Thinkpads Forum

I have read that Ultrabase X6 now boasts 1W stereospeakers.

Has anybody got any decent audio experience with them yet? How better are they compared to the mono speaker in-built in X60s?

I am wondering about it because I was going to buy ThinkVision Soundbar along with the X60s for better audio, but now I am having second thoughts whether I will need the SoundBar at all -- if Ultrabase is so well audio-geared.

Looking forward to your comments.

mmm I thought the ultrabase was 2W RMS but details are sketchy so I can't be sure.

Neither option is great is your an audophile, you'd be better with a standard set of active speakers, if your not then the ultrabase speakers should be fine; the USB soundbar is v ugly.

snife wrote:mmm I thought the ultrabase was 2W RMS but details are sketchy so I can't be sure.

Thank you for your prompt reply, Snife. Could you tell where the speakers are located in the ultrabase (I guess they are at the bottom as I could not see any loudspeakers grills on the picture)?

snife wrote: Neither option is great is your an audophile, you'd be better with a standard set of active speakers, if your not then the ultrabase speakers should be fine; the USB soundbar is v ugly.

Do you by chance have a picture of X60s with soundbar snapped on -- just to appreciate the degree of ugliness ?

I am not exactly an audiophile, but I like doing yoga and other things while listening to lectures off my laptop. I am afraid the innate monospeaker of X60s will make them inaudible or distorted.

The previous ultrabortable P-series Fujitsus I owned all had stereo speakers, hence the question.

Also, I have to make individual multimedia presentations with my laptop sometimes, which greatly benefit from a stereo sound, but without USB soundbar the sound would weigh some 1.5 lb more in the shape of an ultrabase.

Besides, there have been glowing reviews of the soundbar's audio quality, so I was tempted.

If you could help with pictures of X60s+ soundbar, I would be very grateful.

I cannot help with any pictures this week i'm afraid - but the soundbar is not going to snap onto an X60 - it snaps onto thinkvision monitors.

The speakers are on the front of the ultrabase on the 45 degree angle section pointing downwards at the front, they are more series of holes than a traditional speaker grill.

The ultrabase is more than loud enough to listen to stuff while your busy - i have listened to several podcasts on it while going about my business, but if it is really noisy then i connect my ipod speakers which are 4W to the ThinkPads.

It may be worth considering other external speakers for travelling - logitech have a nice new NXT portable speaker (the mm28) which is really portable, although I don't really consider carrying the ultrabase such a hassle when I would need it.

snife wrote: I cannot help with any pictures this week i'm afraid - but the soundbar is not going to snap onto an X60 - it snaps onto thinkvision monitors.

Thank you for your detailed reply, Snife and for saving me $21 on soundbar.

Somehow, I thought that soundbar is attachable to X60s monitor. I was misled by the fact that it was listed among its accessories, and by a couple of visible attach points on both sides of the screen bezel. BTW, do you know what purpose they serve over there?

As for ultrabase, I would not have been able to guess the presence of speakers on the picture had you not told me. I will take your word for it that they are loud enough.

Thank you very much again. It is so nice having knowledgeable and helpful people out there.

Never noticed any connector points on the sides - don't have an X60 with me at the moment - are you maybe looking at the wireless antenna (diagonal indentations in the plastic)?

snife wrote:Never noticed any connector points on the sides - don't have an X60 with me at the moment - are you maybe looking at the wireless antenna (diagonal indentations in the plastic)?

You can clearly see those on any close-up side pics of X60s -- a pair of rectangle indentations on both sides of the screen bezel, closer to the keyboard.

In some models, as I could see, they are covered by a sort of plugs, whereas in others they are exposed. They strongly look as meant to hold something attachable to the screen. I wonder what exactly. Any idea?

madana wrote:

snife wrote:Never noticed any connector points on the sides - don't have an X60 with me at the moment - are you maybe looking at the wireless antenna (diagonal indentations in the plastic)?

You can clearly see those on any close-up side pics of X60s -- a pair of rectangle indentations on both sides of the screen bezel, closer to the keyboard.

In some models, as I could see, they are covered by a sort of plugs, whereas in others they are exposed. They strongly look as meant to hold something attachable to the screen. I wonder what exactly. Any idea?

I think you are looking at the screws that hold the LCD cover in place - they are covered by rectangular screw covers, nothing is designed to attached to the side of the X60 screens.

snife wrote: I think you are looking at the screws that hold the LCD cover in place - they are covered by rectangular screw covers, nothing is designed to attached to the side of the X60 screens.

Yeah, I guess I've been misled by those screw places -- although they did look strongly as dents in LaptopLogic review. Thank you, Snife.