SuperSpeed USB 3 To Benefit Computer Speakers Powered By USB
07/10/09 15:23 Filed in: Mac USB Speakers
USB bus-powered computer speakers have provided simple to install, battery free stereo listening - all from a single cable. But the drawback has been the limited power a 5 volt, 500 milliamp USB 1.1 or 2.0 speed port provides. USB speakers have been fine for modest listening needs at close range - and a great solution for portable speakers chosen by many laptop owners who need mobile audio.
In the mose basic terms of electronic and audio physics: WATTS = VOLTS x AMPS. So typically, given current USB ports 5v x 500ma output - we typically get 1.5 to 3 watts of audio power from a built-in USB port. Enough for close range speaker listening at your desktop, or on the go with a laptop computer, though not earth-shaking in any sense of the word. The quality and sensitivity of the driver cone and voice coils in a portable USB speaker can make a huge difference in perceived loudness and frequency response that current USB audio solutions provide. And companies like Altec-Lansing, Logitech, Creative Labs and Tritton really work hard to engineer USB speaker drivers that make the most of the power available.
Well, fast forward to 2010 and beyond. The upcoming USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Spec is going to bring many benefits to computer users. Not just in a 10-fold increase in USB bus speed and data transfer rates - but also deliver more POWER - more milliamps to each USB port. This 1000ma USB 3.0 spec will literally allow next generation USB speakers to deliver TWICE THE 'OOMPH!' and VOLUME of it's predecessors.
Oddly, it turns out that hi-fi, pure digital USB audio works pretty well under the aging USB 1.1 standard. So the 4.8Gbps speed of USB3 isn't going to 'benefit' USB speakers any more than USB 2.0 did. But the SuperSpeed spec WILL matter because of the increase in wattage USB 3.0 speakers will be able to output. And that means even better, 1-cable speaker solutions that can have louder sound, larger drivers - and deeper bass - free from batteries or a tangle of wires.
In the mose basic terms of electronic and audio physics: WATTS = VOLTS x AMPS. So typically, given current USB ports 5v x 500ma output - we typically get 1.5 to 3 watts of audio power from a built-in USB port. Enough for close range speaker listening at your desktop, or on the go with a laptop computer, though not earth-shaking in any sense of the word. The quality and sensitivity of the driver cone and voice coils in a portable USB speaker can make a huge difference in perceived loudness and frequency response that current USB audio solutions provide. And companies like Altec-Lansing, Logitech, Creative Labs and Tritton really work hard to engineer USB speaker drivers that make the most of the power available.
Well, fast forward to 2010 and beyond. The upcoming USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Spec is going to bring many benefits to computer users. Not just in a 10-fold increase in USB bus speed and data transfer rates - but also deliver more POWER - more milliamps to each USB port. This 1000ma USB 3.0 spec will literally allow next generation USB speakers to deliver TWICE THE 'OOMPH!' and VOLUME of it's predecessors.
Oddly, it turns out that hi-fi, pure digital USB audio works pretty well under the aging USB 1.1 standard. So the 4.8Gbps speed of USB3 isn't going to 'benefit' USB speakers any more than USB 2.0 did. But the SuperSpeed spec WILL matter because of the increase in wattage USB 3.0 speakers will be able to output. And that means even better, 1-cable speaker solutions that can have louder sound, larger drivers - and deeper bass - free from batteries or a tangle of wires.
Test Your Apple Computer Speaker Frequency Response : Audio Test
23/09/09 10:58 Filed in: Speaker Response
On a Classic White MacBook
How To Optimize iTunes Equalizer To Your Mac Computer Speakers
20/09/09 17:50 Filed in: Sound Advice
Any given set of speakers - large or small, cheap or audiophile quality - have their own characteristics and frequency response curve. iTunes built-in equalizer gives you an opportunity to 'shape' your sound output to best match the response curve of your intended speakers capabilities - and your listening tastes. Here's a few tips for setting the equalizer optimally:
Using, say, a small USB travel speaker as an example; start by dragging ALL your sliders down to the bottom. Fire up a fairly hard rocking or whomping dance tune to have a good steady bass rythmn and set the volume 3/4ths of the way up - in both iTunes AND your System Volume. We're driving the speakers LOUD but not maxed out.
Work from the low 32Hz frequency up. In the case of the MacBooks internal speakers, or the Mac mini internal speaker -- they CAN'T reproduce the lowest bass frequencies, SO DON'T TRY! It'll give you cleaner sound by not sending these electrical signals to the speaker's voice coil. Move up to 64Hz, then125Hz listening close for when buzz and distortion starts to occur. Back off slightly till it sounds 'clean', then move up to the next. Getting these 3 sliders right on the low-frequency end are the most critical with smaller portable laptop speakers - optimizing but not over-driving them is key to full-sound without distortion.
In the 250-4K mid-range we have most vocals and intruments. The sound of distortion here has more a 'hollow', overdriven character. Optimal settings will vary greatly between different speaker systems - and on personal taste.
Lastly, the 8k and particularly 16K frequency range will depend alot on both taste - and the condition of your hearing. Aging ears often become less sensitive to the highest frequencies and you may need to compensate upward here especially to bring out cymbals and percussion.
The 'Preamp' slider is best left alone. Most will find cranking it up anywhere more than even a notch above center will simply result in distortion. It may make the sound louder - but NOT cleaner. Use only if desperate in a very noisy environment.
Finally, Pull down on the Presets Menu and ADD A PRESET to save your custom setting with a good name that means something to you. You may find many of iTune's included presets don't sound good AT ALL, some horrible in fact - so create your own using this bottom-up technique.
Using, say, a small USB travel speaker as an example; start by dragging ALL your sliders down to the bottom. Fire up a fairly hard rocking or whomping dance tune to have a good steady bass rythmn and set the volume 3/4ths of the way up - in both iTunes AND your System Volume. We're driving the speakers LOUD but not maxed out.
Work from the low 32Hz frequency up. In the case of the MacBooks internal speakers, or the Mac mini internal speaker -- they CAN'T reproduce the lowest bass frequencies, SO DON'T TRY! It'll give you cleaner sound by not sending these electrical signals to the speaker's voice coil. Move up to 64Hz, then125Hz listening close for when buzz and distortion starts to occur. Back off slightly till it sounds 'clean', then move up to the next. Getting these 3 sliders right on the low-frequency end are the most critical with smaller portable laptop speakers - optimizing but not over-driving them is key to full-sound without distortion.
In the 250-4K mid-range we have most vocals and intruments. The sound of distortion here has more a 'hollow', overdriven character. Optimal settings will vary greatly between different speaker systems - and on personal taste.
Lastly, the 8k and particularly 16K frequency range will depend alot on both taste - and the condition of your hearing. Aging ears often become less sensitive to the highest frequencies and you may need to compensate upward here especially to bring out cymbals and percussion.
The 'Preamp' slider is best left alone. Most will find cranking it up anywhere more than even a notch above center will simply result in distortion. It may make the sound louder - but NOT cleaner. Use only if desperate in a very noisy environment.
Finally, Pull down on the Presets Menu and ADD A PRESET to save your custom setting with a good name that means something to you. You may find many of iTune's included presets don't sound good AT ALL, some horrible in fact - so create your own using this bottom-up technique.
Pairing An iPhone With Mac Bluetooth Speakers
18/09/09 12:17 Filed in: Bluetooth Speakers
MacWorld - Playlist Mag online has a good article on the ins and outs of iPhone 3G and Bluetooth Speaker and Headset Pairing - with insights on how it works, some glitches and gotchas worth reading. The market for Mac wireless speakers has been a long time coming. First, it wasn't till OSX Leopard 10.5 delivered A2DP Stereo Bluetooth profile that something other than MONO audio was possible, then the iPhone 3 OS finally added it in early 2009. With these pieces finally in place - and a much larger market to go after, expect a new wave of Bluetooth audio systems to hit the market in 2010.
Speakers For Apple MacBooks : Classic White - Black - Unibody Aluminum
17/09/09 14:48 Filed in: Apple Speaker Systems
Hear what you're missing in Apple's woefully under-powered and often tiny built-in computer speakers. Sadly, only the desktop iMac line and 17" MacBook Pro laptop has even quasi-decent built-in stereo speakers. www.macbook-speakers.com will feature stereo audio solutions of interest to Apple Macintosh users: USB bus-powered travel speakers, wireless Bluetooth speakers for Mac, or traditional 2.0, 2.1 with subwoofer, or high end audiophile gaming surround-sound speaker systems that are a great fit for Apple computer users.
