Neil Young slams the MacBook Pro's 'Fisher-Price' sound quality

Neil Young slams the MacBook Pro's 'Fisher-Price' sound quality
(Image credit: CBS)

We know Neil Young is a stickler for audio quality. You don't launch your own high-resolution music player and streaming service without having a passion for sound. Even if it did fail miserably.

So it probably won't come as a surprise to learn that Young isn't a big fan of music conceived on a laptop, especially when that laptop is an Apple MacBook Pro.

Though many artists are now using Apple's laptop as a tool to record their music,  Young explains why he's not a fan in an interview with The Verge.

"It's a piece of crap, are you kidding?" said Young. "It's Fisher-Price quality... you can't get anything out of that thing. If you put it in, you can't get it out because the DAC is no good on the MacBook Pro".

In the interview, Young also claims Apple "doesn't want audio quality". That's perhaps a little harsh given that various iterations of the iPhone and iPad have consistently outperformed their closest rivals in the audio department, while products such as the iPod Classic and iPod Touch also indicate otherwise. Apple's HomePod is also one of the best-sounding smart speakers we've heard...

But in some ways, Young is right. There's no doubt the DAC of a MacBook Pro, or any laptop for that matter, can be improved upon. We'd suggest checking out our list of the best DACs you can buy, where you'll find a fine selection of models complete with a headphone amp.

Do you agree with Neil? Or does he need to be more realistic? After all, hi-res music streaming services are now mainstream and consumers also have proper hi-res audio players to chose from, such as the Sony NW-A45 and Astell & Kern Kann, so the quality is definitely there if you want it.

MORE:

Best music streaming services: free streams to hi-res audio

Best portable music players 2020: from budget to hi-res music

Best headphones 2020: all styles, all budgets

Andy Madden

Andy is Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and a consumer electronics journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing news, reviews and features. Over the years he's also contributed to a number of other outlets, including The Sunday Times, the BBC, Stuff, and BA High Life Magazine. Premium wireless earbuds are his passion but he's also keen on car tech and in-car audio systems and can often be found cruising the countryside testing the latest set-ups. In his spare time Andy is a keen golfer and gamer.

  • abacus
    Which MacBook Pro, as the New MacBook Pro 16" has one (If not the) of the best rated sound quality of any Laptop out there, plus nobody ever uses Laptop speakers for production as it is always connected to a DAW combined with a high quality audio system. (Not a Hi-Fi system as most are pretty naff when it comes to sound accuracy, including so called high end ones)

    Bill
    Reply
  • tguyfr
    I admire NY, but frankly, he should invest in good hearing aid because I suppose playing at high levels has certainly damaged its ears. The MBP16 is absolutely stunning in the audio department. It's a clear, detailed and '3D' sound which has a really pleasant signature without competing with high standards audio systems, for sure.
    Ok, let's go back listening to Harvest on my MBP, just for the pleasure...
    Reply
  • kawmic
    You ppl clearly haven't read the article.
    Reply
  • jjbomber
    Neil's obviously not receiving envelopes stuffed with cash from Cupertino.
    Reply
  • kawmic
    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😎😎
    Reply
  • chebby
    Neil who? Maybe his opinion mattered 40 years ago, but no-one gives a rat’s posterior what some superannuated hippie thinks now.
    Reply
  • simonali
    How good is a 74 year old's hearing anyways?
    Reply
  • kawmic
    simonali said:
    How good is a 74 year old's hearing anyways?
    Well, he can hear Apple sounds *****. So it must be good enough.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😎😎
    Reply