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2012 non-retina 15,4" MBP terrible sound quality

P

pumanger

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 16, 2012
11
0
Compared to late 2008 15,4" MBP, this new (non retina) sounds terrible. Sound is very thin - no bass whatsoever. Late 2008 is significantly louder, bassier and "fuller" in sound.

I resetted PRAM, it helped a bit, but the sound still sucks compared to the old laptop...

Any ideas?
 
PerformaGuy said:
Adjust EQ/ Sound Enhancer if using iTunes.
Click to expand...


Still, no bass. Fixing iTunes EQ does also not fix the issue when watching / listening stuff on web browser etc.

Is this model supposed to have subwoofer? Late 2008 does not have and it's MUCH fuller in sound. This new one sounds like iPhone.
 
pumanger said:
Still, no bass. Fixing iTunes EQ does also not fix the issue when watching / listening stuff on web browser etc.

Is this model supposed to have subwoofer? Late 2008 does not have and it's MUCH fuller in sound. This new one sounds like iPhone.
Click to expand...

I believe as of the mid-2010 MacBook Pros, they use a subwoofer.
 
Maybe it's just broken. Perhaps take it into a shop and have it looked at.
 
pumanger said:
Compared to late 2008 15,4" MBP, this new (non retina) sounds terrible. Sound is very thin - no bass whatsoever. Late 2008 is significantly louder, bassier and "fuller" in sound.

I resetted PRAM, it helped a bit, but the sound still sucks compared to the old laptop...

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I too have a 2012 2.3 cMBP and I can vouch that the speakers are awful. Before this I had a 4 year old Toshiba Satellite with 4.1 Harman/Kardon speakers and I really miss it when I am listening to music...

P.S. Also when I plug in my Logitech X-230 external speakers even in lowest bass, the room around me shakes. Its quite a shame because I cant play music as loud as I would want to because then they would evict me :(
 
Perhaps your speakers are broken, mine sounds just fine. (which means they sound like poop like just about any laptop speakers out there).
 
Exactly, however..

snaky69 said:
Perhaps your speakers are broken, mine sounds just fine. (which means they sound like poop like just about any laptop speakers out there).
Click to expand...

My 2007 17" MacBook Pro sounds full, robust, bass has impact and they are loud. I've also owned the 15" retina until I returned it because those speakers were all highs and no mids. My husband's 13" sounded better. Now I have the 17" late 2011 and I'm not sure yet but still sounds like my 2007 17" sounds warmer and fatter.

I hardly use the speakers though mind you, I mostly plug in studio speakers or my stereo system with 3 subs and 12 surround speakers around my apartment, or superior headphones people. The speakers on laptops are decorative, I personally don't need them. I personally want a powerful piece of paper thin laptop (if it was up to me 17" all the freakin way).

Thanks.
 
vpro said:
My 2007 17" MacBook Pro sounds full, robust, bass has impact and they are loud. I've also owned the 15" retina until I returned it because those speakers were all highs and no mids. My husband's 13" sounded better. Now I have the 17" late 2011 and I'm not sure yet but still sounds like my 2007 17" sounds warmer and fatter.

I hardly use the speakers though mind you, I mostly plug in studio speakers or my stereo system with 3 subs and 12 surround speakers around my apartment, or superior headphones people. The speakers on laptops are decorative, I personally don't need them. I personally want a powerful piece of paper thin laptop (if it was up to me 17" all the freakin way).

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Oh don't get me wrong, they have some of the clearest sound out of all laptop speakers I've heard, but they've still got nothing on a pair of cheapo computer speakers, let alone my studio monitors/headphones.
 
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