Distorted sound (macbook)

[davidsh]

Hey... Got a problem.. The sound coming out of my macbook pro is all distorted, and it isn't only through the speakers of my macbook, but with whatever sound device i plug in to it.
It is annoying especially when i am hearing music.

But also after playing a bit around with my macbook i have noticed that when i use the youtube downloader Get tube there is no distortion and the sound is perfectly clear.
Else it sounds like if i have plucked a broken equalizer to my mac or so...

I am thinking whether anyone know this problem and even better a solution?

Thank you

 

[Kaveman]

Check your iTunes > Window > Equaliser settings

 

[davidsh]

Check your iTunes > Window > Equaliser settings

I know about the eq in itunes... And it is disabled. Also the problem isn't only in iTunes but pretty much in any program on my mac...

My first reaction was that I thought my sound card was broken but i've, as i said, found out that in the program Get Tube, the sound is perfectly clear

 

[Kaveman]

Is it the same with external speakers, either headphone or USB?

 

[davidsh]

Yes, it is. I havn't got any USB sound devices but yes it is the same through the jack whatever device i plug in.

 

[Kaveman]

Get Tube, the sound is perfectly clear

that might not be using the built in Amp.

I'd try deleting your Quicktime preferences, if that doesn't help it points to a hardware problem. Need to take it to an Apple Service Centre and get their diagnosis. I hope you have extended AppleCare.

 

[davidsh]

Okay, thank you alot for your help. Shouldn't the warranty cover it, my mac is only 6 months old?

Where do i find my quicktime preferences?

 

[Kaveman]

my mac is only 6 months old?

yes you have AppleCare. I'm not Apple, but I would imagine it would.

If you are on Lion
Finder > Go with the Option Key held down > Library

Library > Preferences > com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist
and
Library > Preferences > QuickTime Preferences

 

[davidsh]

Am i supposed to delete the files? I've done that and the sound quality is still as terrible as it has ever been

 

[Kaveman]

Yes, QuickTime will just remake them.

Ok, I can't think of anything else, other than taking it to get repaired.

 

[Spawn_Dooley]

Try launching, then quitting Garageband. Sounds like voodoo and it is. Has worked for others so what's there to lose?

 

[davidsh]

No effect

 

[Spawn_Dooley]

Did you try a reboot afterwards just for luck?

 

[davidsh]

Still nothing...

 

[Kaveman]

my mac is only 6 months old?

Take it to Apple Service Centre and see if its covered by AppleCare.

 

[davidsh]

I have finally solved the problem!
My Mac came with this pre-installed application, Hear, and after the trial was up i havn't used it... Anyway in the background, without me knowing, an application called hear daemon has been running, and it seems that it caused all the troubles after all...

To anybody reading this tread with a similar problem: Go to preferences > Accounts > Login items and make sure that hear daemon does NOT!!! start with the os

 

[anainc]

The above solved my distortion problem, PERFECT !
MacBookPro 15" mid 2010 model