What Thinkpad had the best sound?

[excal32]

Curious about this. Anyone got an idea? I remember thinking my T42 had a great loud headphone jack, but it's been dead for a few years.

[Dekks]

Very subjective but my X32 sounds the best of mine, incidentally it has the same AD1981B rev2 chipset as the T42

[ajkula66]

A3x series, hands down.

Out of the modern ones...no idea.

[MikalE]

I can tell you it isn't the T520. Worst sound I've ever heard from a laptop.

On the other hand, the T510 is probably one of the best I've heard.

I don't know how they screwed that up from one series to the next but they managed.

[brchan]

A30/A31 series, followed by the X300/X301. Can't think of any others that come close.

[Dekks]

Are we talking from the speakers or from headphone output?

[600X]

A30 series reigns supreme. Nothing comes close to it. Both the DAC and speakers are some of the best on any notebook. The X301 has good internal speakers and an acceptable DAC. 600X and 385XD are not bad either.

From the Ultrabook era, the T460s and P50 have the best speakers, but both have atrocious DAC's.

[Whitieiii]

The headphone jack on my T440 has very low output and isn't loud enough for my liking

[Puppy]

Because EU knows better how to make the headphones output useless http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-09-1364_en.htm I use my 100W Hi-Fi amplifier to drive headphones which is the only option to get reasonable output level now. I am aware it might be confiscated by the Ministry of Silence in the future.

Current portable devices are hopeless, both ThinkPad 8 tablet and Lumia 950 phone headphones output is too weak, probably by purpose. The D-Class amplifier design would allow much better output level itself. You can buy external portable headphones amplifier that is not crippled by the EU crap.

As for the analog audio output quality (for Hi-Fi amplifier line-in input), R51 is excellent while X220 is terrible.

[TonyJZX]

The headphone jack on my T440 has very low output and isn't loud enough for my liking

Very common complaint for the last decade.

Speakers that are poor quality and not loud enough.

Poor internal DAC with not enough volume.

They are BARELY sufficient for std. office use. In every company I worked with that was a Lenovo shop, we often left small logitech speakers in the conference rooms etc. so that the laptops can broadcast to a small group.

I submit the T420/20s as an ok entrant due to the std. inclusion of Dolby Home (I hear this can be 'hacked' onto other units).

End of the day, buy an external dac.

Saying that I dont have too much issue with the T400-T420s and the X200/X300 etc. I've used. They work at a minimum level and I'm ok.

[kfzhu1229]

I love the speakers on my A3x computers too! T4x/R5x 15" sounds fine too (14.1" uses a different speaker module)
I just don't like how the newer speakers sound. My first "laptop" was a netbook and it sounds garbage! Then I switched to T43 and it sounds so much better! Now I have A30p and A31p and they all sound even better! It also helps that these laptops have a individual AUX jack that you can turn the laptop into portable speaker.
Also let's NOT forget about 770 and 600 series!!

[Dekks]

Because EU knows better how to make the headphones output useless http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-09-1364_en.htm I use my 100W Hi-Fi amplifier to drive headphones which is the only option to get reasonable output level now. I am aware it might be confiscated by the Ministry of Silence in the future.

i doubt you understand what your quoting but that applies to headphoneless mp3 players - which were very bad/annoying at one time.

[Saucey]

I haven't had a lot of later ThinkPads, but A3x does take the cake.
Although not as loud as some of these non thinkpad laptops with subwoofers, or brand labelled 'Beats' or 'Bang & Olfulson' devices, A3x still reigns.
I think the X300 is good, I remember the iSeries with the speakers on the lid decent, but still incomparable, even if you can get an W5x or T5xx with the Dolby Drivers installed, A3x still reigns supreme.

I do really want that ThinkPad CD player with the built in speakers on the side of it

[Puppy]

i doubt you understand what your quoting but that applies to headphoneless mp3 players - which were very bad/annoying at one time.

It applies to all mobile devices with headphone output. There are complains from iPhone users as well. It is unknown whether it applies to laptops as well and how it could be implemented to cripple EU models only since the desktop OS is less restrictive and BIOS and motherboard is still the same. It is different than digital camera market where EU models have modified firmware to prevent record video longer than 30 minutes

When compared the max output volume level of current Lumia phones and very old Nokia mobile the difference is noticeable. Now I am waiting for the electic kettle power consumption limit to 50W only Those EU idiots will do it soon or later.

Back to the topic, recent Notebookcheck laptop reviews have detailed Speakers column with frequency spectrum charts.

[kfzhu1229]

A3x is not only a CD player, but a DVD player if you get the Flexview version and Spotify player if you get a miniPCI card with antenna
EDIT: which I actually have a A31p lying around that I can part with (but with a little defect in the left speaker unfortunately)

[Whitieiii]

my T410 has a better output via headphone jack than my T440s but it still isn't good enough for my liking.... I just bought a Fiio K1 DAC and although not really powerful it is still miles better than both machine's DAC

[ZaZ]

Anyone got an idea?

I've seen a fair number of notebooks over years and only a couple DTR notebooks would I say had good sound. If you want it to sound good, invest in some good headphones or speakers if it's docked.

[thinkpadcollection]

i doubt you understand what your quoting but that applies to headphoneless mp3 players - which were very bad/annoying at one time.

It applies to all mobile devices with headphone output. There are complains from iPhone users as well. It is unknown whether it applies to laptops as well and how it could be implemented to cripple EU models only since the desktop OS is less restrictive and BIOS and motherboard is still the same. It is different than digital camera market where EU models have modified firmware to prevent record video longer than 30 minutes

When compared the max output volume level of current Lumia phones and very old Nokia mobile the difference is noticeable. Now I am waiting for the electic kettle power consumption limit to 50W only Those EU idiots will do it soon or later.

Back to the topic, recent Notebookcheck laptop reviews have detailed Speakers column with frequency spectrum charts.

Get manual 1 cup keurig machine or something that you pour a cupful of water in and boil, machine pumps out water in the end. They boil water in an minute even we are on 115VAC 15A. Unfortunately some who like big mug have to double brew coffee or get hot water twice for a tea. Yet lots better on electric bill since any kettles cannot do a cup safely and takes too long to boil.

PS: There are reuseable coffee strainers out there for reurig and others.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[Whitieiii]

I'll say my T440 has loudest speakers of my Thinkpads but my t410 is in middle where the T430 has the quietest speakers of all my Thinkpads

[UMPC2024]

I'll say my T440 has loudest speakers of my Thinkpads but my t410 is in middle where the T430 has the quietest speakers of all my Thinkpads

If you've got the Dolby Home Theater driver on Windows 7, it makes the T430 substantially louder than if it was just the regular driver.

[TPFanatic]

Z60m has very loud and clear speakers. I recall R500 also having good speakers.