daefeatures.co.uk

Hewlett Packard Beats Audio - new PC AUDIO

Reply #13 –
I recently bought an HP dv7 laptop. No, Beats Audio was not a factor in this purchasing decision.

As I expected, the Beats "Pro" software itself is fairly useless and gimmicky. (That is, unless you are into programming your own grossly distorted bass curves or whatnot.) I played around with it a bit, just to see what it is/does, but like most here, I run my audio through Foobar via WASAPI. Anyway, the real advantage of these Beats-equipped machines is that HP have done an excellent job in paying close attention to the hardware side of things: a very clean signal path, plus a surprisingly excellent onboard headphone amplifier. I'll give props to HP for putting some real effort into this. I certainly cannot say the same thing about Dell or the Apple machines I own.