Oops this Press Release from HP is way more informative than the B&O one

http://www8.hp.com/au/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=1938836#.VSJGthgmKrU

Personally I got fed up with Windows a couple of years ago - and changed to a MacMini for my desktop.

I have no laptop, but 2 iPads - which is what suits me.

For those of my friends still prefering Windows, HP, however will be my recommendation.......if they care for sound quality.

It is about time, that the sound circuits become isolated from other components on the motherboard, so I salute this initiative/cooperation.

MM

The H8 could have been the perfect companion for macs. But BeoCare says they can't guarantee compability. Way to loose potential customers.

I have never heard the ICEpower in the Asus(?). Are they any good compared to other built-in laptop speakers?

leosgonewild wrote:

I have never heard the ICEpower in the Asus(?). Are they any good compared to other built-in laptop speakers?

Certainly not worse, but the limiting factor is always going to be the size of the drivers. Simply replacing a generic dirt cheap S class amplifier chip with an ICEpower amp and slapping a B&O logo on top isn't going to guarantee a great end result. Fortunately according to the HP press release, this collaboration seems to involve a bit more.

Asus makes some desktop displays with ICEpower as well, for example MX239H and MX279H.

Any company can make a pc with ICEpower amps - if they buy these and simply use them as amps.

The cooperation HP/B&O is more than that.

Will be interesting to see (means: hear) if the difference in SQ is really noticeable.

MM

I bought a HP with Beats audio back when they just started their partnership. The sound from the speakers is fine, not great not bad. But I was extremely disappointed with the noise isolation of the mini jack-output. There is a constant hiss which is really annoying, specialliy at night when playing at lower volumes.

I don't not if this has been addressed in newer laptops with Beats (mine is from 2011). But I surely hope that B&O (or Beoplay) branded laptops wont suffer from the same issue. This would do much damage to the brand!

We are assuming the tie up is just for improving laptops sound etc, but might it actually be something entirely different?

Hardware, improving software???

I would believe that the final barrier will be the actual speaker quality. A good amplifier does not make bad speakers sound great.

leosgonewild wrote:

I have never heard the ICEpower in the Asus(?). Are they any good compared to other built-in laptop speakers?

I currently have an Asus Zenbook Ultrabook with Bang & Olufsen Icepower and I can assure you that the sound is only mediocre and ashaming...
My wife's Samsung Ultrabook with JBL speakers, sounds much(!) better and I was very surprised about these sound differences!

The 15" inch Asus Notebooks with Bang & Olufsen Icepower are much better than my 13"inch Notebook.

But please, don't argue with the size as mobile phones like HTC M-series with "Boom Sound" or the absolutely great Blackberry Passport or Z30 clearly show what's possible with small speakers. ;)

So, let's hope the marriage between HP and B&O is not another dumb step to damage B&O's reputation again.