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Does your 16 inch MacBook Pro have pop/cracking sound issue?


  • Total voters
    379

imrazor

macrumors 6502
Sep 8, 2010
401
120
Dol Amroth
@anaudiopro From a casual perusal of the thread it seems like this does not affect external audio interfaces. Do you use the onboard audio for professional work? I seem to see conflicting information in the thread about whether it affects the headphone jack or not. A few quick listens to the headphone port convinced me to avoid that output altogether.
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
@anaudiopro From a casual perusal of the thread it seems like this does not affect external audio interfaces. Do you use the onboard audio for professional work? I seem to see conflicting information in the thread about whether it affects the headphone jack or not. A few quick listens to the headphone port convinced me to avoid that output altogether.

No I do not use the internal speakers for “professional work”. I know this is something that for some reason keeps coming up. As though this somehow makes having a $2k+ machine with an audio issue ok. That’s beside the point. It doesn’t in any way negate the facts or let Apple off the hook. That’s like the “you’re holding it wrong” argument. The point is this should be a none issue on this machine or any Mac for that matter. Period.
 
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joe_04_04

macrumors newbie
Dec 16, 2019
7
9
So when are we going to start some petition on this? Apple specifically sent out a letter to their employees to not accept returns on these units because it would be fixed in a software update. These units have been out what, nearly half a year now? This is ridiculous. I'm a software engineer, I totally understand that some bugs are horrific, but there really is no excuse for Apple, with their team of word-class developers, to not have this fixed yet.
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
So when are we going to start some petition on this? Apple specifically sent out a letter to their employees to not accept returns on these units because it would be fixed in a software update. These units have been out what, nearly half a year now? This is ridiculous. I'm a software engineer, I totally understand that some bugs are horrific, but there really is no excuse for Apple, with their team of word-class developers, to not have this fixed yet.

100% agree. Well said!
 
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mac.ross

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2012
144
104
I wish they'd hurry up and fix this, I find myself not wanting to use my Macbook Pro because it ends up just annoying me with the popping.

It's unacceptable that this has continued for so long without any fix coming from Apple.
 
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dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
I wish they'd hurry up and fix this, I find myself not wanting to use my Macbook Pro because it ends up just annoying me with the popping.

It's unacceptable that this has continued for so long without any fix coming from Apple.
I’m waiting for the petition to show up so me and my associates can sign it. I may create one myself.
 
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Gen4ig

macrumors newbie
Dec 4, 2017
28
1
Poland
Today I get my 15 inch 2019 from authorised services I was disappointed ? They did not find any issue, no crackling. After 1 min for using MacBook I again hear crackling sound .... Apple go down ....
 
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Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
Today I get my 15 inch 2019 from authorised services I was disappointed ? They did not find any issue, no crackling. After 1 min for using MacBook I again hear crackling sound .... Apple go down ....
You sent it to Apple because of the speaker popping? And Apple accepted it? Neither if those makes sense, since they claim it's a software issue. But I hope you'll let them know the popping is still there, in case they think it isn't.
 
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Gen4ig

macrumors newbie
Dec 4, 2017
28
1
Poland
You sent it to Apple because of the speaker popping? And Apple accepted it? Neither if those makes sense, since they claim it's a software issue. But I hope you'll let them know the popping is still there, in case they think it isn't.
yes it is
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
You sent it to Apple because of the speaker popping? And Apple accepted it? Neither if those makes sense, since they claim it's a software issue. But I hope you'll let them know the popping is still there, in case they think it isn't.
It is being said now that it is some HW/SW interaction, which would explain why there's been no fast fix and also why it occurs on every single 16".
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
I have no issue like this, brand new 16"
LOL, yeah you do... We've been over this a thousand times. Have a read back through the entire thread. Myself and a few other associates have it on very good accord from some executives at Apple that there are ZERO exceptions to this issue. To say that there are would indicate a HUGE batch of faulty hardware because Apple internally point blank states that this has NOT been fixed and that it seems to be some sort of HW/SW interaction. Maybe you aren't doing anything to replicate it. I suppose that is possible (not really), but I don't know how when even receiving email and text alerts causes a slight "clicking" sound just a tiny fraction of a second before the alert sound itself. It is difficult to hear, but it's there. Also, it makes a difference if you have your machine set to 44.1 or 48. Apple did make a slight attempt to patch 48 but "forgot" to work on 44.1. Set your machine to 44.1. Put your head close to the left speaker. Have someone send you a bunch of texts in succession and listen for the "click" just before or seemingly at the same time as the alert sound... Have a nice day.

P.S. I do have OCD and I am a total perfectionist. It's a blessing and a curse. ;)
 
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Alex W.

macrumors 6502
Apr 18, 2020
353
190
LOL, yeah you do... We've been over this a thousand times. Have a read back through the entire thread. Myself and a few other associates have it on very good accord from some executives at Apple that there are ZERO exceptions to this issue. To say that there are would indicate a HUGE batch of faulty hardware because Apple internally point blank states that this has NOT been fixed and that it seems to be some sort of HW/SW interaction. Maybe you aren't doing anything to replicate it. I suppose that is possible (not really), but I don't know how when even receiving email and text alerts causes a slight "clicking" sound just a tiny fraction of a second before the alert sound itself. It is difficult to hear, but it's there. Also, it makes a difference if you have your machine set to 44.1 or 48. Apple did make a slight attempt to patch 48 but "forgot" to work on 44.1. Set your machine to 44.1. Put your head close to the left speaker. Have someone send you a bunch of texts in succession and listen for the "click" just before or seemingly at the same time as the alert sound... Have a nice day.

P.S. I do have OCD and I am a total perfectionist. It's a blessing and a curse. ;)

Dude explain how I can replicate this -- ill try to assist but im not reading 38 pages to do it. The popping is major so id like to hear swell.
 
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Pål Asle Pettersen

macrumors newbie
May 13, 2020
5
3
Stavanger
I have done some testing. If I use Logic Pro, the crackle/pop issue is extreme. You can't really use the software anymore because the sound coming out from the speakers are completely distorted or it sounds like you are using tremolo on all sounds. Anyway, if i switch from mac built-in speakers and route the audio through another application like Loopback and then use Loopback to send audio to built-in speakers, the problem changes. I get rid of the crackling and pop, but instead i get some kind of echo, and the delayed sound is a weird, distorted version of what i play.

I have no idea what this means though. Have tried calling Apple Support, but always end up teaching the support staff some stuff about macs. They are completely blank. Have tried to convince them to put me over to tech staff, but with no luck.
 

dmstasinos

macrumors member
Oct 29, 2019
81
99
They are completely blank. Have tried to convince them to put me over to tech staff, but with no luck.

Did they ask you to perform an NVRAM or PRAM reset? Lol. I had the same experience. I went to 3 different authorised service centres in my country and the answer to everything was either "OS reinstall" or "replace motherboard". I don't blame the guys there, they are just workers but i guess what their training looks like these days.

Have you seen the movie "Idiocracy" where every incident in a hospital was treated using a bunch of big fancy buttons and the doctors where totally skilless? This is how i feel every time i step into one of those places.
 

Pål Asle Pettersen

macrumors newbie
May 13, 2020
5
3
Stavanger
No, i do not blame them at all. Actually we get along pretty well after they stop trying to explain in detail how to open System Preferences, or restart my mac. And yes, resetting NVRAM og PRAM must be step number one on their list. I always stop them when they ask me to reinstall OS. Not willing to do that step to be polite to those guys. Last time i called them back and told them how to fix the problem after i found out by myself (some time machine **** up). But it is kind of sad that Apple hired a bunch of people for their tech support without any knowledge at all.
 
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Ocnetgeek

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2018
185
105
Oak Creek, WI
I am having a related issue with this Popping sound. I have a 2015 MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.4 and I get a very predictable 6 Pops every time I startup or resume from sleep.
 

Pål Asle Pettersen

macrumors newbie
May 13, 2020
5
3
Stavanger
Djises, another useless call to apple support for a couple of hours. After being sent to Logic Pro department, and then to "highest level" technician, they ended up telling me to reinstall OS. And that if the reinstall did not work, it was for sure a hardware issue. I tried to convince the guy that it was a software issue, and that hundreds of people on mac-forums have the same problem, but he insisted that there was no reports from Apple that other people was experiencing the same issue. So I guess that is that. We should not even turn or expectations up, and hope for a update that fixes the issue.
 

Pål Asle Pettersen

macrumors newbie
May 13, 2020
5
3
Stavanger
Question for all of you that experience the annoying Logic Pro rhythmic pop sound: Have you tried to change I/O buffer size to 512? And if you have, did that change anything (except from slowing down the tempo of the rhythmic pop)? I am still doing tests, and after changing I/O buffer size to 512, i have not yet had any problems with the sound when using logic......
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
Got some wild news. So my CTO 13" MBP just arrived. NO CLICKING OR POPPING... Hmmmmm, Apple. So what does this mean? It is indeed specific to the 16" and is indeed HW related?
 

dmstasinos

macrumors member
Oct 29, 2019
81
99
Got some wild news. So my CTO 13" MBP just arrived. NO CLICKING OR POPPING... Hmmmmm, Apple. So what does this mean? It is indeed specific to the 16" and is indeed HW related?

I haven't heard any complaints about the 2018 mac mini either. The vast majority of reports are related to 15-16 inch models so my guess is that it's hardware related. Do we know if all these models are equipped with the same audio chip? I will do a little research soon.
 

fokmik

Suspended
Oct 28, 2016
4,909
4,688
USA
Got some wild news. So my CTO 13" MBP just arrived. NO CLICKING OR POPPING... Hmmmmm, Apple. So what does this mean? It is indeed specific to the 16" and is indeed HW related?
Give it some time, my all new macs didnt had it for 2 days...lets see,maybe something is changed and the future looks "bright"
Wich OS version you have? the latest ?
 

dspdoc

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2017
1,962
2,379
Give it some time, my all new macs didnt had it for 2 days...lets see,maybe something is changed and the future looks "bright"
Wich OS version you have? the latest ?
10.15.4. I ran it through it’s paces pretty good and did all the things I know to make it pop and click. Nothing. Silent. I think it’s HW/SW related for sure now. Since the 13” has different HW and Apple knew about this issue going in, they’ve fixed something. It’s not right for all the 16” owners to be stuck with this.
 
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