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hsl · May 20, 2006, 05:09 AM

How are the speakers on the MacBook compared to the 12" ibook speakers and the 12" powerbook speakers?
I hate the iBook's speakers but i love the sound the 12" powerbook can produce.

:-)

Yakov · May 20, 2006, 09:28 AM

I've read that they represent a marked improvement, over the iBook, at least.

Heavy · May 20, 2006, 10:59 AM

I read a review and they said they sounded rich and clear. Not as loud or much low end as a Dell inspiron though.

Star-Fire · May 20, 2006, 11:52 AM

From what I've read they are in the same place as the 12" PB speakers.

Hi I'm Ben · May 20, 2006, 12:08 PM

i think 12" PB speakers are better, but these are nicer than iBook.

JAR · May 20, 2006, 01:24 PM

The speakers are surprisingly good considering how small they are. I've played the violin since age 5 so I have fairly sensitive ears too. The only time they sound bad is with really deep bass sounds (haha duh, no subwoofer). Otherwise they are very clear for small speakers.

Given that, I would recommend you get in-ear earbuds or real speakers if you plan on listening to music a lot. They're definitely not loud enough to fill a room, but loud enough if you sit in front of the macbook.

pxlshftr · May 21, 2006, 03:28 AM

I agree, the sound is great, but not loud enough! Its actually a bit frustrating. I know when I run VLC, I'm able to overdrive the sound to 400%, does anyone know if there is a way to achieve this on a system wide level?

hsl · May 21, 2006, 03:35 AM

does the MacBook have 2 or 3 speakers?
the 12" powerbook had 3 (one extra in the middle) and that gave a
brilliant sound for a laptop. well, i have airtunes allover the place, but
it would be nice if it would be supersound.

:-)

Yakov · May 22, 2006, 06:07 AM

two

N.N. · 05:36 AM

Judging from the various disassembly photos there seems to be a third speaker located to the right of the fan (in the "missing corner" of the optical drive).

Edit: The poor little thing is actually called "subwoofer" in the ifixit disassembly guide. :-)
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/86.1.21.html

harrisjamieh · May 23, 2006, 09:21 AM

Yeh, I read somewhere on the Apple site IIRC, it said: stereo speakers (3), but I didn't take much notice of it

Star-Fire · May 23, 2006, 09:41 AM

It does have a third speaker, what exactly it is intended for I don't know, but its in the center towards the back of the bottom shell.

Heavy · May 23, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

Yeh, I read somewhere on the Apple site IIRC, it said: stereo speakers (3), but I didn't take much notice of it

Yeah it says that in the manual too.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 23, 2006, 12:40 PM

where is the mic?

jsousa · May 23, 2006, 12:52 PM

the question is, if your in a room with 5 other people can you set it on a table 5 feet away and still here the dialogue in a movie?

harrisjamieh · May 23, 2006, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by jdrumstik

the question is, if your in a room with 5 other people can you set it on a table 5 feet away and still here the dialogue in a movie?

Show me one laptop that CAN do that... at least acceptably anyway

harrisjamieh · May 23, 2006, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

where is the mic?

The Mic is up with the iSight, I do believe.

Yakov · May 23, 2006, 01:08 PM

wow, three speakers! sounds like fun

iChelle · May 23, 2006, 01:09 PM

i prefer my 12" powerbook's speakers a little more than the macbook's.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 23, 2006, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

The Mic is up with the iSight, I do believe.

I heard in the MBP's it is IN the speaker which is completely stupid.

harrisjamieh · May 23, 2006, 01:19 PM

Yeh the MBP has it next to the left speaker - totally retarded, though iChat is clever enough to turn the left speaker off during chat, so you don't get feedback.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 23, 2006, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

Yeh the MBP has it next to the left speaker - totally retarded, though iChat is clever enough to turn the left speaker off during chat, so you don't get feedback.

And other programs like Skype?

harrisjamieh · May 23, 2006, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

And other programs like Skype?

IIRC, Skype doesnt, no. But this is the MBP, the MB has the Mic in the screen bezel, next to the iSight:

Yakov · May 23, 2006, 02:05 PM

for Macbook

Socially Awkward Solo · May 23, 2006, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

IIRC, Skype doesnt, no. But this is the MBP, the MB has the Mic in the screen bezel, next to the iSight:

As it should be, why the brain-dead would Apple put it in a speaker on the pro models?

JustinD · May 24, 2006, 12:17 AM

Better than the iBook, worse than the 12" PB, in terms of volume. I'm actually pretty disappointed by the volume - but tiny speakers, what do ya expect...

iChelle · May 24, 2006, 12:43 AM

i just compared the sound from the 12" PB and from the MB. the PB wins hands down. it sounds so much richer.

StiZeven · May 24, 2006, 01:08 AM

I couldn't really hear the speakers that well in the Apple store. Are the MacBook speakers cheap and tinny sounding, or just low? There's not even a tiny bit of bass to make the sound more dimensional? If not, I wonder what that 3rd center speaker is for?

iChelle · May 24, 2006, 01:11 AM

Yes I think they are way tinny compared to the 12" PB.

Indeed, what is that 3rd center speaker for?

hsl · May 24, 2006, 02:04 AM

if there;s a third speakers, its for the bass.. oe atleast, that;s what is does on my 12" powerbook

iChelle · May 24, 2006, 02:05 AM

if that's right, the bass is almost non existent on the MB =\