Audio popping issue back on MacOS 11.3 for 16 inch MacBook Pro

[Abhay Bobby]

I own a 16 inch MacBook Pro, Ive never faced the audio popping issue earlier. But after updating to macOS 11.3 the audio popping issue has started for me. My left speaker starts to pop when I skip through a few parts in a YouTube video.
Has anyone faced this issue after upgrade.

 

[attackment]

I have the same issue, starting from macOS 11.3 on a 2017 5K 27" iMac with an external USB audio interface.

 

[Pranav B S]

I own a 16 inch MacBook Pro, Ive never faced the audio popping issue earlier. But after updating to macOS 11.3 the audio popping issue has started for me. My left speaker starts to pop when I skip through a few parts in a YouTube video.
Has anyone faced this issue after upgrade.

+1, After the update I'm facing some display related issues too.

 

[The Main Event]

I've had my new MBP since last month and just noticed the popping sound too when playing YT videos.

 

[Abhay Bobby]

+1, After the update I'm facing some display related issues too.

what display related issues?

 

[randomgeeza]

It's back for me too... had forgotten all about it, until I closed a Mixcloud Live window and POP! Haven't tried YT, but I guess it will be there...

Update: Yep, it's also YT and on Beatport. Elsewhere too I suspect...

 

[Pranav B S]

what display related issues?

I feel that the refresh rate is reduced.

 

[Abhay Bobby]

I feel that the refresh rate is reduced.

oh I haven't noticed it till now why don't you try refreshing your smc and nvram it might change

 

[Abhay Bobby]

It's back for me too... had forgotten all about it, until I closed a Mixcloud Live window and POP! Haven't tried YT, but I guess it will be there...

Update: Yep, it's also YT and on Beatport. Elsewhere too I suspect...

yeah there is a fix which is temporary as of now, open up QuickTime player and open up a new audio recording, don't do anything else just minimize that tab and use it as the way you normally do, the popping sound isn't heard. Hopefully apple will address it and fix it

 

[Pranav B S]

oh I haven't noticed it till now why don't you try refreshing your smc and nvram it might change

Did that didn't help

 

[yugioh5d]

yeah there is a fix which is temporary as of now, open up QuickTime player and open up a new audio recording, don't do anything else just minimize that tab and use it as the way you normally do, the popping sound isn't heard. Hopefully apple will address it and fix it

Mine also has the audio poping issues. I tried the "sudo killall coreaudiod" and it didn't help. The QuickTime solution works 👍. Hopefully Apple gonna address this issue in the next update.

 

[randomgeeza]

yeah there is a fix which is temporary as of now, open up QuickTime player and open up a new audio recording, don't do anything else just minimize that tab and use it as the way you normally do, the popping sound isn't heard. Hopefully apple will address it and fix it

Cheers for the heads up. Will try later...

Update: Yep, it works...

 

[paddylaz]

Exact same problem for me, and like your's just from the left speaker.

 

[mr_bam]

This bug is definitely back again. MBP 15 inch i9 2019. The external speakers will pop when the sound chip sleeps. It started doing it again (macOS 11.1 had it, then it was fixed in 11.2) immediately after 11.3 was installed and then again after 11.3.1 was too.

However, I've found that a full restart with the 5K LG Thunderbolt display + USB-C to Audio adaptor I use connected during the restart will fix it until the MBP next sleeps. The sound chip can do what it likes until the MBP itself sleeps.

When I sleep the MBP and come back to the office and plug in the 5K display again.... the audio pop is back so I just have to restart everyday now.

I am also having excessive (20% CPU) Spotlight indexing in the background which only started since 11.3 came out.

If I "eject" via the Finder an eGPU with a VEGA GPU inside it (it's okay with a Polaris GPU) the MBP will also panic, but that's been in every beta and full release of macOS 11 - for VEGA GPUs only specifically the WX 9100. If I just unplug without "ejecting" the eGPU - I have at least a 75% chance it will not panic!! LOL.

These two issues have plagued macOS 11 for me.

 

[Ries]

Got popping again too...

 

[yeah3x]

I also have never had this issue until the last week.

 

[Kylo83]

I’m sick of this issue

 

[AMP12345]

Just noticed today that the audio pop bug is back for me as well in 11.3.1

 

[attackment]

I keep spamming terminal with

sudo killall coreaudiod

command as a temporary solution.

 

[MacScape]

I have this popping problem too.

Besides, streaming music/sound to Homepod and Bluetooth-devices cracks sometimes. But I have no idea if this is related and it does not happen all the time. Actually, I don't Airplay that much anymore (with this MBP) because of this. It's unreliable.

 

[gusping]

Just updated to Big Sur after holding out ages due to bugs.... Now I've gone from no bugs to having this issue and my 2018 Mac mini not recognising my 4K display. FFS Apple, sort your appalling software out. It's been absolutely awful for 3-4 years now. Bug after bug... For info, it occurs on my speakers plugged in with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle and very oddly it doesn't occur when something is playing.

 

[gusping]

I keep spamming terminal with

sudo killall coreaudiod

command as a temporary solution.

Doesn't work for me. How annoying.

 

[skardvin]

yeah there is a fix which is temporary as of now, open up QuickTime player and open up a new audio recording, don't do anything else just minimize that tab and use it as the way you normally do, the popping sound isn't heard. Hopefully apple will address it and fix it

The QuickTime player fix worked for me. Thank you!

 

[VladVanHells]

Same here.
Just updated my MBP 16 (2019) to BigSur 11.4 - issue still present

QuickTime workaround works just fine.

I Hope Apple fixes this issue soon. Damn shame.

 

[mr_bam]

The clicking and popping is still here on 11.4 as well - super disappointed with Apple.

The only solution is to keep an audio source "working". The QuickTime New Audio Recording does work. The second option is to just restart.

Off and on this audio popping when the sound chip "goes to sleep" has happened right back to the first MacBooks - at least. They fix it. They break it. They fix it. They break it.

This particular "variant" of the bug is only happening after a full computer sleep. I took my laptop out of the office yesterday to work somewhere else. Came back with it, plugged it into the LG5K and popping was back. Ended up with the QuickTime fix because I had work to get done and didn't want to restart.