The Surface Book has very good built-in speakers. Impressive for such a lightweight, small device.
Because I play music all day long, I surround myself with options - various headphones, regular and noise-cancelling, Bluetooth speakers, Apple rigs, etc. I have never been happy with the Surface Pro 3 speakers, but these devices made up for the shortcomings. As a a musician, I am very aware of audio quality.
The Surface Book has nicely placed speakers within the clipboard (screen) so that the thin layer of cooling vents also conduct the sound. Maximum volume is about half-again louder than the Surface Pro 3. Stereo separation is excellent, making it seem that some physical barrier exists walling off one speaker from the other. Frequencies are not too tinny, and bass is as good as could be expected on such a lightweight and small device. There is no need for clip-on plastic "Mickey Mouse" ears or cupping of the hands to hear the sound from the Surface Book.
Volume controls on the keyboard are also most welcome. The Clipboard unit (screen) has volume buttons, also.
When in clipboard mode (screen detached) the speakers are also good. Even if I try to clasp my hands over the edges where the sound seems to comes out loudest, the sound seems to move to another place.
As a side note, I prefer to use iTunes with Windows 10 and with my Surface Book, though I have way too many alternatives, which also are good. The option to show iTunes on the notification area of the Taskbar is very handy, and the built-in iTunes Mini Player finally shows album art. To launch the mini-player, touch the small-version of the album art at the upper-center of the screen. The Mini Player has two sizes from which to toggle between.
Because I play music all day long, I surround myself with options - various headphones, regular and noise-cancelling, Bluetooth speakers, Apple rigs, etc. I have never been happy with the Surface Pro 3 speakers, but these devices made up for the shortcomings. As a a musician, I am very aware of audio quality.
The Surface Book has nicely placed speakers within the clipboard (screen) so that the thin layer of cooling vents also conduct the sound. Maximum volume is about half-again louder than the Surface Pro 3. Stereo separation is excellent, making it seem that some physical barrier exists walling off one speaker from the other. Frequencies are not too tinny, and bass is as good as could be expected on such a lightweight and small device. There is no need for clip-on plastic "Mickey Mouse" ears or cupping of the hands to hear the sound from the Surface Book.
Volume controls on the keyboard are also most welcome. The Clipboard unit (screen) has volume buttons, also.
When in clipboard mode (screen detached) the speakers are also good. Even if I try to clasp my hands over the edges where the sound seems to comes out loudest, the sound seems to move to another place.
As a side note, I prefer to use iTunes with Windows 10 and with my Surface Book, though I have way too many alternatives, which also are good. The option to show iTunes on the notification area of the Taskbar is very handy, and the built-in iTunes Mini Player finally shows album art. To launch the mini-player, touch the small-version of the album art at the upper-center of the screen. The Mini Player has two sizes from which to toggle between.
