Latest Realtek HD Audio Driver Version

johngalt said:

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.

Thanks a million John, for the very detailed post of the findings of your sound test.
So one more 8648 HDA.

ithehappy said:

Thank you sir. I just want what's best. I use a DT770 headphone and I watch a lot of DTS 5/7 channel movies, and I use that 7.1 speaker config in Realtek software, as I really like that immersive sound, over standard 2 channels, the difference is night and day for me, even though its only a simulation of 7 channels or whatever, but I still prefer it a lot.

Then I recommend getting the ASUS ROG Sonic Suite 3.
Not if you get anything with Dolby Atmos, the settings in Sonic Studio are a real big help, and... surprisingly the default settings for the EQ and effects are pretty right on, The only change I had to make(for my listening) is under Music tab, I set Reverb to Studio at level 7.

ithehappy said:

Sir just to be sure, the following is the one I need to download right? Sorry I am dumb.

Yes that is the correct one.
And you're not being dumb at all.
The first time I downloaded the top one(seems logical the "better one" would be at the top, right?).
Any how it just installed the drivers, and Realtek UWP app and no EQ & effects, that sucked, until I read through the ROG thread and found out they were two different packs.

Dumb to me, is NOT wanting to learn.

Cliff S said:

Dumb to me, is NOT wanting to learn.

^^^^ This.

Or, as one of my former teachers used to say:

"The dumbest questions are those that are never asked."

johngalt said:

^^^^ This.

Or, as one of my former teachers used to say:

"The dumbest questions are those that are never asked."

As per my sig

IntelliMoo said:

I don't keep a detailed log of my audio driver experience, but I have to say that as far as I can recall back, 8648 HDA is now the best of 2019 so far for me. I find the "little details" in the sound and the clarity are top notch again.

Thanks a lot!