I just updated from a Late 2012 iMac to the new 2017 iMac and the sound quality from the internal speakers is very noticeably worse in the new model. I don't really know how to describe it, other than to say that it sounds "muffled" and not as crisp and clear. I tried installing equalizer software (Boom 2) to try and fix it, which helped a little, but it still sounds far inferior to my old iMac's speakers. Is there some kind of "burn-in" period until the speakers will sound their best? Or is there something else I should do? Thanks in advance for your help!
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New 2017 iMac 27" Speakers Sound Bad
- Thread starter HyQuality
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I use a wifi connected stereo amplifier with pro loudspeakers,get perfect sound quality from all my devices.
Guess the new loudspeakers installed in your Mac is something Apple try to save money with,as they want to sell you headphones.
Guess the new loudspeakers installed in your Mac is something Apple try to save money with,as they want to sell you headphones.
Come on, there's got to be a better explanation for this besides "Apple got cheap on the speakers". Is anyone else noticing a difference in speaker/sound quality?
Huh? Is that actually true? The dimensions specified on Apple's website are the same as the previous generation (20.3" high).
I've always used external speakers & was surprised how well it actually sounded compared to my much older 2007 iMac. I still went back to the externals which consist of two creative speakers & one Sony srx-55 for a boost of the bass. I split the audio out via a Y cable & tweaked the sound using boom 2 (now 3d). Honestly, I would rather just go with the sony & the internals, but I can't do both at the same time.
They don't want you to use the internal speakers; they want you to use the HomePod. Just wait till December and everything will sound great.
I tried that, but I will try again.
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it only allows for "built in output" which goes between the headphones jack or built in audio. I still cannot get both to output.
Ah, I see. The only way around it as far as I can tell would be to get a cheap USB audio interface for the Sony, then create the aggregate device with that + built-in audio...but at that point you might as well pick up some better speakers too
Speakers in any computer are really a joke, especially a desktop. A set of $30 speakers on amazon has better sound, I wish imac would just ditch the speakers to make room for expanding something else. Anyone serious enough to buy a Mac Pro is going to have much better speaker systems anyway so what's the point
This sounds like a terrible idea. I bought an iMac to have an all in one device, that includes speakers, which, really, aren't all that bad, they may not be astounding but they do the job and do it with enough quality that I've never felt the need to add speakers on. It's one of the reasons I prefer the iMac to more modular solutions. I used to have a PC tower hackintosh (from 2010-2013 upgraded several times) but ditched it for the iMac, which offered equivalent performance in an all in one chassis. I like that everything is integrated into a single box. People are free to upgrade with their own add-on speakers but for those of us who like their all in one because it is an all in one I hope Apple doesn't remove the speakers anytime soon.
Though yes, a Mac Pro doesn't need internal speakers....
I thought the same thing I first heard them! I definitely agree the speakers in the new model are not as good as the late 2012 model. Muffled is how I would describe it too.
Ah, I see. The only way around it as far as I can tell would be to get a cheap USB audio interface for the Sony, then create the aggregate device with that + built-in audio...but at that point you might as well pick up some better speakers too
The external speakers are excellent, I don't need to buy new ones of those. The problem is the audio output is controlled by hardware on the iMac. There's a possibility I might be able to do that with bluetooth, but I don't know.
I must say, switching from a 2012 rMBP to the new iMac 27'' 2017, the speakers are a vast improvement and don't sound bad to me at all - nice bass, to be honest.
The speakers can be tunes with software to sound really well. I personally used Boom2 in the past, but there are other software.
This is a shame, you would have thought they would be improved as it's been 5 years and they've shown us they can create impressive speakers with the Macbooks
I have to agree with the OP here. I ordered but had to return 2 separate 2015 iMacs and they both had better sounding internal speakers than the 2017 that I'm typing from now. The sound is hollow and bass response is worse than the outgoing model. Looks like I have to dust off my old Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 Satellite speakers and Sub from my basement.
True, that's one solution. But it's also somewhat besides the point. The new ones are worse. A company that spends time and money on changing the composition of the material underneath the Magic Mouse because "it didn't sound right" when dragging it on different surfaces after the weight changed due to using an internal battery would probably not miss the fact that the speakers are worse.
So what are the logical explanations here? Is it just a question of bad luck where Apple have never come across a unit with bad sound whereas the four 2017 iMacs I've tested that have lacked the crisp sound of the 2015 iMacs just come from a bad batch? Or have Apple chosen to accept a degradation of the sound for some reason?
The only reason I didn't return it is because mine doesn't stand out from the other three so I believe replacing it would just be a waste of time.
That's a little disappointing to hear. I was hoping I could get the extra speakers off my desk, sounds like they will have to stay.