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Background Static on MBP-SR?
- Thread starter athimmig
- Start date
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Well then... I will have to call them.
Also, something I forgot to ask. I know apple says the headphone jack is for analog and optical, and I assume normal headphone operate through analog. Has anyone tried something that is optical through it? (I don't know if it would make a difference, but I have no way of checking and was curious.)
EDIT: I had tried some older, and in my opinion crappier, headphones and I actually didn't get any static, but when I try my $50 Sony earbuds or my original iPod headphones I still get static. I have no idea what it going on anymore.
Also, something I forgot to ask. I know apple says the headphone jack is for analog and optical, and I assume normal headphone operate through analog. Has anyone tried something that is optical through it? (I don't know if it would make a difference, but I have no way of checking and was curious.)
EDIT: I had tried some older, and in my opinion crappier, headphones and I actually didn't get any static, but when I try my $50 Sony earbuds or my original iPod headphones I still get static. I have no idea what it going on anymore.
Noisy too!
Hey, I have the same problem!
The static is almost 3dB louder than on the C2D 2,16GHz I have standing right next to it! This sucks!
Using headphones at low volumes drives me mad!!!
Did anyone notice that the internal speakers are crap compared to the ones in the prior versions back to the Powerbook too? They also suck! Hm... get it replaced or not... why does it take forever!
I don't know if they will fix it with a firmware anytime soon or not. Got this MBP 2,4GHz today and don't wanna wait another 3 weeks to get a replacement! Damn!
Hey, I have the same problem!
The static is almost 3dB louder than on the C2D 2,16GHz I have standing right next to it! This sucks!
Using headphones at low volumes drives me mad!!!
Did anyone notice that the internal speakers are crap compared to the ones in the prior versions back to the Powerbook too? They also suck! Hm... get it replaced or not... why does it take forever!
I don't know if they will fix it with a firmware anytime soon or not. Got this MBP 2,4GHz today and don't wanna wait another 3 weeks to get a replacement! Damn!
How loud is the sound you guys are hearing? I noticed it myself on my 3 week old MPB when the music was on pause and I clicked something, that a little sound would come on and then turn off again a little after the click. Doesn't bother me at all during music though cause it's SUPER quiet... are some people getting a significantly loud sound? I just listened closely during the fade out at the end of a song and I could really only hear it when there was no sound playing in the headphones.
Has anyone tried that USB thing?
Has anyone tried that USB thing?
How is this situation going? I just noticed mine tonight as I was listening to music late at night in my room, volume was up one notch and I could hear it through my iPod headphones annoyingly! Especially when a song faded out.
Will Apple replace the laptop?
Will Apple replace the laptop?
Has anyone tried using audio through USB port?
How bout through optical out?
Is there any improvement?
I'm really not in the mood to return my MBP as everything else besides this is fine...and I dont wanna risk getting a yellow or flickering screen, etc.
How bout through optical out?
Is there any improvement?
I'm really not in the mood to return my MBP as everything else besides this is fine...and I dont wanna risk getting a yellow or flickering screen, etc.
I did last night. USB audio is fine (this was with a Turtle Beach USB audio card). No static. So its the internal source.
I'm still waiting to hear if anyone has sucessfully had thier static problem fixed by Apple....
D
software update
I just ran software update today and it showed an audio update for MB's that said was to fix a problem with background static. I installed it, but not sure if it works as I have not actually experienced this problem in the past.
I just ran software update today and it showed an audio update for MB's that said was to fix a problem with background static. I installed it, but not sure if it works as I have not actually experienced this problem in the past.
I too have this problem with my new MacBook. If the MacBook is plugged into the mains all is fine but if I unplug it to let the battery drain, I find that my external speakers give off a low level hum which is really annoying!
As soon as I plug the power adapter back into my MacBook, it goes away.
It never did this on my iBook, or the Dell 6400 inspiron I had. Any ideas? I definately think it's the laptop!
However, the updates have not done anything for me.
Hmm,
So today I took mine into the genius bar...the guy actually replaced it even tho he said he really couldnt hear it. So...im on me new model, in a more silent setting, and the noise persists (gaaaah
... ).
Maybe this is thing is widespread in more models than we think, but only some people who use their MBPs in very silent setting or have good hearing are noticing it?
Hmm...well at least they didnt make me pay anything for the replacement. Suppose I'll be picking up a USB headphone jack thingy some time soon.
So today I took mine into the genius bar...the guy actually replaced it even tho he said he really couldnt hear it. So...im on me new model, in a more silent setting, and the noise persists (gaaaah
... ).Maybe this is thing is widespread in more models than we think, but only some people who use their MBPs in very silent setting or have good hearing are noticing it?
Hmm...well at least they didnt make me pay anything for the replacement. Suppose I'll be picking up a USB headphone jack thingy some time soon.
Hmm,
So today I took mine into the genius bar...the guy actually replaced it even tho he said he really couldnt hear it. So...im on me new model, in a more silent setting, and the noise persists (gaaaah
Maybe this is thing is widespread in more models than we think, but only some people who use their MBPs in very silent setting or have good hearing are noticing it?
Hmm...well at least they didnt make me pay anything for the replacement. Suppose I'll be picking up a USB headphone jack thingy some time soon.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was some variation in the quality of shielding for audio out on the MBP. I use mine strictly for audio work and I don't hear any static even when hooking the audio out to studio monitors and large PA systems. If there was any static on my particular MBP I would definitely notice.
Guys, this thing has a very loud static level!!! Listen to this! I played back in iTunes hitting pause a couple of times and scroll through it once!
It is NOT(!!) the audio file doing that! Notice the beeping and periodical noise level?!? This sucks when using low impedance headphones!!!
http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/megajoule/temp/rauschenundpiepen.mov
It is NOT(!!) the audio file doing that! Notice the beeping and periodical noise level?!? This sucks when using low impedance headphones!!!
http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/megajoule/temp/rauschenundpiepen.mov
I've done a bit more testing, and it seems to be a problem with low-impedance headphones. My guess is that your studio monitors and PA systems are high impedance.
For those that are brave, this thread shows how to make a device that may help:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=201098
I haven't tried it yet myself.
Another update. Went to Apple store today, along with my good headphones (Shure E3C). Tried two 15" MPBs, both build week 21, and both had the static problem. I think it may be endemic to the line, and that the people who claim they don't have it are simply using speakers or high-impedance headphones.... Or they just have bad hearing....
LOL.... that's exactly the type of filter I built yesterday! Seems I won't have to describe how to build one since this guy already did it It works of course (simple electrical law) but it sucks that they had to crank up the output power and yet the base hiss on the MBPs!!!
easy!
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=201098
It works of course (simple electrical law) but it sucks that they had to crank up the output power and yet the base hiss on the MBPs!!!easy!
Timing...
Well, I've done a few more tests with my new MacBook too. IT seems this humming noise starts EXACTLY 30 seconds after pulling the mains. It seems this is to do with the switch over to battery power. It happens every time, 30 seconds in. This is a bit of a pain in the a$$.
One thing is for sure, my old G4 iBook never did that. I'm seriously considering taking this MacBook back and getting a refund. This is unworkable for me.
Another update. Went to Apple store today, along with my good headphones (Shure E3C). Tried two 15" MPBs, both build week 21, and both had the static problem. I think it may be endemic to the line, and that the people who claim they don't have it are simply using speakers or high-impedance headphones.... Or they just have bad hearing....
Well, I've done a few more tests with my new MacBook too. IT seems this humming noise starts EXACTLY 30 seconds after pulling the mains. It seems this is to do with the switch over to battery power. It happens every time, 30 seconds in. This is a bit of a pain in the a$$.
One thing is for sure, my old G4 iBook never did that. I'm seriously considering taking this MacBook back and getting a refund. This is unworkable for me.
Oh my that was just awful, much worse than I would had expected from the descriptions.
I've got some low-level static as well and also sometimes some faint strange electronic tones (think R2D2) that sometimes sound when starting/stopping audio. A reviewer on macintouch.com also acknowledges the static/noise problem and unfortunately attributes it to hardware design:
http://www.macintouch.com/reviews/mbp15led/
Issues
Audio Noise
Noise from the headphone port (first identified by a MacInTouch reader) is a real problem, which has three components, we found in testing with sound-isolating headphones:
First, a very quiet hiss is present whenever the laptop is awake with headphones plugged in. It's on the same scale as the hiss we noted in the aluminum iPod Shuffle, so many people will never notice it.
A greater problem is a quiet but ubiquitous static. It is present only when the audio circuitry is working, and ceases within a second of pausing iTunes or QuickTime player. It is easily masked by music but shows itself during quiet passages.
The last component is an intermittent high-pitched noise. We've heard four distinct pitches, but never more than one at a time; it varies from a high tone to a faint whine. It goes away within five or six seconds of pausing iTunes; we believe this is when the audio circuitry turns off to save power. We cannot consistently cause the high pitched noise to happen, nor affect the pitch. We cannot trigger it with hard drive activity, spin-up or spin-down, display or keyboard brightness, or display activity. We assume it is caused by interference from other components within the machine.
These audio problems probably can't be solved without a hardware redesign, which is disappointing, given Apple's previous audio quality. If audio playback (or recording) is critical to your work, you'll probably need something like an external USB or FireWire audio interface. (We didn't test digital output from the headphone port.)
http://www.macintouch.com/reviews/mbp15led/
Issues
Audio Noise
Noise from the headphone port (first identified by a MacInTouch reader) is a real problem, which has three components, we found in testing with sound-isolating headphones:
First, a very quiet hiss is present whenever the laptop is awake with headphones plugged in. It's on the same scale as the hiss we noted in the aluminum iPod Shuffle, so many people will never notice it.
A greater problem is a quiet but ubiquitous static. It is present only when the audio circuitry is working, and ceases within a second of pausing iTunes or QuickTime player. It is easily masked by music but shows itself during quiet passages.
The last component is an intermittent high-pitched noise. We've heard four distinct pitches, but never more than one at a time; it varies from a high tone to a faint whine. It goes away within five or six seconds of pausing iTunes; we believe this is when the audio circuitry turns off to save power. We cannot consistently cause the high pitched noise to happen, nor affect the pitch. We cannot trigger it with hard drive activity, spin-up or spin-down, display or keyboard brightness, or display activity. We assume it is caused by interference from other components within the machine.
These audio problems probably can't be solved without a hardware redesign, which is disappointing, given Apple's previous audio quality. If audio playback (or recording) is critical to your work, you'll probably need something like an external USB or FireWire audio interface. (We didn't test digital output from the headphone port.)