popping when new sound comes through, with Bose companion speakers.

Question

Level 1

9 points

popping when new sound comes through, with Bose companion speakers.

I've used the Bose companion speakers for years with my 17" PowerBook and they were fine. Now, connected to my new 24" iMac they "pop" just before a new sound comes through, i.e. mail message coming in etc. I've connected them to my husband's 24" iMac and same deal. Apple has no idea why, and it's driving me nuts.

PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on May 30, 2009 5:12 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 15, 2009 10:23 AM in response to PQC

I'm having the same problem. I'm using Bose speakers that have been working just fine with my previous computer and now with the new 24" iMac they have a faint constant hum and pop when a new sound comes in.

Message was edited by: Kathy L. Ritzow

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Answer 2

lll

Level 4

2,009 points

Jul 15, 2009 7:20 PM in response to Kathy L. Ritzow

I had the same problem with my intel, but not with my old G5, with the same speakers.
I gaved the G5 to my brother, and after a while my speakers, and he has not the popping sound

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Answer 3

scalawag

Level 1

95 points

Jul 16, 2009 2:23 AM in response to PQC

I have the same thing with a set of Sony 2.1 speakers attached to the headphone socket.

Is it just with speakers plugged into the headphone socket or is anyone having the same thing with usb speakers?

It almost seems like the sound card has to "wake up" before playing the sound. A little pop before the sound plays and then a hum through the speakers after.

Hope this can be sorted as it is a bit annoying.

Paul

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Answer 4

Jul 18, 2009 4:24 PM in response to scalawag

Same problem here with my iMac. It's very annoying. When MSN or iChat (or any other app that needs sound) pops up wit a message the sound has to "wake up" before it can play the sound. The MSN message sound is cut in half, so is the sound of Skype or any other app..annoying.

After the first the ones after that are okay. But if there hasn't played a sound in a while the sound card goes to "sleep" again.

I have this problem only on my Intel iMac (see below) and not on my MacBook.

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Answer 5

PQC Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 20, 2009 3:43 PM in response to Anthony Pronk

Just came from the Apple store, told the same story to one of the guys there who use to work in a recording studio. He knew what I was talking about. Now I've talked to Apple Care twice, Bose once, no answers. But this guy suggested a USB device, like an iMic which I happened to have so I gave it a try and so far, NO POPPING. I have my fingers crossed, but it seems to be working. I have the speakers plugged into the iMic, the iMic plugged into a USB port.

Bottom line, this is screwed up, I shouldn't have to do this work around. Apple has to know about the problem. But until they own up to it at least now I'm not going nuts with this noise. At least I hope not. I'll post again if I'm wrong.

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Answer 6

Episcript

Level 2

454 points

Jul 20, 2009 5:43 PM in response to PQC

I know that the system will "sleep" the sound system when it is not in use. It's similar to how the monitor goes to sleep if you leave the computer alone for awhile. The speakers won't shut down as long as you have some audio running through the system.

So a potential workaround is to constantly run audio through the system to keep the system from sleeping the audio system.

If you are really good with programming you could probably build a widget, app, script or something that will fool the system into thinking that the audio system is under constant use and thus keep it from shutting down.

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Answer 7

PQC Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 21, 2009 5:19 AM in response to Episcript

Just reporting that indeed, using an external USB sound card ( in my case, an iMic that I had on hand) does the trick. No more popping. I will be calling Apple today to see what they say about this.

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Answer 8

Aug 2, 2009 6:00 AM in response to PQC

I have the same issue with popping. It seems to be feed back on the 1/8" jack. Any electrical feedback seems to make them pop???? Or if the IMAC starts a sound??? Really Odd.... If I turn my stereo on - which is on a separate outlet the speakers pop.

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Answer 9

scalawag

Level 1

95 points

Aug 3, 2009 3:08 AM in response to PQC

Hi

iMic has solved this for me too. No sense of the sound card sleeping and having to wake up with a USB device. It definitely seems to be an issue with equipment plugged into the headphone jack.

Has anyone gotten any further with Apple on this one? Whilst the USB solution works there should not be a need for this really on a computer that costs what iMacs do.

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Answer 10

Aug 14, 2009 6:24 AM in response to PQC

Just wanted to add my name to the list of users with this problem, in case anyone at Apple is paying attention. I'll try the workaround ya'll suggested, but it's ridiculous that we should have to tie up a usb port to fix an Apple defect.

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Answer 11

Gosuto

Level 1

35 points

Aug 22, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Shelley Reid2

Me too. Popping noises happen on my 24 iMac. I've tried a couple sets of speakers and they all have the same issue. If the sound has been idle for a while a nice popping noise comes out when the sound wakes up.

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Answer 12

docjeff1

Level 1

14 points

Aug 25, 2009 7:08 PM in response to PQC

Count me in as well. Using a JBL Spyro speaker system I just purchased. Popping noises are annoying and frequent.

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Answer 13

Aug 28, 2009 12:05 PM in response to PQC

This happens to us as well on nearly every Mac we have in the churc. We tell everyone that Mac is perfect for using in service at our church, but when play video in propresenter, POP. Every time the sound comes on. On our personal laptops (MacBook Pros) and How unprofessional is that. How cheap and cheesy. Is there a place to find out if there is a fix coming for this? We have the MacMini plugged in via the headphone port to a Heath soundboard.

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