New Aluminum Macbook Line-out headphone Static

I have the same issue and it happens when the sound powers on I think. It's really annoying. It happened with my old white MacBook too.

Draumo said:

I just got one of the new aluminum Macbooks and everything works great... except when I plugged in some headphones. Whenever audio of any sort starts I get an almost silent static like noise in the background... be it sound from a Youtube video, Ventrillo, iTunes... anything.

After a couple minutes the static goes away. But if any sound occurs the static returns. Most of the time you can't notice it because the audio that is playing is louder. But when its silent you can hear the quiet static like noise. I have some Sony In-Ear Earbuds.

I tried plugging in the gross default iPod earbuds and I couldn't hear the static with those but that may of just been because I can't fit the damn things in my ears. I don't know if its my Macbook or the headphones just don't like the Macbook.

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I hear the same exact thing on mine. Interestingly enough, if you unplug the charger cord from the laptop, the static goes away. Somehow the electrical current has fun with the audio, I guess..?

I have the exact same problem. It sounds like very soft white noise. Every so often it will go out and I can bring it back by adjusting the volume.

Swb1192, mine happens with or without the power supply connected.

Replacing the logic board isn't going to help. Search the site, many threads on this and everyone seems to be just dealing with it or keeping music on all the time. Lookup 'speaker pop' or 'popping'... I've leared to live with it... I'm not sure there is a fix.. too bad Apple doesn't do something about this.

Aperture said:

I have the exact same problem. It sounds like very soft white noise. Every so often it will go out and I can bring it back by adjusting the volume.

Swb1192, mine happens with or without the power supply connected.

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Yes, mine does it with or without the power cord connected too. If you're listening to music, it's not annoying at all. If you are using headphones just to hear iChat message sounds or something, it's extremely annoying. Every time a message comes through that triggers the iChat sound, the MacBook static noise starts, then goes off, then comes back the next time, etc.

I just bought Sennheiser CX300-II in ears and I get the horrible static from my nVidia MacBook

The static is present always when you have something active that uses audio, if you don't have any audio on the static disappears after a lil while.

For comparison my iPhone has 0 static in it and my CoreDuo white iMac has really really really quiet static, doesn't bother at all.

Apple headphones don't have static...

My white MacBook's always done this. I'll be listening to music and the song will end, but then if a system sound occurs (ilke an IM or a new mail message), the static comes. It only stays on for a few seconds with me, though. Oddly enough it usually comes on before the system sound, so I know something is coming! So, it's not aluminum-MacBook specifiic.

Also, it happens when the computer is plugged in and when it's running off the battery for me, so I guess it's not caused by the power cord, either.

It's an issue with macs and low impedance headphones/audio equiptment. I tested every macbook/pro/etc in the store. They all have it. The store people thought I was crazy and they can't hear it... but they don't have Shure SE530s either -_- They tried to give me a set of white buds and said they couldn't hear it on my macbook with them on... I said of course. I can't hear jack with those headbuds either. What you have to do is to connect via an in line volume control, that will basically attenuate the noise. I use the volume control attachment that came with my shure SE530s and I don't get static as long as I attenuate it somewhat.

It's not just static - it's interference bleed through from the mediocre audio of all Apple notebooks. As I've said before, because it's an Apple doesn't automatically make it quality (quite the opposite I'd say). It's just dressed up better. With the unibodies, arguably it's the most noticeable of all.

It's not even just static like some MP3 players - There's a lot of components to that hiss if you listen. The unibodies - at least all but the 17-inchers which I haven't tried yet - are replete with fizzes, zzts, fzzzzzzzits and squirkles with earphones. It's a considerably more salubrious experience to listen to even the worst of the iPods.

As fibrizo suggests, purchasing an in-line volume adapter and using it to raise the impedance presented at the headphone socket is a good way to make the hiss less noticeable. A low-cost, compact bus-powered USB adapter may be a better idea as the onboard audio on Apples in general is pretty poor - e.g. the ESI Maya44. http://www.esi-audio.com/products/maya44usb/

I use a similar solution on the occasions I'm listening to my Apples and while there is still some hiss with my card, it's a heck of a lot better than the comparative dreck that comes directly out of the Apple. Many media-orientated and even ultraportables from other manufacturers have much more solid audio, and ironically I don't feel anywhere near the frequent need to outboard my Sony / Dells.

I'll try to look up something similar to what they used here:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20090113095435445

Also the last comment on that site claims his Fujitsu HD was the cause, switching to Seagate fixed the problem.

But some small wire like that with volume adjustment sounds nice.

Planatronic RIG

I'm Using a planitronic RIG gaming headset i got around a week ago. The problem only started this morning when i was playing counter strike and went away for a while when i restarted the computer. I have the same problem where if a sound is playing then it goes. I just have to turn down the RIG hub to a certain level. There was no problem when i was using a recent seanheiser headset. Please could somebody help!?