“Some users have reported that the volume scale is much louder after applying the Mac OS X 10.4.9 update. In other words, the same volume setting represents a much higher actual volume,” MacFixIt reports.
“This might be considered an enhancement, but some users are reporting that even the lowest volume setting is too loud for some purposes after the update,” MacFixIt reports.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, and also tell us below.
Full article, which also covers other Mac OS X 10.4.9 issues, here.
MacDailyNews Note: We have experienced the volume issue on a MacBook Pro 17″ 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo.
On my iBook G4, with the system volume all the way up and the application volume all the way up, I still had to crank a pair of stereo speakers to the max to get the sound up to a reasonable level (not even loud) in a large room.
Not ready to spend a lot on a more adequate amplification system, I found a cheap little gadget from Radio Shack that runs on two AA batteries, boosts the volume from a mini jack substantially and splits the sound out to three jacks. That might not be an acceptable solution for more discerning ears, but for my purposes it has been adequate to the task.
digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!! digg suXX!!!
ooooo, volume….
Me Pismo is fine…
Yup, noticed it on 17″ Intel iMac, Dual G5 tower, Dual G4 tower.
Oh yes. In fact, my MacBook Pro version 2 is much hotter too. Something changed in the power management or something.
Anyway to go back to the prior version?
I use external speakers with a volume control so it works fine on my 20″ iMac.
LaserKun
Get some lab results?
iBook G3 white dual usb bought in late 2004; the volume is maybe 20% higher and I’m glad.
Yes, this has affected me on a “generation 1″ 17” MacBook Pro Core Duo. Can’t surf or play World of Warcraft late at night without waking the wife, even with only 1 bar of volume. Gotta put on headphones now.
Perhaps all the of the iPod customers playing their music too loudly can’t hear their Macs any more?…
Yes, I definitely just noticed this on my MacBook Pro 15″ after moving to 10.4.9. The problem before, however, was of RANGE, not total volume. We needed the high end to be higher, but the low end was perfect and provided a lot of control. Now, the low end settings basically don’t exist. Since I use the low settings more often then I do the high end, this is mildly annoying.
Come on, Apple, get this right!
Apple should increase the range scale of the Sound Pref Pane’s volume slider and add more steps into the volume up/down buttons. It mystifies me why they have not done this.
@ David:
Do an archive install, then install the 10.4.8 update (most likely combo needed, in case you don’t have 10.4.7 install DVD’s)
and all others except 10.4.9. That does the trick.
I have noticed this same problem, but never originally traced it to Apple’s 10.4.9 update. But I have to admit, I do see it as an enhancement. I enjoy the louder music and things for myself, I always thought it was sort of quiet for a computer speaker even on the loudest setting when playing iTunes music.
hey, a bit off topic.
Has anybody else noticed that 10.4.9 prevents MS Office from printing, and even starting up on macs?
I’ve got 6 macs in our family. MS Office opens and prints on the lampstand imac and the g4 sawtooth, it opens but doesn’t print on the macbook, ibook, and the powerbook, it doesn’t even open on the intel core 2 duo imac.
I’ve run all of the usual fixes…. just can’t get it to work.
What? HUH?
Say that again?
CAN’T HEAR YOU!
!@#!@*&^%$ volume control…
i have also noticed the sound increase. didnt really think much of it. i kinda like the louder muisc though….
Jim — didn’t have any problem opening Word on my MacBook (Core 2 Duo) after the upgrade, and just now opened it on the Core Duo iMac 20in with no problem. Could be some sort of corrupted preference file?
The volume is definitely louder. I used to keep my volume at 6 below full at all times. Not I keep it at 4 above zero. I like the change, since the sound is noticeably clearer at louder volumes, definitely less distortion.
@Apple-Mat
Thanks. Brilliant. Uh, I should have considered that. Thanks for the reminder!
does anyone know if the speaker volume update applies to core duo 1.83 ghz macbook? I updated it already and to no avail, my volume did not increase at all. Could I report this to my local apple center if ever? I’m not sure if they’d take it into account though.
I’m using a 20″ iMac Intel Core Duo, and I too have noticed a great increase in the system volume. The same volume that used to be equal to about 9 bars (which is what I typically used) is now closer to only 2 or 3!
Did they mention this in the patch notes or are they just trying to blast our ears out by surprise?
its too loud…any way to reduce?
Way too loud here, on a 2.33 MacBook Pro. Even on one bar, I have to turn the iTunes volume slider almost below halfway to able to listen to music at work.
Of course, I now have the option to play my music much louder, but why would I ever want to do that through the built-in speakers?
Hi.
I have the same problem in my 20″ iMac core duo.
There’s no more control over the volume minimum levels, so the maximums are louder but you can’t even acces the minimum, as other people here said.
You can go on by adjusting the volume manually on each application (itunes, vlc, quicktime,etc…) but the big problem arrives with FRONTROW, as it was said here.
There’s no option to modify the frontrow volume level (only with the remote), so with only one bar, sometimes it’s wayyy too loud, and you can’t do anything.
I’ think it’s a huge mistake from apple (inc, not computer anymore…and we see the results, bad upgrades, leopard not till october etc…).
I would appreciate alot if anybody could tell me how to set the “master volume” for Frontrow, as we can do it in other applications such as iTunes.
Thanks in advance.