When using Windows 7 via Boot Camp on my 2010 27" iMac the audio quality is just terrible. It's too loud and it seems to be very high pitched. I'm using the drivers that Apple provides. Has anyone encountered this problem and found a solution?
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Terrible Audio Quality iMac 27" in Windows 7
- Thread starter Hastings101
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What are you playing?
.wav, .mp3, external source?
Do the same files sound normal/OK on Apple OS?
.wav, .mp3, external source?
Do the same files sound normal/OK on Apple OS?
I have a slightly newer 27" iMac with Win 7 under Bootcamp and my audio sounds fine. No difference I can tell between Win or Mac OS. Maybe you have a corrupt driver?
Same "problem" here. There's nothing really wrong, but in Windows, the audio quality sounds a little lower/muddled - there was no distortion or anything. In OS X, much more clearer, almost like it was higher quality for the same file.
There isn't a specific type of file that sounds bad, everything sounds bad - Mp3's, Flash video, system sounds. In OS X the same things sound great.
Not sure where I could get another driver - I've tried the one from my install DVD and the one that is downloaded from Apple's servers and both sound the same.
Not sure where I could get another driver - I've tried the one from my install DVD and the one that is downloaded from Apple's servers and both sound the same.
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I get the same problem too. There's a noticeable loss of lower mids- bass, making the sound seem colder than what should be.
The problem is only for the built-in speakers though. Plugging headphones in still gives me great sound.
Installing drivers did nothing for me.
The problem is only for the built-in speakers though. Plugging headphones in still gives me great sound.
Installing drivers did nothing for me.
I've got the same problem with my iMac7,1. It's definite something with the driver. My iMac uses the realtek audio codec and I've found marginal improvements by updating to their latest driver.
http://www.realtek.com/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
You might be able to get things even better by playing around with their sound equalizer.
I'm guessing the realtek driver didn't help muchSo, it's now four months later. Is there a solution yet?
No, sorry. I appreciate your help though. I think my iMac uses a different driver (Cirrus Audio Cs4206a or something like that)
True! I have tried many different versions of realtek drivers. There is really no difference. Even without any realtek drivers, the system still has sound (same crappy sound quality)
So I guess Cirrus Audio driver is the one you should update.
BTW, I got my iMac last year, but through some research, I found this problem exists since last major redesign --- unibody, which is 2009. It is so sad that apple never fixed it
, but you know, it is bootcamp. I don't think they care about windows muchYes, not to miss lead, updating the realtek drive helped a bit, but my sound quality is still no where near as good as it is in os x.True! I have tried many different versions of realtek drivers. There is really no difference. Even without any realtek drivers, the system still has sound (same crappy sound quality)
So I guess Cirrus Audio driver is the one you should update.
BTW, I got my iMac last year, but through some research, I found this problem exists since last major redesign --- unibody, which is 2009. It is so sad that apple never fixed it
The first link in that discussion did help a little bit, thank you. Still nowhere near as good as OS X but at least it doesn't sound like pure static.
