Minibook X: Improve speakers on Linux using impulse response magic!

Laptops Minibook X N100/N150/5100
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Hi everyone!

I got inspired by linux-thinkpad-speaker-improvements, so I decided to replicate this with my Chuwi Minibook X (N100), but using AutoEQ target curves rather than Dolby’s magic. This actually made my laptop speakers waaaay better, and they’re nowhere near as tinny as they were before!

I documented the bulk of my work here, including how to replicate the measurements:

But tl;dr:

  1. Install EasyEffects
  2. Add the Convolver EQ effect with the WAV file linked in the repo (don’t forget to also apply the Impulse file after importing it)
  3. Audio should sound immediately better by now, but to make it even better, add the Bass Enhancer plugin to add bass harmonics

Your laptop should now sound vastly better than most Windows laptops, and even almost as good as actual Macbooks themselves!

Note that this works by reducing unwanted peak frequencies, so the overall volume of the audio is quite a bit lower. If you don’t like how quiet these speakers are, then this will only make it worse, but the audio quality trade-off is worth it imo.

1 Like
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This is so cool.
I’m going to try this when I have the chance. I have the right equipment to do so. Thanks for keeping such a thorough breakdown and process.
Do you think the underlying generated file would work between the exact same revision of the CMX? IE maybe the N100 and N150 have different perceptible or imperceptible internal acoustical environments, but … well, basically, would your file work for anyone, but especially N100 CMX owners?

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Honestly I think the tolerance is pretty good, so even if there is a slight difference in the body of the N100 and the N150, the sound quality should still be a major improvement. That said, it’s still best if you could replicate the experiment with your own curve targets! Like, I’m not at all confident that my recording environment is the greatest.