I just purchased a new MacBook Pro M5 Pro. I've previously used the MacBook Air (m2). I noticed with the MBP that when the laptop lid is closed, and I'm using external monitors, the audio is a little muffled compared to the MacBook Air. When the laptop is open on the MBP it sounds great. It's not that pronounced, but I can tell the difference between the Pro and the Air. I'm assuming it's just how the laptop is constructed. Because the audio sounds fine when it's open I don't think there's an issue. Anyone else ever notice something like tis?
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Muffled audio when MacBook Pro lid closed
- Thread starter automan98
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Dave Pearce
macrumors member
Are you sure you arent also getting sound out of the MBP at the same time? The MBP's internal speakers will get a bit muffled when you close the lid, but the audio out to external monitors definitely dont get effected.
If your monitor does not have speakers the audio will default to the MBP and with the lid closed its like listening to music in the other room with the door closed.I believe the Air fires sound out the hinge and the Pro through the grills on either side of the keyboard.
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Sorry, I wasn’t clear. It wasn’t about the audio outgoing to external monitors. It was the speakers on board on the MacBook Pro when I have a external monitor connected and the laptop shut with the noise coming out from the laptop.
Pug72
macrumors 68040
With the lid shut on the Pro the speakers are covered. With the Air they aren't.
Simple as that.
Simple as that.
Those perforated side panels are the treble part of the speaker system. You close the lid and there goes the treble, hence the muffled sound. MacBook Air's don't have that top-firing setup, so you can close the lid without any effect.
Dave Pearce
macrumors member
Adding to Macalway's answer — the two tweeters at the top of each speaker grille sit angled up toward the display and use the screen as an acoustic reflector to bounce treble back at you. Close the lid and that reflector is gone, so you lose obvious high end while the side-firing woofers keep playing unblocked. It's really designed as a lid-open system. If you want the internal speakers usable with the lid closed, a vertical stand like the BookArc holds the MBP edge-up so nothing's sealed. My 16" M3 Max lives clamshelled on a Studio Display and I just route audio to the monitor speakers in System Settings > Sound and stop thinking about it.