@ari Thank you for this link. I’m particularly happy with the lappy_mctopface preset.
For anyone who’s interested, I also found these presets. They’re not specific to the Framework, but someone might find them useful for either the internal speakers, or external speakers they might have connected:
EasyEffects Presets
I just want to say “Thank you” to everyone involved. I got the lappy_mctopface.json, loaded it into easy effects, created a “default” (empty) one, set the auto-loading of output presets based on the output device, and it’s all perfect now and I don’t even have to think about it.
The quality is much, much better then it was before. I mean - these are still laptop speakers, but they sound decently for what they are.
Just tried out EasyEffects in Pipewire in Arch Linux for the first time. Using the lappy_mctopface.json preset from the github link above. Why oh why did I wait so long to try this? Speakers did not gain any new capabilities, but a lot of their “bad behavior” and “imbalance” is cleaned up in the frequencies they can actually produce…
Any news on the 80 db speaker upgrade? Framework | Speaker Kit
I assume these are the better speakers from the Chromebook edition, but being backported to the rest of the Framework chassis units already out there? Any ETA?
For the Laptop spaces, manufacturers actually optimise the firmware for power efficiency/audio EQ etc, so I guess Framework is probably new in this. Hoping they can maybe integrate this as part of defaults.
I am eagerly waiting for this too.
For anyone who’s interested, I added the “Loudness” effect to the “lappy_mctopface” Preset, keeping the effect’s default settings:
The effect increases the speakers’ output volume without any perceived distortion (at least to my ears). For me, these combined settings dramatically improve the overall sound quality and max output of the stock framework speakers.
Still looking forward to purchasing the 80db speakers when they’re available.
I tried to improve the sound by doing the following:
.) Took the frequencys from @Kieran_Levin to get a “flat” base
.) Compared the sound to my Neumann KH80 in my studio
.) Played around to get as close as possible. Which is not very close, of course…
But the speakers sound better now, at least to me.
Would anybody be so kind and try my preset?
Thanks!
@Philonmetal Very nice preset! Thank you for contributing this! I consider your preset and @Lappy_McTopface’s, provided by @ari in his presets repo, my two top contenders for regular use. I added the Loudness effect to your preset, and am very happy with the result. I believe adding that effect squeezes the most output possible from the framework speakers.
Can you reload file to other hosting? I can’t download it.
When im home again, i will upload the file to another hosting site.
In the meantime you can copy this into a blank .json file:
Edit: Google Drive Link
{
"output": {
"blocklist": [],
"equalizer": {
"balance": 0.0,
"bypass": false,
"input-gain": 0.0,
"left": {
"band0": {
"frequency": 100.0,
"gain": 0.0,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 1.0,
"slope": "x4",
"solo": false,
"type": "Hi-pass"
},
"band1": {
"frequency": 150.0,
"gain": 4.02,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 3.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band2": {
"frequency": 600.0,
"gain": -5.07,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.000000000000008,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band3": {
"frequency": 1200.0,
"gain": -3.49,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.17,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band4": {
"frequency": 2000.0,
"gain": 1.43,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band5": {
"frequency": 5300.0,
"gain": 3.84,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 2.64,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band6": {
"frequency": 6000.0,
"gain": 4.02,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.36,
"slope": "x1",C
"solo": false,
"type": "Hi-shelf"
},
"band7": {
"frequency": 7500.0,
"gain": -2.09,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 3.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band8": {
"frequency": 8000.0,
"gain": 2.01,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.36,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band9": {
"frequency": 900.0,
"gain": -4.12,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 5.909999999999967,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
}
},
"mode": "IIR",
"num-bands": 10,
"output-gain": -1.5,
"pitch-left": 0.0,
"pitch-right": 0.0,
"right": {
"band0": {
"frequency": 100.0,
"gain": 0.0,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 1.0,
"slope": "x4",
"solo": false,
"type": "Hi-pass"
},
"band1": {
"frequency": 150.0,
"gain": 4.02,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 3.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band2": {
"frequency": 600.0,
"gain": -5.07,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.000000000000008,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band3": {
"frequency": 1200.0,
"gain": -3.49,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.17,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band4": {
"frequency": 2000.0,
"gain": 1.43,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band5": {
"frequency": 5300.0,
"gain": 3.84,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 2.64,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band6": {
"frequency": 6000.0,
"gain": 4.02,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.36,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Hi-shelf"
},
"band7": {
"frequency": 7500.0,
"gain": -2.09,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 3.0,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band8": {
"frequency": 8000.0,
"gain": 2.01,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 4.36,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
},
"band9": {
"frequency": 900.0,
"gain": -4.12,
"mode": "RLC (BT)",
"mute": false,
"q": 5.909999999999967,
"slope": "x1",
"solo": false,
"type": "Bell"
}
},
"split-channels": false
},
"plugins_order": [
"equalizer"
]
}
}
I have to say playing around with FXSound does make quite a difference and to be honest the Framework doesnt sound that bad now.
The hardware just needs a bit of signal processing to give it more oomph.
This is great, thank you! I added it to the repo.
Thank you for this, I added louder variations of each preset to the repo!
A quick note on the loudness effect: You may notice residual ~1ms audio artifacts when pausing/playing media. This issue can be tracked here.
Thanks @Jason_H_Young and @ari . I tried out the lappy_mctopface_loudness.json preset just now, and I think I am going back to the without loudness version. The loudness does up the volume, but to my ears introduces back some of the bad behavior at a lower volume level. It is all subjective, of course, but I would rather have less bad behavior and turn the volume up myself, then have that show up sooner in the volume curve.
This is my reference piece of music that I test all speakers, headphones, etc using. Its incredibly technical, between the symphonic highs, spoken word, squarewave synth, etc. That and it is just an amazing piece ;^)
Reposting what I said in this thread (New 80db Speaker option in Marketplace? - #16 by ari) because I think it’s relevant here too:
Just upgraded to the 80db speakers. Absolutely fantastic, great job, Framework team! These should be the default option.
Max volume is actually load now, and I don’t need to use any loudness settings in EasyEffects (EQ) to make the volume sound more reasonable.
Please let me know if any of you have any questions about them!
The only annoying part of installation is lifting the tape for cable-managing the right speaker.
@Philonmetal’s preset works beautifully with the 80db speakers, btw! I finally feel content with the audio quality of the framework! 
Great! I will order the 80dB Speaker aswell!
While I did like my portable speaker that my company called a laptop (macbook pro) what I really wanted was a high quality headphone amp/dac/mic interface. When I want real speakers only the macbook was plausable but I would happliy give up the space and just carry something better that doesn’t make the computer less good. The dac/amp/audio in is more required. I am typically carrying a qudelix or es100. but it would be nice not to need that. That said a dac amp that I consider good enough probably is $100. Maybe $50 for the parts on a card. If someone put the equivalent of a qudelix on an expansion card I wouldn’t hesitate even at $200. If I need external sound I would rather just pack something better. Fighting the size and cost value to get to “good” really isn’t worth it here.
@gracefu I’ve noticed a bit of a resonant peak in the same area, making male voices a bit boomy, but not necessarily straightforward peaky.
TBH, it doesn’t bother me that much - I usually use in ears while working, connect to a bluetooth speaker in the kitchen for casual stuff, and an ASIO interface to studio monitors for music work.
The speakers seem good enough for general media consumption, but I suspect that the resonant peak is more an issue of the resonant space of the case, rather than the drivers or room. Perhaps some sound dampening in the case around the driver units would fix?
Good advice on fixing with EQ though! Are you aware of anything windows native?
Just received and installed the 80 dB Speakers, downloaded FxSound and played some trip hop (Mark Farina) to play around with different sounds. Speakers are about twice as loud and am happy with sound. I usually use my ear phones or stereo system/DAC, but this will work.
Very late, but I love this! The sound is way smoother!