[Jottle]

So I just got a new pair of audioengine a5's. I like them a lot, but the hiss from my unibody macbook pro as a source is annoying. When the speakers aren't connected to a source, they're dead quiet no matter how high I turn up the master volume. When I connect them to my macbook pro (via the only way, 3.5mm jack), I get some audible and annoying hiss from the tweeters. So it must be the macbook pro's crappy internal sound card. Also, the a5's are analog only. I don't like the hiss, and it gets a tiny bit louder if I turn the master volume on the speakers up. It's definitely not a ground loop or anything. I'm pretty sure it's just hiss from the sound card. My question is will an external DAC inline between the speaker and macbook pro remove most of this hiss? What can I do to eliminate it? Any recommendations for a semi-cheap DAC, say between $150-$300?

I know that my laptop can output digital audio over the same 3.5mm headphone port. So is it likely that the digital 3.5mm output will also have hiss?

 

[backtoreality15]

Not sure about all the DACs out there, but mine, which is a budget one ($100) hisses slightly. Though I usually can't make it out because my computer fans drown it out.

 

[fenixdown110]

It should, since DAC's override the internal sound card. The Headroom Total Airhead is a good choice. You can find it new for $160 and it's a pretty decent amp as well.
Headroom Total Bithead - Headphone Amplifier | HeadRoom Audio

 

[FallenAngel]

Turn down the volume on your source, turn up volume on speakers, see if that helps. If your source really is too noisy, most DACs should have a lower noise floor.

 

[Currawong]

Cheap USB DACs can be pretty noisy too. Your MacBook Pro will do optical output via the headphone socket, using a mini-optical connector (or adaptor) so a basic optical DAC will do the trick, but try what FallenAngel suggested first.

 

[Jottle]

After further tinkering, it turns out that it's not my mbp's sound card. The internal amp on the a5's, when activated, generates the hiss. Basically if i play some music and then immediately disconnect the audio cable, the a5's still hiss at the same volume until they go into power saving mode. So I'm hearing it because I'm about 2 feet away from them. And it's inaudible at about 4 feet. My room is dead silent. But there's probably nothing I can do at this point regarding the hiss if it's the internal amp of the a5's, correct? I had a pair of a2's that also hissed without a source, but the a5's are slightly louder.

The issue with this is some people are more sensitive to this than others. I bet if I asked if any other a5 owners here on the forum whether they hear hissing with the internal amp activated, most would say their speakers are dead quiet. Which is probably incorrect. All powered speakers have some hiss, as I understand it. Besides sitting farther away, do I have any other options?

 

[FasterThanEver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jottle /img/forum/go_quote.gif After further tinkering, it turns out that it's not my mbp's sound card. The internal amp on the a5's, when activated, generates the hiss. Besides sitting farther away, do I have any other options?

I found that setting the volume control in my player s/w to the maximum and using the volume knob on the front of my left A5 works well all around.

- I'm getting a bit-perfect stream to my soundcard.
- hiss is reduced since the volume control on the left A5 is at a low setting
- the A5s' auto sensing works better with a higher input volume.
- The noise when the A5s time out and turn themselves off is lower in volume.

I can't hear any hiss from 2 feet away from the A5s. I can barely hear noise from 2 inches away.

Bill

 

[Jottle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FasterThanEver /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found that setting the volume control in my player s/w to the maximum and using the volume knob on the front of my left A5 works well all around. - I'm getting a bit-perfect stream to my soundcard. - hiss is reduced since the volume control on the left A5 is at a low setting - the A5s' auto sensing works better with a higher input volume. - The noise when the A5s time out and turn themselves off is lower in volume. I can't hear any hiss from 2 feet away from the A5s. I can barely hear noise from 2 inches away. Bill

Thanks. I tried what you said, but the hissing isn't really reduced. I suppose it's just the nature of the amp in the a5's. I even tried plugging it into another outlet just to be sure it wasn't my electrical socket or surge protector. It seems that the hissing remains at the same volume no matter how high the input source is. If I turn up the speaker master volume, the hissing gets slightly louder at 12 o'clock. I leave it at 9 o'clock, and it is noticeable, but tolerable at 3 feet. I just wish there were a way to get rid of this background noise altogether. I doubt I have a defective pair, I just wish I could compare them somehow.

 

[backtoreality15]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong /img/forum/go_quote.gif Cheap USB DACs can be pretty noisy too. Your MacBook Pro will do optical output via the headphone socket, using a mini-optical connector (or adaptor) so a basic optical DAC will do the trick, but try what FallenAngel suggested first.

Mine is a cheaper optical DAC/Pre-Amp that I use with my Macbook Pro (the SVDAC06). Still produces a subtle hiss at all volume levels (even 1/30).

 

[Hookem]

Hummm...My A5's are dead quiet.

 

[Mr. B]

Mine have the slightest hiss when they are on. I have to have my ear right on the speakers to hear it and the hiss is the same regardless of the volume level.

 

[Neuromantic]

My A2s produce unwanted sound only when the volume knob is turned all the way up. It's mostly a hiss/whine when I move the mouse wheel. I have them connected via onboard sound on a non-Mac desktop computer. However, when I have the knob at about halfway and the Windows volume higher so even if its still as loud, the hiss is gone. Perhaps there is a very simple explanation for this but I'm not one to know these kinds of things.