Want More Audio Control for My Acer Aspirec A515-54. Realtek HD Audio Manager?

Loreto85375
Loreto85375 Member Posts: 4 New User
edited October 2023 in 2020 Archives
Before I waste any more of my time and make things worse, I better ask the question. Hopefully someone has a good answer. :)

I have a 1 year old Acer Aspirec A515-54, and I noticed that the audio configuration options in the installed Realtek driver were minimal. That stinks for an old man like me who's hearing keeps deteriorating.

I surfed and found something that I thought was the best solution. Several articles suggested that I could be able to replace the current basic Realtek Driver with a better one, the Realtek HD Audio Manager driver, and it showed a console display that I've seen before with other laptops.

Instructions had me uninstall the current Realtek audio driver, and install one I downloaded for Win 10 from Realtek Audio Codecs download page for Win 10 - https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/pc-audio-codecs-high-definition-audio-codecs-software. I installed the "64bits Vista, Windows7, Windows8, Windows8.1, Windows10 Driver only (Executable file), R2.82". The install went fine, but I haven't seen a console anywhere.  The Realtek readme and page aren't very helpful either.

So my questions are:

1. Was I going down the right path by trying to install this driver?
2. Is there a better free or low cost solution?
3. Can you point me to better directions?  Acer and Realtek are less than amazing with explanation IMO. The readme file that came with the new driver was useless.

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer

    Jack E/NJ


    Jack E/NJ

  • Loreto85375
    Loreto85375 Member Posts: 4 New User
    Thanks Jack. Actually, I had already downloaded and unzipped that file.  There were no install instructions. I tried to execute the 
    Install_UWP.cmd , assuming that's how to fire off the install, and I received Win 10 errors.  That's why I stopped at that point before going further.  Are there directions on how to make this happen?
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    Right click on the file. Try running as administrator. Note any errors if they aren't too numerous. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Loreto85375
    Loreto85375 Member Posts: 4 New User
    Wow. That was a little scary, but it worked! LOL

    As expected, the .cmd file launches the Windows command prompt editor, and gives you the choice of "Y" or "N" with a cryptic question.  After you choose "Y", it just closes the command prompt window without any feedback on where to go next.  I searched the desktop, then the Start menu. I found the app at the top of the Start menu. Launched it.  

    The console app looks nothing like the old one I've seen or in articles that sent me this way.  It's a Win 10 app dialog, and actually there aren't many additional configurations that can be made to the default Realtek speakers built into this laptop.  The HD driver does make these basic speakers sound slightly better, but there is no equalizer in this console!  You can't monkey with the various frequencies at all.

    I'm wondering if that's because these speakers are so basic that an equalizer isn't an option with them?  I plan to hook this PC via bluetooth to various speakers I have, and see if that changes the settings available.  I was hoping for more. :(

    Thanks for all your help!
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer

    Jack E/NJ


    Jack E/NJ

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,409 Trailblazer
    Loreto85375 said:
    Wow. That was a little scary, but it worked! LOL

    As expected, the .cmd file launches the Windows command prompt editor, and gives you the choice of "Y" or "N" with a cryptic question.  After you choose "Y", it just closes the command prompt window without any feedback on where to go next.  I searched the desktop, then the Start menu. I found the app at the top of the Start menu. Launched it.  

    The console app looks nothing like the old one I've seen or in articles that sent me this way.  It's a Win 10 app dialog, and actually there aren't many additional configurations that can be made to the default Realtek speakers built into this laptop.  The HD driver does make these basic speakers sound slightly better, but there is no equalizer in this console!  You can't monkey with the various frequencies at all.

    I'm wondering if that's because these speakers are so basic that an equalizer isn't an option with them?  I plan to hook this PC via bluetooth to various speakers I have, and see if that changes the settings available.  I was hoping for more. :(

    Thanks for all your help!
    Got the same laptop but a later model with Intel i7 10510U and a GeForce MX250 GPU board (that I never use): Model: 515-54G-70AG MFG Date: 2019/08/24 S/N: NXHNBSP0029340F26E7600 Windows 10 Home x64 build 18363
    And like you I found the Realtek speakers very disappointing (fair sound quality reported in most 2019 laptop reviews for this budget model). I fiddled with my 4 sound drivers with no improvement, Intel audio driver is bundled with the main GPU and the Realtek console driver has this Acer "TrueHarmony" enhancement integrated replacing Microsoft's Loudness Enhancement (the popular Windows sound control panel that you are probably looking for). I am talking about WindowsMediaplayer with MP3 music files and Movies&TV player not external optical CD players.
    The best sound (not loudest volume) I get with the 4 original sound drivers that were installed on my laptop by Acer Philippines:
    Microsoft Audio Endpoint builder ver. 10.0.18362.1 (Audio Input Output device)
    Intel display Audio driver ver. 10.27.0.4
    Audio_Realtek_6.0.8699.1_W10x64 (click on setup.exe to install)
    Realtek Audio Console_Realtek_1.3.179.0_W10x64_A (click on "bundle" to install)
    (The last 2 Realtek drivers you just downloaded from Acer Driver support page).
    To get maximum volume without losing the mid range (forget about bass) for classical (chamber) music set the Realtek Control panel like this:

    I use external speakers and BT headset (all with amplifiers) for serious listening and there are many free sound boosters/equalizers (Microsoft Store) and playback apps (not free) if you want to use only your Realtek speakers.
  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,409 Trailblazer
    @Loreto85375 To get Acer's Trueharmony enhancement to work (Acer Audio Control Panel) you have to first enable "other apps control" in Windows Sound (this is done when Windows is installed but this setting may have been disabled). Check Sound by right clicking on your speaker icon in notification area (far right task bar)



    Then select Sound Control Panel (this is Windows' not Realtek Control Panel) and right click on Speakers (see left above) and click on Properties, Advanced and check the 4 boxes above (Allow apps.... and enable Audio Enhancements, click OK. The Acer Trueharmony will work now if you set it as I described in my earlier post.
  • Loreto85375
    Loreto85375 Member Posts: 4 New User
    edited March 2020
    @JackE and @Puraw,

    Thanks for all the help. With this last install provided by @JackE , I think I'm now at a configuration that all of us agree is best at this time.  Nothing to write home about, but a little better.   Now that I'm in the "advanced" stage of life, the ears can onlyI be improved so much.  ;)

    Hopefully this thread will be a good one for others to follow in the future.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    >>>the ears can only be improved so much.>>>

    Yeah. Decent quality 8-16 ohm well-sealed earbuds are about the only thing that work for me any more. DVD quality is about as good as it gets with them. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Budak
    Budak Member Posts: 2 New User
    I have a new Acer spin-2 and I realised that sound output is very basic. When I checked device manager, I discovered that I dont have Realtek HD audio at all.
    Could you assist me how to install this?

Categories