I just ordered a 1530M with the Audigy as well.  My dad has it on his desktop, and he really enjoys the features of it.  I understand that the speakers in a laptop do not compare, but if/when I ever hook up to external speakers, I'm sure I will use the software.  With it being $25, I couldn't justify not buying it.  We will have to see when we get them.  

 

What is your expected ship date?

my expected ship date was Feb 14th I think. quite a long time! I'm a little confused about what you said about youll use the software if you hook into external speakers....is that software only good for external speakers or something? sorry i'm not a computer whiz hahaha   I was looking at your specs and it looks like you ordered the same as me. . . even color! nice.

The Audigy is just software that Dell puts on your machine. It allows you to adjust the sound.  Example: Rock concert, Hall, put an echo on it.  It is not, I repeat NOT, a different sound card.  It should make no difference if you play through the standard speakers or through external.  You can still enjoy the benefits of the software.  Our machines can also be adjusted.  When you ordered, did you happen to notice the SoundBlaster Express Card?  It can be bought down the road and slid into the side of the computer.  Then you go into the control panel and tell the computer to use THAT sound card instead.  In other words, your not stuck with the sound card you ordered.  Great news for both of us. 

 

If you don't mind me asking, what was your approx total cost?   

As Sarge says, the Audigy will do NOTHING to improve the sound.   It can do gimmicky effects.   But, what is the use if the built in sound is so terrible?   I mean really useless.....   I RMA'ed my XPS since the sound is worthless.    

 

The Express card offers further sound enhancements from processing and conversion quality.    But, unless you use decent powered external speakers, you will not notice any improvement.    I have one fwiw.    The X-FI.

If you are looking for the quality of sound you would get out of a desktop system with external speakers you are "barking up the wrong tree." Laptop speakers are not going to sound as good. I just received a new XPSM1530 and the speakers sound very nice for a laptop and the earbuds are even better.

my total was..1650. but I noticed we ordered different hard drives. . . i didn't get many upgrades. haha.  it's 2.2 ghz processor. 3 gig ram . 256 nvidia card...250 hard drive. . . next gen wireless card.. . vista home premium...3 year warranty. i thought the price was really good. I just bought an HP with only 1.67 processor and only two years warranty and it was 1750 when it was all said and done. I was going to return it and get the XPS but after all the negative talk i might cancel my order and keep the HP. I dont NEED "awesome" speakers, but if theyre really no good like people say I dont want it. Its funny because some people say they love there XPS, and then some others say its garbage. so its hard to say. I'm so confused lol. i want to make the right purchase.

I have a similar system to yours (blue also) and ordered the Audigy upgrade.  My speakers sound very poor.  Low volume, tinny sound when I play music.  Much, much better with some good headphones I have for my Creative Zen mp3 player.  I did not try the supplied headphones. But listening to a movie, which I would do with the 1530's speakers so all could hear, is very poor quality.  With the headphones the sound is much better, but it gives me too smooth and bassy of a sound for a movie, where I want crisp, clear dialog.  So, I, too, am on the fence about what to do.  Keep it or return it.  I read so many reviews and debated for months about what to buy, then finally decided on the XPS 1530, and I am so upset that it did not turn out as nice as I was expecting it to.  I worry about the static tingling I have been reading about, also.  I have only had it for 3 days, and turned it on for about an hour each day, but I am nervous about keeping it very long then having a problem with Dell returning it.  I love to listen to my music collection and to internet radio when I am doing things on the computer.  Since this is my first laptop, I don't have anything to compare it to.  Those of you with previous laptops, what do you think?  How does it compare. 

People keep saying that "laptops don't sound like desktops" and so will accept horrible sound.  I think everyone here can agree that you will never get the same quality of sound out of small speakers on a laptop versus larger speakers of a desktop.  What peopel ARE saying it that compared to other laptops and within the expected quality range, they are horrible.

 

To give an Idea, this is MY interpretation of the quality as I have spent a lot of time at various stores, with my own system, with company laptops, and talking with other owners.

 

 High-End Desktop Speakers:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  Average Desktop Speakers:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Toshiba's 4 speaker Laptop:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Toshiba's 2 speaker Laptop:  XXXXXXXXXXXX

 HP 2 Alten speaker Laptop:  XXXXXXXXXXXX

               Sony Laptop:  XXXXX

    Dell Inspiron 8700 (?):  XXXXXXX

         Dell Latitude 820:  XXXXXXX

                Dell M1530:  XX

 

Again, this is my interpretation.  But this is how I am hearing them. 

Just fyi on the $25 audigy...if you go to Creative's website and download the audigy, it is $19.