Yeah, but since it's coming from the analog headphone jack, isn't the quality already limited?
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Anyone else notice that listening to music from an iPod is noticeably superior?
- Thread starter MVApple
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Being that I just recently got my first Mac a couple weeks ago, I've just noticed something when listening with headphones... that I kinda like AND dislike.
I noticed that it seems to cut the audio signal totally when there isn't an audio application in use... so you can't hear any faint "hiss" of any kind from the electronics, I guess...
I kinda like it and dislike it at the same time. It just sounds kinda awkward to me when it all of a sudden goes totally silent. I guess it's a power-saver too...?
I noticed that it seems to cut the audio signal totally when there isn't an audio application in use... so you can't hear any faint "hiss" of any kind from the electronics, I guess...
I kinda like it and dislike it at the same time. It just sounds kinda awkward to me when it all of a sudden goes totally silent. I guess it's a power-saver too...?
There has been some problems reported with the Headphone Jack of the mbp, but its more like an on and off problem with the sound... not really a bad quality singal...
Either could be that... or your imagination mate...
No, becauseit isn't really coming from the analog port. The digital optical port is just inside the headphone jack. They're two separate jacks in the same plug.
Oh reeally? That is interesting. I didn't know that...
Thanks for the info
So, I assume that it can send a 5.1 surround signal through there then?
Oh reeally? That is interesting. I didn't know that...
Thanks for the info
So, I assume that it can send a 5.1 surround signal through there then?
Yes, you can.
The same exact problem is occurring with my MBP. I have a similar situation (a 2.16GHz Morem MBP and a 1st Gen iPod Touch) I am comparing the same 320kbps song in iTunes on my MBP and on my iPod Touch with my Apple In-Ear headphones. And I notice that quality on my MBP is terrible! Its like the quality I used to have with my regular Apple headphones...uggghh. Apple needs to work on this.
A nice fix for high quality headphones is to get a USB DAC/Headphone amp for you MBP.
I have the Bit Perfect from Hotaudio to drive my Sennheiser 650s, it costs USD 155.
http://www.hotaudio.com/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=201
You simply connect it to the USB port, then select it as the Default Output device using the Audio MIDI app in Applications/Utilities. Set System Output to built-in if you don't want any nasty systems sounds in your headphones.
They also do a very low cost unit the HOTUSB2 for USD 65, which would be great for less demanding phones.
http://www.hotaudio.com/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=206
For smaller earphones or In Ear Monitors (IEMs) be careful to check the minimum impedance that the amplifier supports.
There are lots of other alternatives around.
http://www.head-fi.org is a good place to look
I have the Bit Perfect from Hotaudio to drive my Sennheiser 650s, it costs USD 155.
http://www.hotaudio.com/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=201
You simply connect it to the USB port, then select it as the Default Output device using the Audio MIDI app in Applications/Utilities. Set System Output to built-in if you don't want any nasty systems sounds in your headphones.
They also do a very low cost unit the HOTUSB2 for USD 65, which would be great for less demanding phones.
http://www.hotaudio.com/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=206
For smaller earphones or In Ear Monitors (IEMs) be careful to check the minimum impedance that the amplifier supports.
There are lots of other alternatives around.
http://www.head-fi.org is a good place to look
If you're not spending more on your amp and DAC than your Mac then you need to spend more.
I tend to find the quality better through my headphones. But I blame that on background noise when I use my computer. (I don't use headphones with my computers)
If you're not spending more on your amp and DAC than your Mac then you need to spend more.
Then hide the credit card statement from your significant other!
Also keep in mind that when you use high quality monitoring you will hear how bad MP3/AAC compression can be for music, so always buy the CD then you have a lossless master to begin with. Then look at using LAME to encode or use Apple Lossless.
I am about to mod my dead 160GB Ipod to 32GB of flash memory, which I will use with Shure 530 IEMs.
I've noticed a difference between my MacBook Pro and my iPhone too but I wouldn't say that one is better then the other, the sound is being delivered in different ways.
The sound being generated for the iPhone and iPods are specifically designed for headphone use and specifically made to sound good on cheaper headphones, so the bass is warmer and the treble set to be quite lively, the mid tones are a little subdued and there is enhanced stereo imaging to give an all-encompassing sound, this is all designed for a pleasurable listening experience on low to medium grade headphones. Also most people connecting their iPod to external speakers use the docking system and not the headphone connecter, and as far as I know the dock gives a flatter sound quality then the headphone jack.
The MacBook Pro has a different more flat sound coming out of the headphone jack, but now realize why this is good: MacBook Pro's are often used as machines for editing sound and video, when in this editing phase technicians require the flattest sound possible and most of them are listening to the sound on Studio Monitors (Speakers that are designed to give an as flat as possible response).
So from a purest point of view the sound from the MacBook Pro is better - it may not be as pleasurable to listen to on your headphones but it is better. If you feel you need more bass there is an equalizer setting in iTunes that can help you or install some software that can work as an inboard equalizer.
The sound being generated for the iPhone and iPods are specifically designed for headphone use and specifically made to sound good on cheaper headphones, so the bass is warmer and the treble set to be quite lively, the mid tones are a little subdued and there is enhanced stereo imaging to give an all-encompassing sound, this is all designed for a pleasurable listening experience on low to medium grade headphones. Also most people connecting their iPod to external speakers use the docking system and not the headphone connecter, and as far as I know the dock gives a flatter sound quality then the headphone jack.
The MacBook Pro has a different more flat sound coming out of the headphone jack, but now realize why this is good: MacBook Pro's are often used as machines for editing sound and video, when in this editing phase technicians require the flattest sound possible and most of them are listening to the sound on Studio Monitors (Speakers that are designed to give an as flat as possible response).
So from a purest point of view the sound from the MacBook Pro is better - it may not be as pleasurable to listen to on your headphones but it is better. If you feel you need more bass there is an equalizer setting in iTunes that can help you or install some software that can work as an inboard equalizer.
I haven't listened to my newer headphones on my notebook very often but from what I have been able to gather it's always seemed to me that my MBP with bose headphones plugged in has better sound quality than that of my iPod (Touch) from my iTunes. I don't know why though. lol Either one is fine with me, the iPod Touch sounds great anyway. But for some reason it seemed that my older MBP had deeper sound quality.
you do need an optical device on the other side of the cable.
its like via optical you are connecting an additional "sound card" to the macbook.
but its not a sound card, just the converter part of the soundcard.
ALL unibodies have ****** converters. i cant listen to them with either of my headphones (AKG K702 & AKG K450). its just too much hiss, too much aliasing, too much artefacts. its yuck. even MP3 sounds crappy.
Jon-Luke you are saying the EQ is applied to the headphone out of the iPhone & iPod. i doubt that would be so without specifications
you wouldnt want to connect the MacBook Pro output to the monitors, because the crappy converters would be MORE than appearent. + the fact that you cant do balanced connections which is the least here...
so as much as i give you credit for trying, believe me, anyone doing proper sound editing is avoiding this built in card.
you can get an ExpressCard interface with great converters for 200 bucks, and it will be probably 10x better.
Mac Pro built in is a different story, but it still isnt good enough, but its bearable at least.
See the post I linked to above. An attenuator (AKA volume knob) will get rid of a lot of the artifacts and noise by increasing the SNR. The MBP needs one, but the iPod doesn't because it is designed to work with headphones. Of course, even with an attenuator the integrated sound card probably still won't compare to a quality external card.
iTines does apply some effect by default. Under preferences->playback there is an option for Sound Enhancer, enabled by default, which increases the apparent stereo separation, IIRC.
im talking about logics output, and i have sound enhancer and everything else turned off in iTunes anyway
passive attenuator does not help because its not solely SNR problem as it is the converter problem (connected MBP to a 70's solidstate amplifier with 0.01% THD, with MBP volume maxed out, still A LOT of aliasing, way to much to be used as reference, i doubt there is an impedance mismatch here since its line to line signal.)
of course, it gets less obvious with crappy headphones... and crappy source
feed it an uncompressed mix at 88.2/24bit ..heh.. different story