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Do I HAVE to get speakers for mac mini

B

brenton

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 9, 2004
55
0
Florida
Hello. Do I have to get speakers for my mac mini or can I just use the speakers included with it built in the mini. it will be right next to me on my desk. And If I do listen to music I will just use Headphones. Is the sound on the mini poor quality or is it just not loud enough. Thanks
 
The Mini doesn't have built-in speakers. If you want to hear sounds or music you would need either speakers or headphones, but I don't guess you would have to have those if you didn't need audio capability.
 
brenton said:
Hello. Do I have to get speakers for my mac mini or can I just use the speakers included with it built in the mini. it will be right next to me on my desk. And If I do listen to music I will just use Headphones. Is the sound on the mini poor quality or is it just not loud enough. Thanks
Click to expand...

The sound is produced by a very small speaker within the mini's chassis. It's not very loud, but I can say that even in a busy, and pretty loud Apple Store, I could still hear it over the din.

It should be plenty loud for anything but music or vide games, and for those, headphones should work great. If you find they aren't loud enough, I'm sure you can find a $10 set of multimedia speakers at your local Wal-Mart.
 
jknight8907 said:
The Mini doesn't have built-in speakers. If you want to hear sounds or music you would need either speakers or headphones, but I don't guess you would have to have those if you didn't need audio capability.
Click to expand...


According to Apple's website:

Mac Mini Tech Specs page said:
Audio
  • Built-in Speaker
  • Headphone/Audio Line-out jack
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

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I use a Mac mini without external speakers. The built in speaker is sufficient for simple uses, but don't expect to fill the room with deep bass rythms.

I don't think it sounds crap, but it is what it is: Mono sound from a small speaker.
 
gekko513 said:
I don't think it sounds crap, but it is what it is: Mono sound from a small speaker.
Click to expand...

In other words, it has no bass, distorts, and sounds like crap.

I just got a Mini for my mom and a couple days later my wife got one. Neither of them are big audiophiles but they're both using external speakers. It's just not very loud.
 
If you need it just to hear the alert sounds when you have a new insant message of something, it should be okay, but for much more you probably want a cheap set of external speakers.
 
Brandon Sharitt said:
If you need it just to hear the alert sounds when you have a new insant message of something, it should be okay, but for much more you probably want a cheap set of external speakers.
Click to expand...

you forgot the mac start up chime :O that is the most important use for the internal speaker.
 
Speaking of the startup chime, it is really quite loud, is there any way to turn down the internal speaker, since the loud chime seems to be coming from the internal speaker, even through I have the mini hooked up to external speakers.
 
Horrortaxi said:
In other words, it has no bass, distorts, and sounds like crap.

I just got a Mini for my mom and a couple days later my wife got one. Neither of them are big audiophiles but they're both using external speakers. It's just not very loud.
Click to expand...
Actually I watch TV (EyeTV) on my Mac mini with just the internal speaker, and I don't have any big complaints.
 
I have a Mac mini and here are my thoughts about the internal speaker.

1. It is crap.

2. If you only need it the start-up chime, system beeps, IM notifications it will work fine.

3. If you plan to listen to any music or play games you will want headphones or a pair of speakers.

4. The Mac mini's internal speaker and the word "audiophile" should not be used in the same sentence. Even if you are not associating the two... they just should not be that close together under any circumstances.

If there is a way to reduce to the volume of that internal speaker I would like to know how, as the startup chime is rather loud.

edit: Thanks debroglie
 
mleok said:
Speaking of the startup chime, it is really quite loud, is there any way to turn down the internal speaker, since the loud chime seems to be coming from the internal speaker, even through I have the mini hooked up to external speakers.
Click to expand...

Press and hold F3 on startup. On the PowerBooks in coincides with the MUTE volume button. Rather handy.
 
feakbeak said:
4. The Mac mini's internal speaker and the word "audiophile" should be used in the same sentence. Even if you are not associating the two... they just should not be that close together under any circumstances.
Click to expand...

"should be" or "should not be"
;)
 
stoid said:
The sound is produced by a very small speaker within the mini's chassis. It's not very loud, but I can say that even in a busy, and pretty loud Apple Store, I could still hear it over the din.

It should be plenty loud for anything but music or vide games, and for those, headphones should work great. If you find they aren't loud enough, I'm sure you can find a $10 set of multimedia speakers at your local Wal-Mart.
Click to expand...

A little out of place...but PLEASE, NOT WALMART!!! Just one day of boycotting will help, NOT walmart! Here are some other stores that dont hire illegal workers:

www.bestbuy.com
www.compusa.com
www.circuitcity.com
www.ecost.com
www.tigerdirect.com
www.buy.com

I am sure you can find some low cost alteratives there too.

or...of course, if there are any left, from the disaster walmart created to this country, you can go to a local Mom and Pop store
 
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