My fellow inmates: audio sounds tinny off of new laptop. Help!

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Guys - can't figure this one out:
Just switched laptops from a Compaq Presario x1000 to a Dell Inspiron E1505. Method of listening is as follows: MP3s on hard drive (192kbs - 320kbs), controlled by MusicMatch (v.10.10), USB out to an M-Audio Transit, thence via optical out to a 192khz upsampler DAC, and on to the stereo system.
Off my 2003 Presario laptop this setup sounded close enough to CD that I never bothered with FooBar, lossless FLAC etc. Deep lows, extended highs, smooth mids.
The *exact* same setup, just swapping out the Compaq with the brand new Dell, is resulting in a very different sound. Harsh highs, congested vocals, muddy bass. Almost as if instead of 320kbs MP3s I'm listening to 96kbs files.
What gives? I thought that when you get sound off the hard drive via USB you bypass the computer's soundcard. And since bits is bits it shouldn't matter which computer's hard drive I'm using. Obviously I'm wrong but what do do? I want the sound of my old Compaq but need to stick with the Dell (faster processor, more RAM, etc etc). Is the soundcard involved after all? Do I need to upgrade it? Or is it just a case of new electronics which need some 'burn in' time to sound their best?
Don't know who else to ask other than my fellow inmates. Help!

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Topic - My fellow inmates: audio sounds tinny off of new laptop. Help! - Saad 17:38:32 08/27/06 (2)

It could be... - Presto 10:21:56 08/28/06 (0)

Re: My fellow inmates: audio sounds tinny off of new laptop. Help! - bobp 07:03:09 08/28/06 (0)

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