Use laptop speakers and Audio-out jack at same time ?

[toronto]

Dell XPS L502X
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1

When I plug into the Audio-out (headphone) port, the XPS internal speakers are disabled. I want to be able to use the internal speakers and Audio-out port at the same time.

I want the option to set the laptop's internal speakers to remain active (not to disable) when I connect headphones or external speakers to the Audio-out port. The default behaviour is that as soon as I connect a plug into the Audio-out port, the XPS internal speakers are disabled. Is there a way to change that behaviour?

I do not want a permanent change, because I have two usage situations:

1. Sometimes I want the internal speakers not to disable, such as when connecting tiny travel speakers so I'd want all speakers to play. In this situation, I want sound from the internal speakers and from the Audio-out port.

2. Sometimes I want the default behaviour of internal speakers disabled, such as when connecting laptop's Audio-out port to a large home stereo.



Dell-Bill_B provided a little information about this:

As I recall, this is a limitation of the sound driver. We can't do anything about it, but when we saw it on the Studio 15/17, some user posted a reg hack that turned on that functionality. I'd start looking at the driver's registry keys and playing around there. Make sure to export a copy of the registry for back up in case you need to revert a change and can't remember which key to edit.

Anyone found a way to do this?

[daver160]

Don't quote me on this, because I'm a little hazy about it, but I believe somebody mentioned that the Creative Soundblaster software can do this. I don't have the SW so I can't confirm it - hopefully someone else can.

[toronto]

Don't quote me on this, because I'm a little hazy about it, but I believe somebody mentioned that the Creative Soundblaster software can do this.

On a Dell XPS L502X? The XPS L502X comes with Waves MaxxAudio, not Creative Soundblaster.

[daver160]

On a Dell XPS L502X? The XPS L502X comes with Waves MaxxAudio, not Creative Soundblaster.

No it does, there is an option for "JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3 + Creative SoundBlaster X-FI MB 1.2" when you order the L502x.

[blingers]

I have the x-fi software but haven't reinstalled it after a format. I will give it ago after work if you like. any instructions on how to do it with the software?

[blingers]

toronto, i'm not sure if this what you wanted but you can have both audio-out and internal speakers playing together BUT only if the audio-out is set to "Rear speaker out" in the S/PDIF-out. so you only get rear audio in the audio-out.

[toronto]

Blingers, thanks for the reply. I cannot confirm what you wrote. Were using some software other than Waves MaxxAudio, e.g. Creative Soundblaster? I am using Waves MaxxAudio that came with my XPS 15.

When I plug into the S/PDIF port:

- if I select Front speaker or Headphone, on-board speakers are disabled and sound is sent through the jack.
- If I select Rear speaker or Centre/Subwoofer, on-board speakers play and no sound is sent through the jack.
- If I select S/PDIF, there's no sound at all - no sound from on-board speakers or through jack (probably because I don't have a S/PDIF connector, just a regular stereo plug).

So, nothing I've tried on either port has allowed me to have both on-board speakers and sound out through the jack concurrently.

(Note: I have not tried with a proper S/PDIF cable and S/PDIF (mini-TOSLINK) adapter. I connected a regular audio cable to that post, same as I tried in the Audio-out/Headphone port.)

[blingers]

Yeah i installed the Creative soundblaster software. maybe other owners of the soundblaster software can confirm this.

[toronto]

using the the Creative soundblaster software

you only get rear audio in the audio-out.

So, what if it's a normal stereo album (not multi-channel)? Do you get both stereo channels out to the external speakers, or do you get nothing because that's not seen as rear speaker stream?

[blingers]

using the the Creative soundblaster software So, what if it's a normal stereo album (not multi-channel)? Do you get both stereo channels out to the external speakers, or do you get nothing because that's not seen as rear speaker stream?

good point because i only tested it in videos. but i just played some of my music on my itunes and i do get audio in the audio-out. the music and video sounds more echoe and bassy in the rear speaker stream.

Ok I can confirm that the soundblaster (X-Fi) software is responsible for creating the rear audio-out. I just switched it off and i don't get rear speaker audio.