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HungrySeacow · 04:58 PM

If the sound card has not been playing anything for about two seconds, the next time it does I hear a popping sound as it plays. Interestingly you can hear the sound even if the computer is muted. So when the software on the computer is playing the sound, the pop will happen even if you don't hear whatever sound it was supposed to make. The pop comes out of the system speakers too but is too hard to hear, so plug in some headphones or if you use external speakers then that is OK too. Press the mute button, and then check your email, or chat with someone on iChat. Remember, if the computer is trying to play sounds over and over again without about 2 seconds in between it won't happen. I find the only way to stop the popping is to have an audio source constantly playing, like itunes, basically keeping the audio system active.

icruise · Jan 21, 2006, 04:25 PM

This sounds just like what people were talking about with PowerBooks a while ago. I don't know what happened with that issue, but I do remember that someone released an application whose purpose was to keep the audio circuitry alive.

Agent69 · Jan 21, 2006, 04:29 PM

IIRC, that had to do with power management trying to conserve energy by turning the speakers off.

HungrySeacow · Jan 21, 2006, 05:44 PM

I just came from the Apple store and it was much to loud in the store to notice. Someone should definitely try this out, it could be normal, it might not be. Very easy to test

MORT A POTTY · Jan 21, 2006, 05:48 PM

could be blown speakers

thiagofll · Jan 21, 2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by HungrySeacow

If the sound card has not been playing anything for about two seconds, the next time it does I hear a popping sound as it plays. Interestingly you can hear the sound even if the computer is muted. So when the software on the computer is playing the sound, the pop will happen even if you don't hear whatever sound it was supposed to make. The pop comes out of the system speakers too but is too hard to hear, so plug in some headphones or if you use external speakers then that is OK too. Press the mute button, and then check your email, or chat with someone on iChat. Remember, if the computer is trying to play sounds over and over again without about 2 seconds in between it won't happen. I find the only way to stop the popping is to have an audio source constantly playing, like itunes, basically keeping the audio system active.

Hey I think that this has to do with radio frequencies...Cellphones close to the speakers, Wireless Phone near the speakers/computer etc. If you have a wireless phone at home try moving it somewhere else or at least turning it off to see if that's what the popping noise is...I don't think the computer is defective, its definately some type of wireless transmission in your house.

HungrySeacow · Jan 23, 2006, 02:56 PM

Sorry, this has nothing to do with cell phones, or blown speakers.

ghporter · Jan 23, 2006, 04:33 PM

I'll bet it's the "turning speakers off" issue. The "pop" you often hear in just about any computer application comes from the bias voltage on the output of the amplifier being applied (when the amplifier is turned on) or removed (when it's turned off). So if the pop happens at the begining and/or end of a sound, even if the volume is turned down or muted, it's probably that.

boombashi · Jan 23, 2006, 05:26 PM

Try turning all you power saver settings all the way off. Is it literally 2 secs after you stop playing and and then start again, or are you exagerating that time? It sounds like your harddrive might be spinning down. This has always happened with external speakers on my old G4 tower when waking from sleep or if the harddrives spun down. I never spin my harddrive down until the computer goes to sleep.

HungrySeacow · Jan 24, 2006, 04:41 AM

No one her with headphones or external speakers can help me find out if this is normal or not?

ghporter · Jan 24, 2006, 06:34 AM

Have you done any of the things we've suggested yet? These machines are so new that YOU are the guinnea pig for this sort of stuff-we can't help you without your cooperation.

HungrySeacow · Jan 24, 2006, 01:51 PM

Sorry, yes I have, and they are unrelated.

HungrySeacow · Jan 24, 2006, 11:24 PM

Well, I just drove out to the Apple store at the Short Hills NJ Mall to make some comparisons. All of the Intel iMacs had the same popping sound, yet the G5s did not. First run glitch, or just bad intel integrated sound, who knows

.

isao bered · Jan 25, 2006, 03:38 AM

? i've not heard this (nor been able to duplicate it) on my system.

be well.

laeth

HouseSold · Jan 26, 2006, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by isao bered

? i've not heard this (nor been able to duplicate it) on my system.

be well.

laeth

2 of 5 iSight G5 20" iMacs that we had had this phenomenom; NO one believed us. I found that I could change how often the pop occurred by using a filtered power strip vs a regular wall plug. I believe it was power supply related. The sound appears to come from the left speaker area more so. I reported this to no avail to Apple and the Apple stores who acted like I was hearing things. I like quiet, especially late at night. The popping was reported on the Apple Discussion board as well.

Since a lot of parts are probably shared between iSiight G5s and iSight Intel Duos, I would not be surprised to see a batch of power supplies slip through out of spec.

Another thing I noticed that I have not seen mentioned anywhere, is that Apple is using Maxtor and Western Digital hardrives randomly in both iSight G5s and iSight Duos.
Use 'About this Mac' to see what shipped on yours; they do sound and respond differently and they format net drive gb available differently (considerably). I believe the WDs run cooler; since the temp utilities aren't update for the Intels yet, I can only compare the iSight G5s with Maxtor vs WD to report. Our Duo runs 50% cooler to the touch than the iSight G5.
Our last iSight G5 had a Maxtor; our latest Duo has a WD.

Bwa · Jan 26, 2006, 12:34 AM

I have not noticed this with my Intel iMac 17".

My cell phone does interfere with my Yamaha speakers on my G5.

My Intel iMac has a 160 GB Western Digital drive.

corgi75082 · Mar 22, 2006, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by HouseSold

2 of 5 iSight G5 20" iMacs that we had had this phenomenom; NO one believed us. I found that I could change how often the pop occurred by using a filtered power strip vs a regular wall plug. I believe it was power supply related. The sound appears to come from the left speaker area more so. I reported this to no avail to Apple and the Apple stores who acted like I was hearing things. I like quiet, especially late at night. The popping was reported on the Apple Discussion board as well.

I'm hearing this on mine as well...and it's not a cell-phone issue for mine. i put my cell in the other room and turned it off!

is this something they might fix with a software update?

HungrySeacow · Mar 22, 2006, 05:07 PM

I just turned off auto sound leveling in itunes so I could turn down my speakers amp just a bit. Now the popping sound is not as noticeable and I am happy

corgi75082 · Mar 22, 2006, 06:51 PM

another observation...the longer my computer is on, the fewer pops come through. anyone else notice this pattern?

DoctorGonzo · Mar 23, 2006, 08:08 PM

The only time I ever really have a problem with this is when I'm watching trailers through Front Row. Watching a regular DVD, or video file never results in this problem presenting itself.

Stolfi1 · Mar 23, 2006, 09:52 PM

its the sleep issue. It happens on my pc as well. If you set it so the harddrive doesnt spin down that will fix it.

corgi75082 · Mar 25, 2006, 04:10 PM

upon closer observation, i've realized the popping noise is coming from my imac's case (temp changes i guess). it happens when the computer is first turned on and also when the monitor comes back on after it's been in sleep mode. once it's warmed up they pretty much stop.