Audio dip with external speakers

Has anyone noticed the Macbook Pros will control their analog audio output only when the computer has software requiring audio?
Here is my example:
My Macbook Pro (mid-2010) has an audio cable from the headphones into a splitter. The splitter is also connected to a universal dock (charging station and speakers for my iPhone) before running to a pair of Harman/Kardon Soundsticks II. When nothing is playing on the laptop (or it is not connected) the sound from my iPhone is loud and clear. The same happens when the laptop is connected, but no software is outputting audio. This has always worked fine with my aluminum C2D MBP.
But, with the unibody, if my iPhone is playing music, and I open software requiring audio, such as Quicktime, the audio from the phone suddenly dips to near inaudible levels to clear way for the Macbook Pro. What I believe is happening is that the MBP turns off the output, leaving the lines clear for the phone. But when software activates the headphone port, it charges the line with its own signal and conflicts with the phone. The reason it wasn't a problem with the aluminum MBP is because the audio line was always charged with both signals, so I could balance both outputs and the speakers to sound good. With this new setup, I can't ever balance or gauge levels.
Has anyone else observed evidence of analog audio being controlled by the computer?

I'm not able to understand from your description what your setup is, or why you've arranged it that way. Please clarify.

Similar Messages

Lion audio dropouts with external speakers?

Since I installed OS 10.7.3 (upgraded from 10.6.8), I get audio dropouts whenever I use external speakers. I use my Mini (purchased a year ago in Feb 2011) connected to my TV for Skype, Netflix, and listening to iTunes, so this effectively eliminates my ability to use it. I don't get dropouts if I use the internal speakers, and it doesn't seem to matter whether I'm using iTunes to play something resident on the internal hard drive or watching something on Netflix streaming over wifi, or whether I have wifi or bluetooth on or off. The external speakers are run through an HDMI cable connecting the computer and the TV.

Updates applied, at least one of which caused reccurrence of my audio dropout problem (I'm guessing iTunes is the culprit):
iPhoto Update 9.2.2
GarageBand Update 6.0.5
Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.10
Application Loader 2.5.1
Safari 5.1.4
iTunes 10.6

HP 4330s SRS Premium Sound not working with External Speakers

And this is my second topic and rant!
The SRS Premium sound driver doesn't work with USB Speakers.
It doesn't work with Bluetooth speakers either!
In other words it only works with the Laptop speakers.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
SRS Premium sound for Deeper Bass and Clear sound enhancement bla bla bla now in you HP Laptop
but ONLY with your LAPTOP SPEAKERS!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
DEEP BASS on these cell phone speakers!!! Really???
Why doesn't the SRS Premium Sound driver work with external speakers!
I believe I have used SRS Sandbox before and ALL THE SOUND was directed to that driver and it worked with everything!
WHY DOESN'T YOUR HP DRIVER WORK WITH EXTERNAL SPEAKERS!
Is everyone in HP a bloody RETARD?
FIX YOUR DRIVERS!
End of rant!

Oh BTW {Content Removed: rant} http://www.srslabs.com/landing.aspx?id=693#23
23. Will the SRS Audio Sandbox work with my USB speakers or Bluetooth speakers?
Yes, the current version, 1.6.6.0 will work. If you have a previous version that is not working with these speakers, please upgrade to this version.
Do you have anything else to share with me {Content Removed: rant}

How to use iPod Shuffle with external Speakers

I tried using iPod Shuffle but its not working with external speakers.
Please let me know if there is any way i can use it in External Speakers

http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1550/en_US/iPod_shuffle_4thgen_User _Guide.pdf

Can I use my computer as jukebox with external speakers?

Can I use my computer as a jukebox with external speakers, and if so, how?

This article should help.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215
You won't get as good performance thought, it's recommended that you use one device for ins and outs. Get an adapter for your speakers so that the jack will fit into the headphone output of your guitarpod. But in the meantime aggregate will work.

My audio on face time won't work with external speakers plugged in

I have a fairly new iMac. My husband bought me some Bose speakers and when I try to face time with the speakers plugged in I do not get any audio.

Facetime has not been available on iPads purchased in the UAE for years.
Although Facetime can work in the UAE on devices which do have it I don't know why you have not been able to use it in iOS 7.
See here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3367
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4268
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4319

Audio Pop to External Speakers

Hi,
When I have my MacBook plugged into external speakers I get a random "pop". Its usually when I have had iTunes playing for a while and close iTunes to go to something else. Sometimes it pops, sometimes it doesn't. I've tried it on different speaker, and have heard it on other speakers.
I've read that their was an audio update for 10.4 with regards to an audio pop when going into sleep or shutdown, is their any patch for 10.5? Has anyone else had my described problem? Is it normal?
Respectfully,
AJ

This issue is discussed at length in this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1394839&tstart=90
Note that one of the contributors has produced some freeware which (apparently) solves this problem.
Bob

T520 audio output to external speakers

I am trying to connect my new T520 to the external speakers I had used with my deceased desktop, and I don`t want to cause any damage!
The speakers (subwoofer and 2 small speakers) were connected to a lime green jack on my desktop. My question: can I use the earphone jack of the Lenovo for that connection ? I assume so, just want to make sure...
BTW, the sound coming from the portable is simply abysmal....
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Yes. You can plug the green speaker plug into the headphone/audio out jack. It will work fine.
You can adjust the volume of your speakers in Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Realtek HD Audio Manager.
Let us know if you have any other issues.
Did you find a post awesome? A great response? Kudo them!
Did the post you read answer your question? Did someone help you figure out your problem? Hit Solution Provided and give that person a 'thank you' for helping you out!

ATV3 with external speakers via TV

Hi,
I have been using an Apple TV 3 for a fair while now with my TV and have had no issues. I am now sick of the low quality sound that my TV's internal speakers produce so I went and bought a cheap (but surprisngly good) set of 2.1 PC speakers and connected them via RCA cables to the TV.
Normal TV programs are now played through the external speakers but audio from my Apple TV (connected to the TV via HDMI) does not play through the external speakers, only through the crappy internal ones. Any ideas on how to fix this? I had a look through the TV settings (very limited) but nothing seemed to be wrong there, and nothing stood out to me in the ATV settings.
I was under the impression that if I plug external speakers into the TV via RCA any audio that the TV produces should be sent to the external speakers...

Hello
RCA-cables are used for analog signals.
When connecting a device (for example ATV) via HDMI to TV, the sound sent is in digital format. The TV would have to convert this input signal to analog and output it to speakers, i.e it has to have a built in digital to analog converter for the sound output. I don't know how old your TV is, but the most TV sets should have this function.
The reason why the speaker set works with programs from TV is probably because you have connected the TV to an antenna, and the signal is analog.
Did you try to connect another unit with hdmi to TV and see if that works (DVD player)?
Regards
Jeton

Watching DVD's with external speakers?

We like to watch DVD's on our Air. Is there a way to hook up external speakers? I know the Superdrive won't work through a hub. Any ideas or suggestions?

I don't believe such an adapter exists, as a USB device would need software to control it. The software would not be able to "see" the USB device if it passes through the audio jack. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong and have a link to an appropriate adapter.)
If I may ask, is the built-in speaker not sufficient? Or are you trying to hook up the MBA to a large screen TV? If the later, then a simple cable to connect the headphone jack to the TV would be the simplest.
Even just some models of "basic" MP3 powered speakers are very good and are of reasonable cost. I have some off-brand powered speakers that were supposed to match the shape and color of the old CRT iMacs. I got them for $30 new several years ago, when the CRT iMacs where still being sold. The speakers have very good clean bass, not mushy, and are much louder than anything I've heard for under $50, yet still have quite good mid-range clarity. My point is that you may just want to try shopping for some different speakers as you may find some really good ones for a decent price.

Itunes cant connect with external speakers

Hi,
I have the next problem.
i have airtunes and when i go to itunes i see in the right bottom corner the external speakers but when i choose one it cant connect. i don't get any error or something but it keeps trying to connect but nothing???
who can help me.
everything seems correct because when my neighbour try's to connect with his laptop it does work???
i have itunes 9 and windows 7??

frankjustesen wrote:
Strange because it has worked so great and I have not changed any settings
Check your firewall?
System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall
Also, under Advanced, make sure something didn't check "block UDP"

Annoying popping sound with external speakers

So I usually have my macbook connected to some nice external speakers but when I'm looking at different web pages I often get a weird popping noise from the speakers. It only seems to happen when I'm on the internet too. It will also happen a few seconds after I finish watching a video online. Any ideas what's causing it? Or if it's normal?

I get the same popping/rasping sound from speakers; however, it occurs for both external and built-in speakers when playing iTunes or songs off the internet (last.fm). The problem seems worse with iTunes. This started happening soon after I upgraded from Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.5. When I restart, the problem goes away for awhile, but then comes back. My speakers are not USB.
Of course, I rarely use the built-in speakers, since they are essentially useless (what was Apple thinking?!?!?). I just tested them to see if rasping/popping came out of them, and they do.

No audio output from external speakers

can hear through ear buds but not through the external speakers
anyone had similar problems and can advise please

I bought my iPhone 3G Sept 28th. Up until a few days ago, I was able to play the Ipod through my the external music speaker on the iPhone. All the sudden the music stopped playing through the external speaker. The only way I can now listen to music is to plug in the earphones.
I've tried plugging and unplugging the earphones about 10 times, resetting the iPhone, resetting the iPhone through iTunes, blowing out the headphone plug with a can of air, etc. Nothing is solving the problem.

Need Audio Help - USB External Speakers

This should be fun!
Need Audio Help! My USB external speakers are recognized in Garage Band Preferences, but NOT in System Preferences. (I use the audio interface, US-144 Tascam)
Which means:
I can only play my speakers using Garage band and not iTunes.
They were working in both iTunes and GB many times before.
I see that others have had problems losing their external speakers after updating their iMac.
I've called Apple for assistance (no help)
Changed the order of connections
I've shut down again, again...
Help please

Open System Preferences/Sound and select the USB Speakers as your Output device
If that doesn't do as you expect, or you need to tweak them, run Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup and select them there then adjust the Format and Volume etc.

Connecting my I-pod with external speakers

Hi,
I have a question regarding the connection of my I-Pod to different speakers.
What care should I take while connecting my I-pod to a different set of speakers rather than using my Headsets?
Is there any specifications (e.g-Impedance Matching) I need to check for the speakers before connecting them to my I-pod?
Thanks and Regards,
Sahil

There are 2 ways to connect your iPod with the external speakers i.e. via the headphone jack or the dock below the iPod.
You will get better sound quality via the dock, via the dock station (there are plenties) you can connect to the input of a HiFi system and have sound there. Bear in mind you cant control the volume with iPod but one a volume knob of the HiFi system.
The speakers system you are looking for iPod must have an amp. build in. There are hundred iPod speakers system in the market. My recommendation are iPod HiFi, Bose sounddock or B&W . Always trust your ears for the sound quality, my favournite may be not your cup of tea

Audio dip with external speakers

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for