MacBook headphone output noise...

[pc-modd]

I have speakers plugged into my MacBook (2.4 c2d/2gb RAM).

When I'm not playing music i can hear noise and it gets louder when accessing the HDD. I have had a look on some sites but all have different answers..

So what is it? and how do i fix it/reduce it?

 

[Caged]

It's interference from the other electronics in the laptop. You can fix it by buying an external sound card.

 

[OzZie]

Ground loops are often the cause.

Try not plugging the charger in and try again, bet it goes away.

As mentioned, not much you can do apart from purchasing better quality soundcards and using the best quality and shortest cables you can.

 

[wij]

I tend to find mine is pretty clean when on battery and mains, although plug in an external monitor when its running on mains power and it is noisy as hell.

 

[Felix E]

I've never noticed this before, maybe because I'm using optical out?

 

[kinobestew123]

Almost certainly you won't get it when using Optical. Optical signals are transmitted using light down a fiber optic cable. Hence, you cannot get interference from electrical sources.

Stew.

 

[Draeconis]

Onboard laptop soundcards are always going to be noisey because of their proximity to other electrical components. Ground Loops also cause a lot of noise, but MacBooks/MacBook Pros (that I've heard) are of a really good build quality, and they were earthed properly. Onboard cards usually have a SNR of about -60dB (which is audible), whereas external ones have between -100dB to around -120dB for a good one.

 

[pc-modd]

Ahh well ill just have to turn the speakers off when not listening to music.

Ta for the help.