27" i7 iMac Clicking Sound (Lower Left)

[dwarnecke11]

The hits just keep on coming with this thing First, it arrived with a massive glob of dust trapped between the backlight and LCD panel (still need to take to Genius Bar), then the PSU buzzing started and now it's making a random clicking/popping sound from the lower left.

Its a very quiet sound but its noticeable in a quiet room. It appears to be random, but I can reproduce it by opening iTunes, playing a few seconds of a song, waiting at least 10 seconds in silence, then starting another song. *pop* and the song begins. This happens in QuickTime as well.

What is going on here? I'm so exasperated right now, I wish Apple would just replace my troubled machine with a new one.

 

[dwarnecke11]

Follow-up:

Doesn't seem to do it over the audio out jack. When starting up or restarting, it sometimes pops before making the startup sound.

Pops about ten times when loading The Sims 3 (right before EA logo).

 

[biggd]

Follow-up:

Doesn't seem to do it over the audio out jack. When starting up or restarting, it sometimes pops before making the startup sound.

Pops about ten times when loading The Sims 3 (right before EA logo).

You hafta return it sir

 

[dwarnecke11]

Alright I have some more information now that I've Google'd this issue.

Apparently it was caused by the 10.6.5 update. Whenever there is 5+ seconds of silence, the audio hardware goes to sleep. When it is needed, it reawakens with a "pop" before it plays the requested sound. You can use the keyboard volume keys to reproduce the sound every time. Anyone reading this, give it a try. Let the iMac sit silent for 5 or 10 seconds, hit the Vol Up/Dn and listen for a quiet "pop" before the louder, proper sound check click.

Still taking it to Apple to have them replace the LCD. Hopefully they will release a patch to fix this problem...

EDIT: Reinstalled 10.6.4, popping persists. This iMac is becoming a real headache.