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

[slashbinslashbash]

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.

I've got some Monster cables too, and they are pretty nice, but I would never have paid retail for them. I think I paid like 1/10th of retail.

 

[alfa147x]

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.

24 bit DACs aren't that special. A Onkyo TX-SR309 has one too. They sell for $179. lol

 

[cheez]

I mean jewelry.

Couldn't believe it got here so quickly. Amazon shipping is so fast it's not even funny.

I did put it around my neck as it looked so good. Plus it's a high-purity 5% silver interconnect. :$


Oh here you go picx!

What's my impression? Pending.

 

[cheez]

Originally posted by: dawks

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.

lol.. I'm glad you're laughing. It's good for health.

but if I don't do this, I become one of the ordinary people, and that's no fun. You need something that stands out.

Do not underestimate the performance of the A2 speakers. It's the best speaker I have seen up to date considering its size. It puts out very cool sound. Should I call it *stylish* the sound signature that is. It's nothing like any other speakers I have put my hands on over the years.

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...

Toslink optical connection has issues. If you don't have a perfectly working computer and interconnects you will have noise issues. My USB connection blows the doors off Toslink, sorry.

Toslink cable will go to my Server windows PC which also acts as my main entertainment system with large screen.

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

That's underrated. Maybe more than 60% failure rate. I know for iPad 2 for example, the failure rate is 110%, that's over 100%.

I wish we go back in time to early 90's... everything including electronics seemed to have built much better than nowdays. China is to blame as well as the cost cutting from the manufacturers. This means, blame goes to the government.

Overall, I am not happy with Apple's products. It's way below my expectation.... I said this before but they need to jack up the price to triple...... and increase the build quality and improve on engineering. $500 for an iPad 2 is a joke. $1000 for a laptop is a joke.

If Macbook costs $3500 I would have settled for it without having to buy all these extra stuff (DAC, exotic / super cables D), adapters, etc etc etc). All you should need is a *fully working and properly working* laptop and a nice set of speakers.

 

[cheez]

Isn't anybody going to ask me how my gear sounds after the cable upgrade?????

 

[alfa147x]

We already know... It didn't make a difference.

 

[TheStu]

We already know... It didn't make a difference.

No way dude, it sounds so much... shinier now. I think that it is the 5% silver, he can definitely feel the aural love coming out of that cable. It is just, you know, blowing the music, all over his fac... er, i mean ears.

 

[alfa147x]

Fancy cables make sense for analog transmission. That's why I bought fancy cables for my turntables and my DAC -> headphone amp. But fancy USB cables? LOL.

 

[cheez]

Like the topic said, the Audioengine D1 DAC is a fail. Audioengine A2 speakers are brilliant, however.



Turned out that the high-end USB cable requires burn-in / break-in.

It sure removed a little bit of unwanted noise and cleaned up. And distortion seemed to have decreased ever-so-slightly.

The problem is I do not like the Audioengine D1 DAC's sonic signature. It was a bit too soft. It was silky smooth and with the help of the cable the sound was a little more relaxing, not edgy like it used to. The detail seemed to have increased by a slight bit. But the overall sound was like I was in a room with all walls fully covered with a thin carpet. The sound was less reflective. The headphone port right out of the Macbook sounds a little better still, as it sounded more *open* / *air*. The soundstage seemed a little better too. In other words, the D1 DAC is a DOWNGRADE for me. It wasn't worth any money. Too much money wasted.

So I returned EVERYTHING........ except for Toslink cable which I may need later for my server PC, not my lame Apple product.

Will be getting my money back by end of next week.


My A2 speakers are doing excellent job in treble and details. It's very open and airy too. It's retarded good it's not even funny. The ONLY thing it needs is the subwoofer to get more of complete sound.


My next step: On a quest to opt for a nice quality subwoofer. That Audioengine S8 sub looks tempting. Hmm. It works with A2 speakers too.

I got some thinkin to do....






This ignore thing is working. LOL!

 

[cheez]

The 1998 Sound Blaster Live! PCI card blows the doors off the Macbook sound port. It destroys the Audioengine D1 DAC as well. And this card can be had for what... 6 or 7 bucks at Amazon?

Key facts:

- Zero POPs
- Zero noise
- Crisper and more lively sound due to the EAX (Environmental Audio Extensions)
- Reliable as $#@%
- Runs like a tank

My card is 14 years old. I think the technology is really advanced compare to today's Apple sound chips. It's like time is going backwards. This card has gone through some serious abuse as well. Has been running in overclocked systems. Back in the days, the PCI was pushed to like 40mhz+. This damn thing wouldn't die... wth.


Anyways, enough with rants. Back to Macbook audio project..... I will let ya guys know once I get some updates.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, yeah... like I kept mentioning, the built-in DAC in the MacBook Pro is surprisingly one of pretty good quality. While the headphone out port suffers from high impedance (lowers damping factors and produces more noise in highly sensitive speakers), the DAC chip inside is solid.

I think you have a similar taste of music to me, so... in that case, I doubt you'd find good replacement until you hit the $200+ amps and DACs, but that'd obviously blow things out of proportion quick.

And also as mentioned, if you still find the pops annoying, I'd recommend you hit the closest Apple Store and ask them to swap the hard drive to a new machine. Tell them that you absolutely need the computer right tomorrow for a company presentation, and having it pop every now so often wouldn't do as you need to connect it to some speakers to play some sounds during the presentation.

"And here is a recording of the conversation..."
[BLUP]
...
"That's the end of it, does any of you gentlemen have any question?"
[BLOP]

I'd be annoyed to hell if I sit in a quiet meeting and have those pop in my face.

 

[cheez]

Runawayprisoner,

First of all, thank you for your kindness and patience. You have been extremely great to me and very helpful (no sarcasm).

I admit I was ranting a bit too much. Sorry.


I spent some time at audiophile forum and learned some things. To make things short, I have been enjoying sound characteristics, or better put *sound effects* delivered by pci sound card using DSP (EAX) features from desktop computers. But I have learned to accept to like original recording of the music as intended by the creator instead. So I have decided to not go with sound card route...


WELL GUESS WHAT?... I RETURNED THE Audioengine A2 speakers. D:






















....................................... for a pair of black ones. I hope to get the black one soon. It just looks sexy... the white one wasn't.

Oh man I can't wait to get the black A2 speakers.


Now that I returned most of my gear, and once I get my money back I will have some room for buying new toys. Plus I have bonus coming soon.



Here is my inital project:


Pair my Audioengine A2 speakers with a fine quality SUB. For now, no plan for external DAC. Will start off without.


What's amazing and so impressed is that these little A2 speakers one of the inputs (RCA or 3.5mm jack) can be used as an Output to connect to SUB's input. I must say, brilliant engineering and ideas by Audioengine, Ltd. They mean business.


These are the SUBs I have in mind:

- Revel® Concerta™ B120 (12" driver) - $1000+

- Velodyne EQ-Max 10 (10" driver) - $550

- HSU Research VTF-2 MK4 (12" driver) - $520

Hot dayumn... that's a nice sub.
AVI ADM 9T Subwoofer (10" driver)

Way out of my price range. That's a pipe dream. :-(


What do you think? Any suggestions? comments... This will be for my small room with Macbook w/ A2 speakers.

thanks?