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MacBook Speaker Test Utility - Mac Audio Test For OSX

MacGizmoGuy — 2013-01-26T20:57:17-08:00

Interested in a Mac audio test software for assessing your own Mac’s internal or external computer speaker system? You can test Mac audio quite easily to conduct a laptop or desktop Mac speaker test for your particular model of Apple computer. A quick Macbook speaker test I did used a slow, progressive sweep of audio frequencies down from the high treble end, or bass end up to get an idea of what the true capabilities of my particular MacBook’s computer speakers are. In my case, it an 11” MacBook Air with ridiculously small built-in speaker drivers buried underneath the keyboard. From what my ears can discern, its up around 160Hz that low frequencies become detectable. For even mildly thumping bass you really need to get down below 100Hz and ideally into the 10-50Hz sub-woofer range. If you’ve recently bought some speakers for Mac audio and music you can find out how low and high they go.

This partial screenshot shows an example of testing your Apple laptop’s speaker frequency response abilities. In this case, a sine wave sweeping from 0Hz to 200Hz to get a more precise sense of where low-frequency audio can be heard. You can get an idea of how much bass my MacBook speakers are capable of - and where you might want to adjust your iTunes Equalizer bands for clean and optimal low-frequency response.

The program - Audio Test - for OSX can be purchased from the Apple App Store for $4.99.

Retina Display MacBook Pro Speakers

MacGizmoGuy — 2012-07-25T20:34:23-07:00

I'm not sure if it's more Marketing than truly significant Technical Superiority - but Apple wants to brag about the sound quality of the MacBook Pro Retina Display model on it's website. At least the Retina MacBook, like it's 15" MacBook Pro counterpart have the decency NOT to bury the speaker system UNDER the keyboard like lesser Apple laptop models in an effort to provide better sound quality and frequency response.

"You haven’t heard it all until you’ve heard the speakers inside the all-new MacBook Pro. For something so thin and light, the sound is huge. And with a wide dynamic range, optimal balance, and a crisp, expressive quality, these speakers might sound too good to be true. That’s because we labored painstakingly over the design to maximize the quality of every decibel you hear."

Some laptop computer manufacturers in the PC world who've partnered with some major audio brands such as Altec Lansing and others to deliver notebook computer speakers to brag about. Remember, at one time, such as during the Slot-Load iMac, and G4 Cube era - Apple and Harman Kardon teamed up on Odessey and iSub speakers to deliver a vastly superior audio experience.

These days though, portability, smaller-form factors ala the MacBook Air and now razor-thinner MacBook Retina place internal computer speaker systems under tremendous pressure to fit into ever smaller spaces. Well, at least in15" MacBook models, the other aspects of component miniaturization (from SSD drive modules to denser battery technology to ever-shrinking logic boards) DOES leave a bit more room for advancing micro-speaker design implementations as well. The one thing speaker cones need most is surface area to deliver full-range frequency response - and it's precious little space they're provided with as the compromise.

On a recent trip to my local Apple Store I have to at least concede this: The Retina Display MacBook's speaker system sounds a hell of a lot better than the one's buried under a MacBook Air's keyboard, that's for sure.

USB Sound Bar Speaker For MacBook

MacGizmoGuy — 2011-12-18T08:33:21-08:00

Looking for decidedly better music and audio quality for your Apple MacBook Pro or Air? Check out Edifier's design on a 1-piece USB powered laptop speaker system that's engineered better than most. This portable computer speaker features dual 1.25" Tweeters and Midrange drivers as well as a 3 x 1.25" bass driver that's lightyears ahead of the tiny micro-speakers Apple deems good enough for your Mac laptop audio experience.

Edifier USB Soundbar Speaker

Multi Driver Travel Speaker

The Edifier Sound To Go is approximately 10"x1.5" right-sized for even the smallest MacBook Air on up - in a slim design that's easy to carry in your Mac laptop bag. Additional features of this speaker include an on-board volume control button and 3.5 mm audio input jack for other devices you may want to connect.

Best Bluetooth Speaker for iPad and Mac? Bose Delivers

MacGizmoGuy — 2011-11-20T07:20:15-08:00

For more discriminating ears - and looser wallets - nobody delivers well designed and engineered audio products like Bose. They're the kind of company you pay premium price for, and enjoy their products for years to come. For portable audio - the Bose SoundLink wireless mobile speaker gets A LOT of things spot-on right.

Bose Bluetooth Portable Speaker

Wireless High-Quality Audio

Featuring up to 8 hours of playback time on a battery charge - the SoundLink's Bluetooth supports and remembers up to 6 different Bluetooth pairings for quick connectivity. You can set up your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone - and more - and it instantly remembers it's relationship with all these devices. On-top speaker controls let you easily control power adjust volume and track/playback directly from the unit itself. A 1/8" Aux input for non-Bluetooth audio devices is also supported.

Ah but it's the GUTS of this mobile speaker that set it apart: Here, you see a pair of very high-quality speaker drivers for EACH channel combined with a front and rear bass radiator design that delivers a frequency range no other wireless, portable speaker of this size can match.

Cheaper MP3 Music | No DRM | More Compatible | Any Audio Player

MacGizmoGuy — 2010-11-18T09:26:38-08:00

There ARE lower-cost alternatives to Apple iTunes Store to build your music library - Affordably.

Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Ideal For iPad iPhone And Mac

MacGizmoGuy — 2010-07-06T09:38:29-07:00

Ipevo's got a great solution for high fidelity stereo listening on the go: The Ipevo Tubular A2DP Bluetooth Speakers for Apple iPad, iPhone and Mac computers. The Tubular speaker system features a USB rechargable lithium-ion battery, easy Bluetooth Pairing and onboard Volume controls. Integrated cable management for the satellite speaker and USB recharging wire wrap securely inside. A smart snap apart design enables wide stereo separation when needed, and when used as a desktop computer speaker angle towards your ears for optimum listening. It all adds up to a great portable Bluetooth speaker solution - around the house or on the go.

Ipevo Tubular BlueTooth

Charges via USB, 6-8 Hr Playback
3+3 Watt Travel Speakers

Need Thump? Revised USB Sub-Woofer Speaker For MacBook

MacGizmoGuy — 2011-11-21T07:27:26-08:00

Macbook users rejoice: There's finally a great full-range portable speaker option to pump out the low-frequency audio you've been missing from your Mac laptop. Twelve South's 2nd generation USB bus-powered sub-woofer recently hit the shelves - the Twelve South BassJump 2. Not since the original Harmon Kardon iSub for slot-load iMacs have we had the missing piece - a separate USB woofer to complement the total sound spectrum your Mac laptop wasn't delivering. I'm really fond of Gay club music remixes, and this lets me enjoy decidedly better bass on my MacBook Air.

Special system software lest you shape your MacBook Pro or Air sound with its EQ Software Control Pref Pane for OSX. Featuring a 3" - 77mm bass frequency driver - it combines audio from your MacBooks internal speakers to provide balanced frequency response from 50Hz to 20kHz - all powered from a single USB cable. The software lets you customize the Bass Jump sound cross-over frequency and volume to your liking and it comes with a neroprene case for safe travel.

The BassJump is compatible with Aluminum iMacs - and styled to match. For some, this may be a solution to extend the already reasonable frequency range of the iMac's built-in speakers. (Which are better than any other Macintosh model.)

White Unibody MacBook : Speakers Live UNDER The Hood

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-10-21T16:27:44-07:00

So, you thought Apple's er, INNOVATIVE concept of REAR-FACING speakers in the original MacBook wasn't enough? Well, with the recent intro of the new MacBooks - speaker technology gets buried UNDER THE KEYBOARD and takes barely-audible barely-audio to the next level.

Is this progress?!? Thanks to the disassemblers at iFixit.com - we can see:
1. The new speakers at least face UPWARDS towards the customers ears. That's an advancement.
2. They now live INVISIBLY under the Caps-Lock and Return keys.
3. They're barely the size of a man's thumbnail, to prevent unwanted volume or annoying frequency response.
4. The speakers are over 3" CLOSER to your ears than ever before, that should kinda, sorta help.

http://www.macbook-speakers.com

Harmon-Kardon Speaker 'STICKS' It To Competitors

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-10-20T08:04:00-07:00

In a world of endless and relentless technology change - it seems few products stand the test of time. So too with speakers for your Mac or PC, with new iterations and meaningless model numbers every 6 months, like clockwork. Suprisingly, MacWorld.com recently (re)did a review of a 2.1 speaker system Mac users have loved for nearly 5 years: The Harman-Kardon Sound Sticks.

Harman Kardon's SoundSticks

Sometimes tech companies GET IT RIGHT the first time around. Like H-K did with the SoundSticks. Its well balanced speaker response comes from 2 satellites with 4 Odessy drivers each for midrange and highs - to the instantly recognizable acrylic subwoofer illuminated by a blue LED. It's quirky styling that has pleased a tens of thousands of ears - and delighted the eyes. And it still does to this day: A well-balanced speaker system that delivers the same great sound and style it did the day it was introduced. Tech, Done Right, in the first place.

SuperSpeed USB 3 To Benefit Computer Speakers Powered By USB

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-10-07T13:23:04-07:00

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 - as well as allow faster charging and higher power USB devices.

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

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-09-23T08:58:09-07:00

Audio Test for Mac OSX is a great little utility for evaluating the frequency response of your Mac's internal or external speaker system. By setting the frequency range from 20Hz to 20,000Hz you can run a slow 30-60 second sweep and ascertain the point where your low bass frequencies start to be audible -- on up to where the high frequencies fade out.

On a Classic White MacBook or Aluminum unibody Mac laptop - you'll find you can't hear any 'bass' until you're around 150Hz whereas on a Tritton SoundBite USB speaker low-frequencies can be heard around 90Hz, and with a Logitech Audio Hub, the woofer is perceptible around 40Hz. A nifty way to find out what your particular speaker system is capable of.

How To Optimize iTunes Equalizer To Your Mac Computer Speakers

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-09-20T15:50:33-07:00

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.

Pairing An iPhone With Mac Bluetooth Speakers

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-09-18T10:17:21-07:00

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

MacGizmoGuy — 2009-09-17T12:48:11-07:00

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.