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I just bought a Macbook Pro ,not really for the sound but for photoshop.
I will use it when travelling and wonder if there is anyone here who knows how to get the best out of it soundwise as well.
Išve got the 2,16GHz version with 2g ram but don't quite know what soundcard it contains. All I have found out is that it says Intel HD when I look it up.
When listening to CDs via my Sennheiser HD 650 headphones straight from the headphone socket it sounds tinny and not very impressive at all especially compared to My SACD player, but also compared to the headphone jack on an old Sony standard CD player.
Any ideas how I can make it sound decent?
Are there any small and handy batterypowered headphone amps that I could use instead of whatever is onboard?
And will it improve the sound?
There are people who use macbooks for hirez recording so why does it sound so mediocre as it is?
Thanks for any advice Chris.
Follow Ups:
Lots of reasons and things to do.First, check iTunes/Preferences/Playback and turn everything off. This avoids adding any processing to the sound.
Then iTunes/Preferences/Advanced/Importing and select Apple Lossless. This ensures you are getting the best possible rip.
Both these are the "standard" settings for high end audio applications.
Chances are very good that the internal amp which is what you are listening to if you are using the headphone jack, simply lacks the oomph to drive your Senns. HeadFi (link below) is the focal point for all this information on the web. There are many options for headphone amps and you can find most of them there - its a great site.
As far as pro audio. Pro audio applications do not use the analog out portion of the headphone jack, nor the onboard speakers. Like Pshop these are processing intensive apps with impressive GUIs that rely on the Mac's processing power, display, ease of use etc. They either export the files via USB/Firewire or they use the optical digital output portion of the headphone jack which is a combo unit.
You've got a great box there, enjoy
Thanks for your advice.
I tried my Grado SR 60 headphones and it seems to drive them better.
But the sound I get is still far from the refined very hi rez sound I'm used to from my SACD player
And when you say the best rip is via Apple lossless I'm still a bit confused since the Wav setting at a maximum of 16 bits and 48 khz seems to provide a much larger file.
Won't it also provide better sound than an Apple lossless file which is only about half the size of the wav file?
And what do you do if you want to import higer rez formats ?
My macbook pro plays the only DVD audio discs I have but not in I-tunes.
And it seems it doesn't play real hirez material at all from one disc that has both a 24/ 48 side and one 24/96.
The macbook plays only the lower rez version but cannot handle the other one.
Nor will it tell me what it is actually playing.
The disc in question Mahler's 10th under Rattle on EMI has two version on the lower rez side one PCM linear stereo and Dolby surround I think,but the Macbook doesn't flag or reveal how it is actually playing the disc it only says Stereo or MCH.
Do you know more about the onboard soundcard?
What are its limits and capabilities? All I can find searching it is Intel HD.
It seems to me that as it stands now I can at best get decent CD sound out of it or possibly 24/48 but no more!?
I-tunes doesn't seem to provide any hi rez options at all only CD quality?
ps I'll also take a look at the link you provided and see what they have.
All the best Chris
No way this is going to rival a dedicated SACD player - not sposed too!Apple lossless is a very viable option to WAV - as you note it is much more compact then WAV (about half the size) - burn the drive space if you prefer, but most people have not found a reason to especially in the Mac OS environment. There are some issues with tagging WAV files (adding metadata) that Apple Lossless avoids which is another reason that a lot of us like it.
As far as "higher rez" formats - not sure what you are referring to in the Redbook standard which is 16/44.1. There is no higher rez format, everything else is upsampling or DVD-A or SACD
I doubt you will find specific information about the onboard sound card; since a soundcard is really a PC concept - as in you have to add one to hear anything. Remember that Apple is all about the integration of media. To the best of my knowledge, no one swaps their Mac sound cards or specifies different ones - sound I/O is just part of the package.
To the best of my knowledge there has never been a soundcard discussion around any of the machines, including the towers. (I have owned Macs since 1984)
As Frank notes, the soundcards (and drivers) that are available are focused on adding audio production capabilities as opposed to playback. (great links)
Have no idea about the DVD issues. Apple does user a separate DVD Player that is not integrated with iTunes. I have not fiddled with it much. You might do a search on www.versiontracker.com which has virtually every piece of Mac software available (free, share and commercial) as well as user reviews to see what is out there.
Might I also suggest you call the Apple Help Line - as a new owner you are entitled to some free support, may as well use it
Thanks for your response and advise.
No I didn't refer to RBCD 16 bit 44khz as hi rez it certainly isn't compared to LPs DVD audio or SACD.
What I meant was why doesn't a macbbok pro provide playback or ripping from DVD audio the same way you can rip Cds into i Tunes.
I find it a bit difficult to really enjoy complex well recorded symphonic music played back low rez.
I seen no technical reason why they didn't include at least 24/96 playback and ripping capability on a Pro notebook that sells for more than many capable universal players do!?
Crap Apple or crab apple?
It's got a pretty good screen but doesn't impress in photoshop either.
PC seems to give you a lot more for your money than Mac even the DVD video player is region code locked!! That really sucks .
Maybe I should return it and buy a Sony Vaio instead?
Actually you can switch the audio to 96 kHz/24 bit in the Audio Midi Setup app. I am just playing the fantastic HDTT 96kHz/24 bit DVDs (Stravinsky Firebird and Petruschka with Stokowski and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) from my Macbook through TCElectronics Konnekt 24D (reclocking the audio from the Mac with 96 kHz clock signal) Firewire - to - SPDIF converter and Altmann DAC and it sounds absolutely fantastic!Using DVD2OneX you can rip your cds to 96kHz/24 bit DVD-s if you want.
Using Mactheripper you can "grab" your DVDs with the region code unlocked.
So no problem with the Macbook.
The Lili Boulanger HDTT DVD 96/24bit DVD is fantastic as well.
Thanks for your response.
I guess that the audio Midi setup you refer to is something I can reset
on the macbook pro as it is?
What about Mactheripper? is it also onboard?
I'm new to Mac and haven't found everything yet.
ps What is the label HDTT?
I have one outstanding old analogue SACD with Stokowski on Living Stereo and would like to hear the recording you mention too nad other clasical DVD audios if you have any to recommend.
All the best Chris
Well your never gonna get good sound from the onboard sound of any computer, although the new Intel HD is supposed to be a bit better than the older AC97. But still for most music lovers and audiophiles Intels onboard audio is going to leave alot to be desired. The Macbooks pros onboard audio is just as crappy as any other computers onboard sound, the people who use Macbooks for recording are more than likely using seperate soundcards. It seems like your just looking for better souind with ur headphones, in that case something like the Headroom Total Bithead may be just what ur looking for, its a small portable USB DAC and headphone amp which runs off batteries. Its gotten some really good reveiws and only cost around $200. If your looking for more I/O and recording functions a PCMCIA soundcard may be the better bet. There a bunch of them out there, Creative Audigy notebook, Echo Indigo, EMU 1616, RME Cardbus....etc It depends what ur using it for and how much u want to spend.
Heres some links:http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/CardBus/IndigoIO/index.php
http://www.rme-audio.com/english/hdsp/cardpci.htm
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&product=13552
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=10769
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-mobile-line/headroom-total-bithead.php
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