03-08-2007, 09:53 PM

I played with the MacBooks today at CompUSA, and the volume seems VERY low. Where are the speakers located on the MacBook? I checked the volume control, and it was maxed out.

Is this a common complaint about the MacBook? I tested (3) MacBooks and (2) MacBook Pros.

My wifes laptop is a Compaq R3000Z, and the speakers are JBL Pro. They sound great, and are very loud (we usually have the volume 1/2 way).

So far this is one of my major complaints, next to no expandable slot.

03-08-2007, 09:59 PM

My only complaint is the volume. Everything else rocks.

03-08-2007, 10:00 PM

macbook speakers are pretty quiet, they are located in the back on the sides and reflect off of the lcd/lcd frame.

if you need louder sound, you will need headphones, or an external speaker set.

i've got these and they sound great...


though i did just try them hooked to the top of the macbook, and they are just a touch heavy to have the macbook screen tilted back too much. normally i use them on a desk anyway, but i thought i'd give the lcd mount a try. the nice thing about these is that they have fantastic sound for their size, and are usb powered.

03-08-2007, 10:11 PM

The sound is a bit low. At home I have some externals hooked up...

03-08-2007, 10:26 PM

Yes, the external sound is a bit on the low side, especially on the MacBook. The MacBook pros have their speakers mounted in the grills next to the keyboard, where the MacBooks have their speakers mounted in the little exhaust port line beneath the screen on the back/bottom of the computer. I think this gives the MacBook pro a slight advantage, though it wouldn't surprise me if the speakers were the same...the only difference being placement.

03-08-2007, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by snoslicer8

Yes, the external sound is a bit on the low side, especially on the MacBook. The MacBook pros have their speakers mounted in the grills next to the keyboard, where the MacBooks have their speakers mounted in the little exhaust port line beneath the screen on the back/bottom of the computer. I think this gives the MacBook pro a slight advantage, though it wouldn't surprise me if the speakers were the same...the only difference being placement.

Yea, i notice only a slight increase in volume on the MBP.

03-08-2007, 11:45 PM

I don't think Apple had speaker quality in mind when they built any of their computers. I think they're there for simple task, chat, scanning music and news stories and such, and rightly so. I have headphones, a home stereo and an ipod. I didn't expect apple to build me a stereo along with my macbook just because I paid $1500. And I don't expect my tv to produce cinema quality sound from it's speakers either.

Anyway, hope that didn't sound to snotty!:headphone

03-08-2007, 11:57 PM

I usually don't mind it. Whenever my MBP is sitting on my desk, I have it hooked up to my 5.1 surround sound. Usually when I have it with me on my lap or somewhere like the school library, I almost ALWAYS have headphones on.

In the near future, I will be getting an iPod Nano, and I will use that to listen to music if I want to conserve battery life on my MBP. :mac:

03-09-2007, 12:53 AM

i am sure they are, remeber the person who sued Apple cause they hurt their ears with an ipod cause the volume could go so hi.

i do find many laptops speakers arent too loud, but just enough to do, using itunes and music it is loud, but playing DVD's is quiter.

03-09-2007, 01:07 AM

Thanks for the responses. This wont hold me back from buying a MacBook. I would use headphones most of the time.

03-09-2007, 03:57 PM

A lot of notebooks may have subpar sound, both pc and Mac. An external pair can do amazing things to the sound of your system.

03-23-2007, 02:21 AM

Thanks, everyone, for answering my question about whether the MB or MBP has better speakers without my having to ask!

03-23-2007, 02:33 AM

actually, since the 10.4.9 upgrade, macbook speakers seem to have gotten much louder. i'd guess that the mbp still has better speakers, but that's like saying a toyota corolla is a better car than a ford focus. it may be true, but you're still not dealing with high performance machines.

03-23-2007, 04:47 AM

Who uses their laptop speakers for anything other than desktop sounds!? If you listen to music, you should buy some speakers!

03-23-2007, 05:16 AM

They're not the loudest for sure, but me and the lady have been able to watch a few films/shows without any issues about the sound. In a noisier area I'd just go for earphones, perhaps it seemed worse as it was in the store with all the background noise?