macbook pro 15" 2010 right speaker louder?

[Prhymeate]

The latest update is supposed to fix this. My first mac arrived yesterday and I was pretty disappointed that it had such a basic problem. I'm glad it's been fixed.

What's included?

General fixes and improvements

* improves compatibility with some Braille displays
* resolves an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive
* resolves an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening
* addresses issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers
* improves reliability of VPN connections
* resolves a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing
* resolves an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view
* resolves an issue with Parental Controls Time Limits for Open Directory or Active Directory users
* resolves a display sleep issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers
* resolves an issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers in which the right speaker may sound louder than the left speaker
* includes Safari 5.0; for more information about Safari 5.0, see this webpage
* Security improvements; for information about the security content of this update, please visit this article

Fixes and improvements for Aperture 3

* adds tethered shooting support for additional digital camera models
* addresses IPTC metadata compatibility issues

Fixes and improvements for external devices

* RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras
* resolves an issue with using third-party USB web cameras
* resolves an issue with noise when using some third-party FireWire audio devices
* resolves pairing issues with Apple remotes

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4150

 

[Libertine Lush]

The latest update is supposed to fix this. My first mac arrived yesterday and I was pretty disappointed that it had such a basic problem. I'm glad it's been fixed.

Didn't resolve it for me. How would it resolve a design flaw via software anyways? I assume they intend to tilt the volume towards the left, but only when there's nothing plugged into the audio out. And yet the right is still noticeable louder.

 

[zudo]

It has ever been thus, my old PowerBook g4 had exactly the same issue. I must say I was a bit dissappointed to find it hasn't changed in the last 5 years when I got my new 2010 mbp but hey ho, just use the slider to compensate.

 

[BobbyCarbn]

Just noticed this with my 15 inch MBP AG HiRes purchased in July 2010. Thanks to MR for confirming there is an issue and I am not hearing things! I slid the balance slider over....problem fixed.

I usually have her connected up to a set of B&W Desktop speakers anyway so no harm no foul!

The usability engineers at Apple should have caught this though! shame shame shame!

 

[olletsocmit]

** The right speaker is not louder. It jsut sounds like that. The left side only has a mid-hi tweeter speaker, the right has that plus the "sub"

 

[devilstrider]

I just checked mine and it's my left is louder than the right. I knew it was something but it did not think to check that.

 

[Arpeggio]

similar problem on MacBook Pro 17"

I have a new MBP 17", just arrived two days ago. I find that the right speaker is not only louder but that is creates a noticeable amount of vibration and distortion. It doesn't happen all the time but often, and with some music and certain frequencies (for example, on solo piano) it is near to unlistenable.
My benchmark is my previous MBP, year 2008. Almost flawless. Nice round sound, not tinny in the least (which the new one is).
Audiowise, the new one is low below the quality level one would expect of a pro machine.
So, I'm quite disappointed and I'm trying to figure out if this is a general structural loss in quality of this line of products or if I was unlucky and bought a lemon.

 

[mark28]

Yes, Apple does aknowledge the problem. But not what the real problem is..

A mono summed and placed to one side SUB-WOOFER is fine because Bass is mostly omni-directional.

The Problem is that the mono "sub-woofer" in the macbook pro is not a subwoofer, it is a mid range speaker with a frequency response of approx. 250-1500Hz. , though it doesn't roll completely off until about 100Hz downwards.

That leave the left speaker only with frequencies from 1500Hz and up.

For those of you that have seen a 2-way speaker:

It means that the so-called Sub-woofer actually represents what would come out of the bigger element. While the left side of the computer is left with the high frequencies that comes out on the small top speaker.

A sub-woofer would be something that started where the bigger of the 2 speakers couldn't play any lower. It would in other words be in addition to these two.

Wikipedia:



The point with all this being that apple with it's sub-woofer talk tries to hide the fact that this computer does not have stereo. It's got a mono mid-range driver with reasonable low-mid response for being a laptop. And they have added another treble driver to give an impression of being more than mono.

It's "better" than the mono of my old macbook, but the cool-aid factor worries me.

So my ears were not lying. The MBP always sounded very "mono" to me.

 

[Arpeggio]

@mark28: aha, I see. Thanks.
If that's the way they are all made, it looks quite unlikely I'll find a better sounding one. I guess the distortion also passes on to the chassis, because if I press down on the body with a certain force the vibration diminishes. I am under the impression that the keys too, contribute to the rattlyness of the sound. I hate to say this, but with certain music this MBP sounds like a giant FM radio.

It's quite a paradox that the Unibody design, which in theory should be more solid than the previous models, is giving this kind of problem

 

[kohsamui100]

I too have the same issue in my 2011... Taking the balance to the left isn't a solution as it quietens the right channel's audio information by way too much (just play a youtube "left/right test" and you'll notice it). Any "real" solution?