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Poor sound quality with iMac 24" -- lots of HISS

I guess I'll have to get a small set of speakers, then, for the short term. I understand that it's Windows, and we're using a beta release of Boot Camp, but I'm still kind of miffed that a problem like this can go through Apple's QA unnoticed.

Hopefully this will all be fixed come Leopard.
 
funny this as im hearing these noises using OS X. I aint installed Windows XP. But when i use the headphone out on the new imac, i hear swooshy noises when pausing music or leaving the volume on silent or mute for a few seconds, then it completely cuts out. Its like my old windows laptop the same sound, kinda poor. Im using two types of headphones MylarOne X3's and V-Moda Vibes. Ive tried a pair of Grado Sr-80s but dont hear the background/swooshy noises.

Edit: Ok worked it out, these headphones are pretty sensitive, i tried some cheapo sony ear buds and cant hear the background/swooshy noises at all. I can easily fix this with one of my AMPs or get a DAC.
 
I upgraded to the newest 1.86 drivers, and the sound is still strange for me. It's as if there's a slight, fuzzy reverb on all sound coming out through Windows.
 
In case anyone cares, this is still an issue, but can be avoided if you use the Line Out to external speakers. The hiss only seems to come out using the iMac's monitor speakers.
 
How is this not fixed yet? I guess most people don't notice, but it's horrible to have to listen to anything spoken word in boot camp. For years.
 
Same with 20-inch iMac (2007)

Im having this exact same problem with a late 2007 2.4GHz aluminum iMac (20-inch) running Windows 7 Pro via Bootcamp 3.1: Washy and distorted sound through the iMacs builtin speakers.
 
Same problem on iMac 21.5" Model A1311 with OS X

I'm getting the same exact problem that just started today with my brand new iMac (two months old) with fully updated OS X 10.6.2. No Windows.

Any sound triggers the hissing noise from the speakers, which goes away after about 20-30 seconds if no further sound is played. If audio is ongoing as with a video or MP3, then the noise continues until audio is stopped. The hissing is the same volume regardless of volume level or mute.

This is extremely disappointing as I love my new iMac, but unfortunately this problem is totally unacceptable and unbearable. I just now tested this after playing a YouTube video for about 2 minutes and the hissing will not go away and has been hissing now for several minutes!

Gurus out there? Any ideas?
 
Headphones

I plug in my headphones, the hissing goes for another 2-3 seconds, and then disappears. The hissing noise does not come through in the headphones, though if I unplug the headphones then the hissing comes back.

Whatever.
 
Apple replaced iMac

Apple confirmed my problem in store and swapped my two-month old iMac with a new iMac as a solution. Hopefully, the problem won't recur. Good luck to others with this issue.
 
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