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Buzz noise/Feedback when using headphone jack with MBP

N

NickC1028

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 5, 2007
38
0
I made a thread a couple of weeks ago this kind of a problem. I did no get much feedback but am eagerly looking to hear from people since this problem has been driving me nuts for a couple of weeks now.


After audio has been started on my Macbook Pro there is screetch-like noises/alien/spaceship/buzzes. it eventually stops but starts after there is audio again


Any ideas/suggestions?
 
I just plugged in my headphones into my new 2.5 MBP, and when I turn the sound up and down I hear...uh, almost a tiny electrical sounds. It's just for a second, it it almost sounds like the headphone speakers "turn off" after say 30 seconds. I know it's not my headphones because they work fine on everything else. :confused:

I must be lucky though, because I don't have any of these issues *knock on wood* when actually listening to music or whatnot.
 
NickC1028 said:
I made a thread a couple of weeks ago this kind of a problem. I did no get much feedback but am eagerly looking to hear from people since this problem has been driving me nuts for a couple of weeks now.


After audio has been started on my Macbook Pro there is screetch-like noises/alien/spaceship/buzzes. it eventually stops but starts after there is audio again


Any ideas/suggestions?
Click to expand...

This is a known problem with current MacBook Pros. The audio hardware for an analogue output is of poor quality or is not shielded enough. If I use Apple In Ear headphones with my 2.4 Ghz MBP I can hear a constant hum and when I first got it (before they tried to fix it with an audio update) there would be clicks before each sound. Once, I even managed to pick up (no joke) an AM radio station. Freaked me out!

The solution I have found is to use headphones with a higher impedance, which seems to filter out more of the hums and buzzess. i.e., I found V-moda Vibe headphones for my iPhone are much better than the Apple In Ear ones. Also, using regular, over-the-ear headphones means the speakers are farther away from your ear and you can't hear the buzz and hums. Some older folks with poorer hearing might not notice it much, even those in their 40s.

Sorry, but, there is no good solution, it's just a hardware issue.
 
same,

I have the same issue. I am a little disappointed.

I am hoping that Apple isn't starting to skimp out on quality to make an extra buck.

I have some higher end earbuds that pick up the feedback , at first I thought that my earbuds were faulty but I cranked my ipod with my earbuds and I wasnt recieving the same feedback. So I pretty much figured that it was the audio port. on my macbook :/

*shrugs* I just hope its not an indicator of where Apple is heading.
 
catachip said:
This is a known problem with current MacBook Pros. The audio hardware for an analogue output is of poor quality or is not shielded enough. If I use Apple In Ear headphones with my 2.4 Ghz MBP I can hear a constant hum and when I first got it (before they tried to fix it with an audio update) there would be clicks before each sound. Once, I even managed to pick up (no joke) an AM radio station. Freaked me out!

The solution I have found is to use headphones with a higher impedance, which seems to filter out more of the hums and buzzess. i.e., I found V-moda Vibe headphones for my iPhone are much better than the Apple In Ear ones. Also, using regular, over-the-ear headphones means the speakers are farther away from your ear and you can't hear the buzz and hums. Some older folks with poorer hearing might not notice it much, even those in their 40s.

Sorry, but, there is no good solution, it's just a hardware issue.
Click to expand...

Wow... that is quite odd to pick up an AM station :eek:
 
I'm a little bummed to hear about the hissing problem. I use my MB to record my DJ sets and I was planning to use my future MBP. I guess I can use my DJ headphones to listen to playback if it really bugs me.

How's the input recording quality?
 
I've tried using regular Apple headphones and the hum is pretty noticeable. However with my 150ohm Sennheisers the problem goes away.
 
EMAGDNIM said:
I'm a little bummed to hear about the hissing problem. I use my MB to record my DJ sets and I was planning to use my future MBP. I guess I can use my DJ headphones to listen to playback if it really bugs me.

How's the input recording quality?
Click to expand...

Depends on the impedidence of the headphones. Also it doesn't seem to appear with hooking it up to speakers (and things similar to that). It seems to only occur with certain headphones.
 
i just got mine in the mail and it has this problem. i'm using the apple in-ear headphones.... :(
 
I do notice it on headphones, but it's really bad when I plug it in to my audio setup at home. MBP 2.2 via 1/8" to RCA cable into Mackie mixer out to Event 20/20p monitors. The noise is intolerable! I've started using an iMic, but really it shouldn't be as bad as it is.
 
He didn't...

compuguy1088 said:
Wow... that is quite odd to pick up an AM station :eek:
Click to expand...

Without a proper electrical filter to filter the amplitude modulated frequency all you would hear is a hiss at the worst. It's impossible. Furthermore, I wonder which station he says he heard, and how the magic he claims was able to tune to that frequency.
 
i'm getting buzz alternated with high pitched beeping. seriously? $2500 for this?
 
i have the same problem when listening through my BOSE Over Ear Headphones... i'm really disappointed with Apple. I did Not Shell out for a "Pro" bit of kit to hear friggin buzzing all the time!
 
I wondered if any of you guys have recorded anything using the built in soundcard ?

...if so , has the noise shown up on the recorded material at all ?

thanks
 
leodavinci0 said:
Without a proper electrical filter to filter the amplitude modulated frequency all you would hear is a hiss at the worst. It's impossible. Furthermore, I wonder which station he says he heard, and how the magic he claims was able to tune to that frequency.
Click to expand...

I just assumed it was AM. Maybe short wave radio? I could definitely hear a conversation, distinctly. It was very weird, and I remember leaning forward in my chair to listen closer. I know it sounds bizarre, but, what can I say? It happened.
 
Its electrical noise. I'm pretty sure we all deal with it but some don't notice it as much. It has to do with the quality of the audio processor. specifically, the internal shielding. A better pair of headphones should help a little.
 
Got a fix for you

NickC1028 said:
I made a thread a couple of weeks ago this kind of a problem. I did no get much feedback but am eagerly looking to hear from people since this problem has been driving me nuts for a couple of weeks now.


After audio has been started on my Macbook Pro there is screetch-like noises/alien/spaceship/buzzes. it eventually stops but starts after there is audio again


Any ideas/suggestions?
Click to expand...

Okay, so it's not a "fix" but it will make the buzzing go away. Get a simple volume controller (or attenuator), something similar to the Shure EA650 Volume Control available on Amazon (Radio shack has a cheaper generic version that does the same thing). Plug it in, crank the volume higher on your MBP, then lower the volume with the volume control. Why will this work? Well basically the volume of the hiss/buzzing coming from the audio output jack is fixed, and cranking the volume of the headphones does not make the hissing/buzzing any louder. By amplifying the sound (and then de-amplifying it with the volume controller) you are effectively increasing the signal/noise ratio so the noise is too faint for you to perceive. You're basically turning the volume down on the buzzing to a point where you don't hear it anymore. Works for me...
 
Wow some of you people cry way too much! Seriously! If your disatisfied contact apple! I have this problem with mine and ill give you all a hint (its not just apple who has this problem!)

Some of you act like apple did this on purpose to you that they spitefully put in a soundcard with a problem. Your covered under warranty for a year so if your computer is having problems, contact them and have them fix it.
 
chrono1081 said:
Wow some of you people cry way too much! Seriously! If your disatisfied contact apple! I have this problem with mine and ill give you all a hint (its not just apple who has this problem!)

Some of you act like apple did this on purpose to you that they spitefully put in a soundcard with a problem. Your covered under warranty for a year so if your computer is having problems, contact them and have them fix it.
Click to expand...


I'd be 'crying' if I had spent the money an Apple machine costs an it wasn't up to par in EVERY department ....seriously !!.. does the cost of these machines not demand that they work properly ?.

I doubt Apple would do it on purpose BUT as you imply with your hint that other companies are having the same 'problems' then, what are Apple to fix these defective parts with ?
(seeing as the other companies use the same parts !)
 
Sorry guys I reread what I wrote and didnt meant it to sound so harsh. It is an annoyance and I hear it when I play anything on my midi controller (sounds like R2D2). However unless you get an external sound card you'll probably hear it. I hear it on others machines too when I use their software. Not all brands but a few. However, some people at work have gotten external soundcards and that solved the problem. (These external cards were on windows machines, not sure if they make one for mac I havent looked into it.
 
Hardware Solution

Hi,

I've the same problem with my Macbook 2.4Ghz GMAX3100. Hissing an popping on the headphone jack especialliy when changing volume.

The reason is very simple: It is high frequency noise, that is not filterred by the macbook hardware. This high frequency noise is mixed down to lower frequencies, when another high frequency signal is added. Thats why you can sometimes hear radio-stations with it...

To solve it you place in the signal lines in series a resistor of 220Ohms and on the speaker side a capacitor of 100nF from the signal to ground. (<3€ material)
This filters high frequencies (50kHz and higher) out of the signal and does only minimal interfere with the audio-signal.

The sound is then crystal clear without noise/popps.

Wish Apple would have done that...
 
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