Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version


  1. Posts : 87
    Windows 10 home
       #2111

    Hello everyone, first post here. I normally get my drivers from my asus support page for the Z370 motherboards. I have the supreme fx s1220 codec (basically alc 1220 as I understand it, but could have that twisted)

    Im currently running this version "6.0.1.8648 WHQL" with nahimic integration.

    Here are a couple of simple questions:
    1.) Why is it that there are new realtek HDA/UAD drivers at seemingly a breakneck pace? I see drivers released sometimes what appears twice in the same week. Are the sound advancements that huge? Are you all noticing a difference that much between versions?

    2.) Whats the consensus on 8648? I didn't hear a difference. The only thing I was hearing on a prior version was while playing battlefield, I would get this weird sort of stuttering/skipping/grinding sound (very quiet) while the game would transition from menu into spawn. Hard to explain, maybe others know what I refer to? I considered going to the generic UAD version without nahimic but then I cant use the equalizer within realtek control panel.

    I have an external dac (modi 3) and amp (jds atom) for headphone listening to FLAC stuff, and I havent heard appreciable gains between recent versions that I can recall. Anyway...interested to have the discussion. thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,311
    Wndows 10 Pro x64 release preview channel
       #2112

    Guitarmageddon said:
    Hello everyone, first post here. I normally get my drivers from my asus support page for the Z370 motherboards. I have the supreme fx s1220 codec (basically alc 1220 as I understand it, but could have that twisted)

    Im currently running this version "6.0.1.8648 WHQL" with nahimic integration.

    Here are a couple of simple questions:
    1.) Why is it that there are new realtek HDA/UAD drivers at seemingly a breakneck pace? I see drivers released sometimes what appears twice in the same week. Are the sound advancements that huge? Are you all noticing a difference that much between versions?

    2.) Whats the consensus on 8648? I didn't hear a difference. The only thing I was hearing on a prior version was while playing battlefield, I would get this weird sort of stuttering/skipping/grinding sound (very quiet) while the game would transition from menu into spawn. Hard to explain, maybe others know what I refer to? I considered going to the generic UAD version without nahimic but then I cant use the equalizer within realtek control panel.

    I have an external dac (modi 3) and amp (jds atom) for headphone listening to FLAC stuff, and I havent heard appreciable gains between recent versions that I can recall. Anyway...interested to have the discussion. thanks
    Hi and welcome to tenforums Guitarmageddon.
    In answer to your first question, the release frequency of Realtek audio drivers is much slower than in the past. Several years ago it was not unusual to get 3 or 4 new releases a week but I think it's a lot more reasonable now. The problem is Realtek don't seem to be interested in releasing change logs so it's difficult to know what's been changed. Personally I do notice changes in the sound but I only listen to music through speakers.
    For gaming I use a Corsair headset which has a built in soundchip so I can't comment on gaming using the realtek chip.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 768
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #2113

    ddelo said:
    A quick poll for the 2019 Realtek HD Audio drivers

    The one million dollar question to @Cliff S, @asturias7, @DooGie, @johngalt, @erpster4, @khanmein, @IntelliMoo, @Kbird, @CountMike and last but not least, my good friend @EdTittel and of course anyone else who wants to post his opinion.

    Realtek Audio driver is currently at version 6.0.1.8648

    Which is your favorite/best sounding one, in the 86xx series? (Please state if it's HDA or UAD)
    The latest HD Audio 6.0.1.8648 seems to be the best so far... at least for my ears and my setup.
    Like I posted earlier, everything sounds well-balanced in terms of treble, bass, etc, etc. Some of the other updates hurt on the ears if I turned up the volume. The treble was way too piercing... and I've always had sensitive ears, so I can really notice slight changes.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,450
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2114

    Guitarmageddon said:
    Hello everyone, first post here. I normally get my drivers from my asus support page for the Z370 motherboards. I have the supreme fx s1220 codec (basically alc 1220 as I understand it, but could have that twisted)

    Im currently running this version "6.0.1.8648 WHQL" with nahimic integration.

    Here are a couple of simple questions:
    1.) Why is it that there are new realtek HDA/UAD drivers at seemingly a breakneck pace? I see drivers released sometimes what appears twice in the same week. Are the sound advancements that huge? Are you all noticing a difference that much between versions?

    2.) Whats the consensus on 8648? I didn't hear a difference. The only thing I was hearing on a prior version was while playing battlefield, I would get this weird sort of stuttering/skipping/grinding sound (very quiet) while the game would transition from menu into spawn. Hard to explain, maybe others know what I refer to? I considered going to the generic UAD version without nahimic but then I cant use the equalizer within realtek control panel.

    I have an external dac (modi 3) and amp (jds atom) for headphone listening to FLAC stuff, and I havent heard appreciable gains between recent versions that I can recall. Anyway...interested to have the discussion. thanks
    Hi and welcome to TenForums.
    I definitely agree with Andy (a.k.a @DooGie) on the Realtek refusal to inform us on the changes of every new version. Since we're getting the new versions, unofficially, from people who have access to the Realtk ftp site, the only reason I can think of, is that these new versions are intended to OEMs only and maybe that's where they provide Release notes and not the general public.
    As for difference in sound, I'm still on 6.0.1.8612, as I find it just fine, although I will try 8648, tomorrow.
    The reason is that as you do when it comes to music (flac and only flac!) I listen through a DragonFly Black USB DAC and my SONY headphones, so the difference in Realtek sound is irrelevant in that setup, as it uses Microsoft USB Audio.
    Last edited by ddelo; 09 Mar 2019 at 17:43.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,450
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2115

    asturias7 said:
    The latest HD Audio 6.0.1.8648 seems to be the best so far... at least for my ears and my setup.
    Like I posted earlier, everything sounds well-balanced in terms of treble, bass, etc, etc. Some of the other updates hurt on the ears if I turned up the volume. The treble was way too piercing... and I've always had sensitive ears, so I can really notice slight changes.
    Thanks a lot "sensitive ears"
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15
    Win 10 LTSC
       #2116

    What's the best version to use when you have a Asus Z170 Pro Gaming motherboard (ALC1150)? Anyone has the same board and using what, the latest drivers? Asus's site ended with version 7899, MS downloads the 7910 version, while the generic latest is whatever it is, I am not sure. I am on the 8639 one.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 27,162
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #2117

    ithehappy said:
    What's the best version to use when you have a Asus Z170 Pro Gaming motherboard (ALC1150)? Anyone has the same board and using what, the latest drivers? Asus's site ended with version 7899, MS downloads the 7910 version, while the generic latest is whatever it is, I am not sure. I am on the 8639 one.
    Depending if you have/want UAD or HDA ones with Nahimic(A-volute) to use Sonic Studio & Sonic Radar you can get them at the ROG forums:
    See my post here for links: Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version - Page 210 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 87
    Windows 10 home
       #2118

    Cliff S said:
    Depending if you have/want UAD or HDA ones with Nahimic(A-volute) to use Sonic Studio & Sonic Radar you can get them at the ROG forums:
    See my post here for links: Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version - Page 210 - Windows 10 Forums
    Does nahimic contribute to sound quality in any way, or is more of an enabler for the fancy gamer stuff asus includes? I have been using the UAD with nahimic integration, but I forgo "sonic studio" and "sonic radar." Never have used it because I figure the less complicated the better. Does sonic studio add anything good?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,666
    Windows 11 21H2 (22000.593)
       #2119

    ddelo said:
    Thank you John.
    OK, my sound testing is complete.

    I used 2 .FLAC encoded tracks locally (Sevendust - Denial & Nine Inch Nails - Wish), 2 YouTube videos (DJ REBEKAH's set at CRSSD FEstival, REBEKAH at CRSSD Festival | March 2019 - YouTube) and The Prodigy - Champions of London (see Champions of London - YouTube) and, finally, I played about 45 minutes in the Electronic Arts' release of Ghost studio's Need For Speed video game (full disclosure - the songs in the video game were not all the same - I could not really control them in the order that they played. But, in each 45 minute playthrough, 4 songs were the same songs, though not in the same order, so there is a bit of a difference in comparison. And I did not note down *which* songs played)

    I had 0 clue that 8644 had a very ... for a lack of a better word, subdued sound to it. I listened to all of these tracks and videos as well as playing the video game with the settings at default, even resetting room settings, EQ settings, and using the same pair of headphones for both sets. As soon as I had 8648 installed, I noticed that I could hear sounds over a wide range of frequencies with a little more clarity - which, for lower end freqs, contributed toa more powerful sound, and on the higher end, more crystal clear sounds, particularly from cymbals, whether from a drum or syth. And the mids - the words were much better to listen to in the Sevendust track, and there was less ... cacophonous (for lack of a better description) distortion in the mids on the NIN track.

    As fast as these updates come out I really don't get the opportunity for such in-depth testing. This time, though, let me say I am glad I took the time. If I hadn't, I may have skipped installing this build. And that would have been a very bad thing for me.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 27,162
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #2120

    Guitarmageddon said:
    Does nahimic contribute to sound quality in any way, or is more of an enabler for the fancy gamer stuff asus includes? I have been using the UAD with nahimic integration, but I forgo "sonic studio" and "sonic radar." Never have used it because I figure the less complicated the better. Does sonic studio add anything good?
    Both
      My Computers


 

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