Official of the official - MacBook Does Have Sound Noise / Pop issue - 100%

[cheez]

OK, we have a bad news.

It has been *confirmed* that the POP / TICK is LOUDER and CLEARER after hooking up the Toslink Optical connection. The POP is louder by about jaw dropping 50% than it was running with just 3.5 mm headphone jack from Macbook.

This is a huge, MEGA fail on the Apple hardware. 200%.


Yes I have already tried restarting the laptop, power cycled the D1 DAC. Tried reseating the USB plug for power, etc etc etc. No difference.

If I recall correctly, you should be able to set Audio format to 32-bit float.

I have tried that just now. No difference.

Guys, girls, grandpa, grandma, dogs, cats, ants.... I think it's safe to conclude that the Apple hardware in the headphone port (3.5mm) or the chipset or somewhere in the internals for sound is just crap.


My next move: Going back to USB Connection. I will be back. ASTALABISTA BABE


D:

 

[cheez]

OK I am back.

I removed the fiber optic connection and gone back to USB connection. It's totally silent now, no pops no nothing zippppppppp............


Conclusion: We would have thought that running through fiber optic connection will eliminate Pops that occur before and after music or sound is played. Well, it's wrong! 3.5mm port connection (or its related hardware) on the Mac hardware is the culprit. Surprisingly the USB gives me no problems.

Currently I'm jamming listening to music via USB connection and continue to break-in my D1 DAC now.

 

[runawayprisoner]

You know, there is still the possibility that your MacBook is faulty and that it has a bad headphone out port. Popping can be heard with normal line-out, that I can understand. But if you are hearing it through optical, then something is definitely wrong.

 

[TheStu]

That is what I am thinking as well. Once you switch over to optical then anything that you were hearing that was problematic should have disappeared, but since it didn't, I think that your MBP is borked in some way. If you have an Apple store nearby take it in and have them listen to it.

Do you get the pops when you are listening over the speakers?

 

[cheez]

Popping can be heard with normal line-out, that I can understand. But if you are hearing it through optical, then something is definitely wrong.

Not only do I still hear them but they are LOUDER by, actually 200%, that's twice as loud. This is incredibly retarded.

That is what I am thinking as well. Once you switch over to optical then anything that you were hearing that was problematic should have disappeared, but since it didn't, I think that your MBP is borked in some way. If you have an Apple store nearby take it in and have them listen to it.

I got the MBP from BestBuy... Apple provides first 90 day factory warranty is this correct?

Do you get the pops when you are listening over the speakers?

I get *ticks* (almost sound like pop) *and* noise when I listen over my ear phones (Etymotic HF-5). I get pops when I listen over Audioengine A2 speakers unless I set the system volume to 100%. But, with fiber optic you get pops no matter what. Fiber optic connections automatically forces my system to 100% volume and not controllable.

 

[cheez]

Or who knows, this could be the sound chipset issue. I didn't hear any noise or ticks when I tried to turn the 3.5mm jack from the Macbook headphone port. I only hear Pops before and after sound effects or music is played. It's like the chipset is sending pop *signal* making it think it's music, lol. This is just my guess.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I got the MBP from BestBuy... Apple provides first 90 day factory warranty is this correct?

1 year. The 90 days is just for phone tech support. Actual warranty coverage is 1 year.

 

[cheez]

1 year. The 90 days is just for phone tech support. Actual warranty coverage is 1 year.

Ah that's not bad. Thanks. I may give them a call or chat online to discuss on the issue of my MBP.

For now I'm happy as #$%@ via USB connection. The music sound is getting better and better.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Or who knows, this could be the sound chipset issue. I didn't hear any noise or ticks when I tried to turn the 3.5mm jack from the Macbook headphone port. I only hear Pops before and after sound effects or music is played. It's like the chipset is sending pop *signal* making it think it's music, lol. This is just my guess.

That's by design, but it should only happen after you have left the computer idle for approximately 15 minutes or so, and it should be completely inaudible.

I did a simple test and plugged my MBP into the A2 downstairs today. Not a single pop. Not like I heard it with the Mac Mini, but I did hear it with the MBP using very sensitive IEMs (8 Ohm) before once or twice, but I usually play my music continuously for about an hour instead of firing them every 15 minutes.

If it's really that loud, and if it happens more regularly, I believe you should bring that computer in.

 

[cheez]

I might try contacting Apple support to discuss on the problem I get... If they are co-operative and replace the laptop for me with peace of mind I wouldn't mind... Don't want to take too much hassle.

If they are gonna try to fix it by tearing up my laptop a apart, uh uh, no way. I will proudly disapprove it.

D:

If it doesn't work out, I will just use USB connection. I have no issue there.

 

[runawayprisoner]

You can outright ask for a replacement and I'm sure they'll work something out if it hasn't been so long since you purchased the MacBook.

Hmm... I think I'll have a chance to play with a Audioengine D1 soon.

 

[cheez]

You can outright ask for a replacement and I'm sure they'll work something out if it hasn't been so long since you purchased the MacBook.

Hmm... I think I'll have a chance to play with a Audioengine D1 soon.

I haven't done it yet... I will give Apple support a try tonite. Fingers and toes crossed.

Oh wow! please do so! ATTENTION: D1 is gettins scary good. The first few days after hooking up the D1 sounded *meh*. It was like 80% as good as Macbook headphone port without the external DAC in terms of overall sound. It sounded a little mudded and the transition of the sounds wasn't as smooth. Oh shit... it's changing now. It's going the opposite. The soundstage is increasing also. It already went past 100% mark and sounding better already. Continuing to break-in / burn-in my D1 DAC.

It feels sorta like you know how apple gets taste better as it ripes. You know how it tastes when not ripe right? It feels like it's 50% ripe now.

 

[cheez]

Last night, I finally received the Recoton Fiber Optic Toslink to 3.5mm adapter which costs $1.80. Hooking up with this one gave me exact same problem with loud pops.

IN ADDITION: this adapter introduced a lot of NOISE / Static to the speakers when playing any audio or not playing anything. It was constant.

Huh, ya would think being digital and the use of optical line gets you perfect audio output, NOPE. It's not that simple. This adapter is somehow interfering with the signal and adding bunch of noise to the line.


Shaxon Fiber Optic Toslink to 3.5mm adapter (PTLA-05) $2.49 I bought from Frys last weekend and tried was better! I put this back on and the noise was reduced significantly, except for a tiny amount of noise the speakers generate themselves which is normal.

Using USB connection seemed just as quiet if not quieter, to my observation. All this was tested by bringing my ears close to the speaker.


For those that want to go optical route, beware of the quality issues on the adapters. It might be better off to opt for an Optical to 3.5mm cable instead so can prevent from getting connection issues by using the adapter.

 

[cheez]

I decided to not to contact Apple for service.:thumbsup:

Even if they honor to replace the laptop for me I got two things to deal with:

1. Wait for them ship the replacement to me.

2. I already have over 200GB worth data in my laptop that I can't easily move around. *inconvenient*.


You know..... I used to be a freak that used to return stuff for exchange / refund all the time. Tired of doing that B.S... it takes away my precious time, money (gas money), etc. No freaking way... And I seem to get worse products everytime I do that. So I have officially decided to not to get service and go with USB route.


Once a while I get a *sharp* distorted, high-pitched buzz sound for a split second when using the USB connection. It's very loud. Hoping that it's just some fluke or maybe caused by bad timing in the USB department? I am using the 7ft generic USB cable used for printers.... I don't think this is good thing.:thumbsdown:

So I went to check out some vendors and found some of these.

- Kimber Silver USB
- Synergistic Research Tricon USB
- Transparent High Perf USB
- Wireworld Starlight USB

I checked out BetterCable but they don't carry USB.

I then found out Ridge Street Audio Alethias USB cable. - $715 for the shortest one 0.5m. Forget it... way out of my price range.

So I went for an AudioQuest Carbon grade 5% solid silver USB cable. The shortest one is going for $120.

Order placed. It's coming this FRIDAY.

Stay t-u-n-e-d for updates.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Just bring it to the Apple Store. If they do a swap, it'll be instant.

 

[TheStu]

Just bring it to the Apple Store. If they do a swap, it'll be instant.

Well, not instant. It will take a few minutes. But yea, you can even ask them to swap your drives though really, instead of buying a $120 USB cable* you could have gotten some sort of data backup device. Seriously, I am pretty sure that this is a problem that Apple will fix, for free. Stop throwing money at it.






*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, does it give you a happy ending? Does it smooth and massage the electrons that special way?!

 

[alfa147x]

I hope that's not the only copy of your 200gb of important data

 

[slashbinslashbash]

*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, does it give you a happy ending? Does it smooth and massage the electrons that special way?!

Yeah I was going to suggest that the OP try some Monster Cables with the oxygen-free copper conductors and the 24k gold-plated connectors, but I don't know if they'd work with the A2's. Then I decided that it was easier to put the OP on ignore.

OP: I strongly suggest that you grab a friend to conduct a blind listening test to see if you are actually hearing all of this BS or if you are totally having a placebo effect. That's my last word to you. Reading the posts of somebody who would buy a $120 USB cable is a waste of my time.

 

[TheStu]

Yeah I was going to suggest that the OP try some Monster Cables with the oxygen-free copper conductors and the 24k gold-plated connectors, but I don't know if they'd work with the A2's. Then I decided that it was easier to put the OP on ignore.

OP: I strongly suggest that you grab a friend to conduct a blind listening test to see if you are actually hearing all of this BS or if you are totally having a placebo effect. That's my last word to you. Reading the posts of somebody who would buy a $120 USB cable is a waste of my time.

I actually own a Monster gold plated USB A-B cable. The only reason I do is because it was $12 for 2m and I like the sort of bluish-purple color.

 

[cheez]

Hey Beef Stew D),

I was thinking about going with a $715 (before shipping) cable that is only 0.5 m in length. Not only is it too short but it's a bit too much. It's not reasonable to buy a such for my setup. It is an overkill.

I settled for a $120 USB cable since I find it "schweet spot" for my setup. This is just rite. Still might be an overkill but not really since I mostly do near field listening. Plus, I can use it for future setup as well.

Originally Posted by TheStu
*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, does it give you a happy ending? Does it smooth and massage the electrons that special way?!

If you laugh too hard you'll hurt your stomach. Don't get ugly just because you can't afford it. It's not my fault.


And to slashbinslashbash, I kind of expected to hear this kind of response from viewers like you. You want to put me on ignore, that's fine, do so. Or, another way is to not visit this thread.




I can't wait to receive the new USB cable this Friday. Exciting!... :wub: I will let you guys know of my result to the sound and other flaws associated with USB can be minimized or eliminated. Stay t-u-n-e-d....

 

[TheStu]

Hey Beef Stew D),

I was thinking about going with a $715 (before shipping) cable that is only 0.5 m in length. Not only is it too short but it's a bit too much. It's not reasonable to buy a such for my setup. It is an overkill.

I settled for a $120 USB cable since I find it "schweet spot" for my setup. This is just rite. Still might be an overkill but not really since I mostly do near field listening. Plus, I can use it for future setup as well.




If you laugh too hard you'll hurt your stomach. Don't get ugly just because you can't afford it. It's not my fault.


And to slashbinslashbash, I kind of expected to hear this kind of response from viewers like you. You want to put me on ignore, that's fine, do so. Or, another way is to not visit this thread.




I can't wait to receive the new USB cable this Friday. Exciting!... :wub: I will let you guys know of my result to the sound and other flaws associated with USB can be minimized or eliminated. Stay t-u-n-e-d....

Wait... WHAT!?

We are trying to help you save money AND fix a problem. I don't have any skin in the game though, I don't care if you buy a $2000 USB cable blessed with unicorn tears, none of my business. However, I will laugh at you. Because it's stupid. Because it's digital.

 

[cheez]

Wait... WHAT!?

However, I will laugh at you. Because it's stupid. Because it's digital.

Wait... WHAT!?

You just said because it's digital. This instantly puts you to newbie category. I am sorry that if this turned out insulting. I didn't mean to. Digital doesn't mean it's all the same in AQ. For computer file transfer, yeah, the quality doesn't apply. But for Audio, it's whole another mess.

We are trying to help you save money AND fix a problem. I don't have any skin in the game though, I don't care if you buy a $2000 USB cable blessed with unicorn tears, none of my business.

Yes, thank you for trying to help!.. for trying to save me money. But I am not too after saving money. I'm after quality and performance.

And you know what... if I got a defective Macbook already, the chance of getting the same problem or getting some other problems is very high. It looks to me, if this is defect, the failure rate is at 60%. That's terrible. If it was 0.6%, I'll buy that.

Once again, I apologize for calling you beef stew. I didn't mean it.

 

[TheStu]

Wait... WHAT!?

You just said because it's digital. This instantly puts you to newbie category. I am sorry that if this turned out insulting. I didn't mean to. Digital doesn't mean it's all the same in AQ. For computer file transfer, yeah, the quality doesn't apply. But for Audio, it's whole another mess.




Yes, thank you for trying to help!.. for trying to save me money. But I am not too after saving money. I'm after quality and performance.

And you know what... if I got a defective Macbook already, the chance of getting the same problem or getting some other problems is very high. It looks to me, if this is defect, the failure rate is at 60%. That's terrible. If it was 0.6%, I'll buy that.

Once again, I apologize for calling you beef stew. I didn't mean it.

nm, not worth it.

 

[alfa147x]

Lol. Digital cables.

 

[dawks]

Lol. Digital cables.

This is becoming comedy gold... it can't be real..

$200 for a USB cable to get data to a $170 24bit DAC, connected to a $200 set of mediocre 2.0 speakers.. unreal.

This is almost as funny as the guy in the local computer store who said I'd loose quality if I used a TOSLINK to 3.5mm adapter for my Macbook...

And a 60% failure rate on Apple hardware? WTF? I'd be screwed if it were even a 10th that.