Headphone Jack and volume control

you can fine tune the audio output with itunes by moving the volume slider.

think also holding the option or command key & then pressing the volume buttons cuts the change in half...

you shouldn't need to hold fn unless you changed that setting in the system prefs...

but I do believe the macs have memory when you change between outputs for volume level. I set the volume after you plug in the headphones, but while OFF your ears.

does it do this everytime? also, always set the volume first before putting the headphones on.

Are you referring to this volume slider in iTunes?

I'm having the exact same issue. It is very annoying. I listen to my music at work from my Macbook Pro, and to have a loud blast to the ears first thing in the morning is not pleasant at all. Here are my steps to reproduce:

1. Turn on Macbook Pro.
2. Turn volume level down to 2 bars by hitting the volume down button on the keyboard.
3. Open iTunes.
4. Plug in headphones.
5. Hit play on iTunes.
6. Music blasts my head and I spill my coffee.
7. Quickly hit volume down button on keyboard. Notice that it is now again back at 50% system volume, but in step two I turned it down to 2 bars.

This isn't cool at all.

It doesn't seem too farfetched to hypothesize that after a few experiences with Step 6, you might learn the habit of carrying out Step 7 before Step 5. Some things you just have to do for yourself, even if they're not cool at all.

I'm having this same issue as well.

I bought a new pair of Monster Turbine in-ear headphones. I have to put my Mac volume down to notch one or two. Even at two, it's too loud. So I end up having to adjust the volume within an app.

This is unacceptable for several reasons. One being that my MBP should not be outputting music loud enough to damage my hearing at notch #2. The other is that I shouldn't have to manually change the volume in each app, because when I unplug my headphones, I end up having to readjust them yet again.

This is annoying, and I'm curious if it's a common problem but no one cares to talk about it? If it's not common, I will take my MBP back and get a replacement.

Totally unacceptable.

You're going to have to come to grips with using BOTH the master volume control (F10, F11 and F12) AND the volume control in iTunes, assuming you use iTunes to play your music. When iTunes is open, the iTunes volume control limits the maximum volume that can be obtained by adjusting the master volume control. So if you have extremely efficient headphones (which play a very low signal relatively loudly), set the iTunes volume slider low enough to make the volume comfortable even when the master volume control is at its highest setting. And if you have relatively inefficient headphones, set the iTunes slider higher to permit an appropriate range of volume adjustment with the master control.

You will also have to get used to the fact that when something is plugged into the headphone port, the MBP has absolutely no way of knowing how efficient the connected device is, i.e. whether the volume level being delivered to the listener by that device is comfortable or uncomfortable. Different headphones/earbuds/external speakers may deliver the same music to the listener's ears at very different volumes, even though the computer is set exactly the same. Nor does the MBP have any idea what the listener's preferences are: some want to hammer their eardrums into a state of permanent tinnitus, while others like to keep their music quiet. This is why volume controls are provided in the machine and the software running on it. There is no way for your MBP to make all your decisions for you; you have to do some of the work yourself.

Why should I come to grips with this? My Windows 7 install on this very MacBook Pro handles volume just fine. I can have my speakers at 50%. Plug in my headphones. Still at 50%, but not deafening.

This is obviously either a) by design or b) a bug. I'll be submitting it to Apple as b.

dallen33 wrote:
Why should I come to grips with this? My Windows 7 install on this very MacBook Pro handles volume just fine. I can have my speakers at 50%. Plug in my headphones. Still at 50%, but not deafening.

This is obviously either a) by design or b) a bug. I'll be submitting it to Apple as b.

Many people actually complain about a LACK of volume when using their Macs under windows, dallen33.

The headphone port on the Mac is a "dumb" port. It can't determine the impedance and efficiency of whatever you happen to be plugging into it at the time. If it was "intelligent" it would probably require Apple specific headphones, which would have everyone up in arms about trade restrictions and the like. If it was configured to provide a muted maximum output level suitable for headphones that produce the maximum possible volume then there would be thousands with lower efficiency headphones, including some with very high quality ones, complaining that the sound was too quiet (just as some do about the Windows output level) !

Surely this stuff is pretty easy for people to sort out for themselves. If you have headphones that produce a high output level then turn down the volume slider in iTunes right down before you stick 'em in your ears and then gradually adjust the volume upwards until it is at the level you would like!! If you do this you will find that the volume starts at zero even if the system setting is at maximum.

Alternatively, buy yourselves some high quality, lower efficiency headphones.

Cheers

Rod

mgrant wrote:
I'm having the exact same issue. It is very annoying. I listen to my music at work from my Macbook Pro, and to have a loud blast to the ears first thing in the morning is not pleasant at all. Here are my steps to reproduce:

1. Turn on Macbook Pro.
2. Turn volume level down to 2 bars by hitting the volume down button on the keyboard.
3. Open iTunes.
4. Plug in headphones.
5. Hit play on iTunes.
6. Music blasts my head and I spill my coffee.
7. Quickly hit volume down button on keyboard. Notice that it is now again back at 50% system volume, but in step two I turned it down to 2 bars.

This isn't cool at all.

Except that isn't actually what happens, mgrant.

The system volume and iTunes volume controls operate independently of each other. Opening iTunes and playing a track has no effect on the maximum system volume setting itself. The latter will still be on two bars after you open iTunes, plug in headphones, and start playing a track. Maybe you are hitting the wrong function key if you are finding it changing?

All you need to do to avoid any of these problems is to use the slider in iTunes to reduce the volume before beginning to play. Even if the overall system volume is left set to maximum level, dropping the iTunes slider to zero will reduce it to nothing, and you can increase the output to the level you would like through your own set of headphones. It isn't hard to do!

Cheers

Rod