Disappointing Macbook sound quality

[admin_exported]

Hi folks. I bought a Macbook Pro recently and am really impressed with it in all departments except for one (the most important) - SOUND!

It is currently hooked up to a Dacmagic via optical and it sounds really flat. Highs are tame, bass is undefined and the overall sound is rather wooly and uninspiring.

I know the rest of the system is fine as CD playback is great and my desktop>iTunes>Airprt Express sounds brilliant too.

I got the Macbook thinking I could use it as a serious source for digital music and I'm very disappointed. Even through iTunes>AE it sounds just as lame so it doesn't look like a problem with the optical output.

I've tried messing with the EQ in iTunes, sound enhancer and audio MIDI setup settings but something's wrong. My desktop running XP sounds in a different league.

Are current Macbook Pros poor in the sound department or am I missing something? I may even try it with XP on Bootcamp but I'm not very hopeful. Any ideas?

 

[chebby]

These guidelines from Benchmark work very well. (I have used them successfully when setting up a friend's iMac/Dacmagic.)

This article may also be of interest (although it was written using OS-X 10.4.6).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks chebby, appreciated. I'll twiddle around...

 

[rymidd]

i have the same problem with macbook pro with dac magic so i use my old sony vaio laptop and sounds much better. more warmer

 

[John Duncan]

That'll be the 50Hz hum from the power supply...

 

[Sorreltiger]

What kind of files are you playing? Lossless, AAC or Mp3?

 

[rymidd]

just tried what chebby has said and works for me it nows sounds as good as the old sony vaio thanx.

 

[chebby]

rymidd:just tried what chebby has said and works for me it nows sounds as good as the old sony vaio thanx.

My pleasure.