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Audio popping issue back on MacOS 11.3 for 16 inch MacBook Pro
- Thread starter Abhay Bobby
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I've sent a bug report to http://apple.com/feedback/
If we all do the same, maybe Apple will hear us.
If we all do the same, maybe Apple will hear us.
On macOS 11.5 RC, the popping sound is still present (for me), but it occurs less than it did on previous macOS 11.5 betas and 11.4/11.3; however, it is still nowhere near as good as macOS Catalina 10.15.7, which had NO popping sound at all during my time testing it. Hopefully, 11.6 will finally fix it...
Don't waste your time. I updated to macOS Monterey Beta 3, and the popping sound is still present. I sent Apple feedback again, so hopefully, they can actually figure what is causing this issue.
Bug still in macOS 11.5 release. Updated MBP last night, put it to sleep without the speakers / monitor connected. Plugged them in this morning to begin work and the popping noise was there after the first sound played + the delay until the pop when the sound chip sleeps. So it was insta-restart with the TB3 monitor connected and no sound popping all day. I'll shut down as usual!
Well gone are the days of getting 30 days of uptime without any issues, only forced to restart because of a security update! Between sound popping after sleep and eGPUs crashing on eject it's best to just shutdown regularly.
However... I do get a full days work done no issue as long as I'm at the desk all day.
Just those minor niggles with Big Sure that weren't even issues in Catalina.
Well gone are the days of getting 30 days of uptime without any issues, only forced to restart because of a security update! Between sound popping after sleep and eGPUs crashing on eject it's best to just shutdown regularly.
However... I do get a full days work done no issue as long as I'm at the desk all day.
Just those minor niggles with Big Sure that weren't even issues in Catalina.
I use Firefox web browser. I believe I have the same issue as everyone else, but I notice that if I quit Firefox, the issue disappears, even once I reopen it. The issue does reappear after a few days though.
I originally thought that I needed to do a restart each time the issue shows, but this method always works.
I've attached a sample of how it sounds for me. I played a 'brown noise' sound to trigger the issue, while still being able to hear the clicking clearly.
This happens with online or offline media. Is this the same thing everyone is experiencing?
I originally thought that I needed to do a restart each time the issue shows, but this method always works.
I've attached a sample of how it sounds for me. I played a 'brown noise' sound to trigger the issue, while still being able to hear the clicking clearly.
This happens with online or offline media. Is this the same thing everyone is experiencing?
I rarely use FireFox.
I don't hear clicks to the speakers when not connected to external speakers. i.e. never noticed it on the MBP speakers.
I don't hear clicks when sound is playing or sound is recording - i.e. when the sound chip is "active".
I only hear a click when the sound chip sleeps, which is 8-10 seconds after the last sound stopped playing/recording AND it only happens after the Mac has been to sleep and woken back up.
I'd be more annoyed if mine clicked during audio playback.
In all the years this bug has come and gone it has only happened when the sound chip goes into low power mode / sleeps. If it's active... it doesn't cause the issue.
The issue doesn't currently happen what so ever for me on the FIRST startup session. If I don't unplug the speakers and walk away from my desk... and that session lasts all day I don't have the issue that entire day.
I don't hear clicks to the speakers when not connected to external speakers. i.e. never noticed it on the MBP speakers.
I don't hear clicks when sound is playing or sound is recording - i.e. when the sound chip is "active".
I only hear a click when the sound chip sleeps, which is 8-10 seconds after the last sound stopped playing/recording AND it only happens after the Mac has been to sleep and woken back up.
I'd be more annoyed if mine clicked during audio playback.
In all the years this bug has come and gone it has only happened when the sound chip goes into low power mode / sleeps. If it's active... it doesn't cause the issue.
The issue doesn't currently happen what so ever for me on the FIRST startup session. If I don't unplug the speakers and walk away from my desk... and that session lasts all day I don't have the issue that entire day.
Hopefully the information I gave the engineering team is enough for them to figure out how to fix this popping sound issue.
I have a bug report update.
I have eliminated two pieces of hardware from the mix today.
I confirmed the issue is happening after MBP was taken out of office, slept and brought back... plug into the TB3 monitor and the audio is popping.
So I plugged the speakers directly into the MBP via the 3.5mm line out... the issue was GONE.
So I then got the USB-C to 3.5mm jack that I have plugged into the back of the LG TB3 5K display and plugged that into the MBP USB-C with no monitor attached. The issue was BACK.
That eliminated the LG5K and the Speakers as problems.
So it's using a USB-C to 3.5mm jack over TB3 that causes it for me - but still ONLY after the MBP has been to sleep.
So that's where Apple need to look. Down the USB-C to Audio out line via TB3.
I have eliminated two pieces of hardware from the mix today.
I confirmed the issue is happening after MBP was taken out of office, slept and brought back... plug into the TB3 monitor and the audio is popping.
So I plugged the speakers directly into the MBP via the 3.5mm line out... the issue was GONE.
So I then got the USB-C to 3.5mm jack that I have plugged into the back of the LG TB3 5K display and plugged that into the MBP USB-C with no monitor attached. The issue was BACK.
That eliminated the LG5K and the Speakers as problems.
So it's using a USB-C to 3.5mm jack over TB3 that causes it for me - but still ONLY after the MBP has been to sleep.
So that's where Apple need to look. Down the USB-C to Audio out line via TB3.
I have a MBP16” from late 2019.
No external devices connected whatsoever and issue still happens. I don’t think it’s anything to do with external devices or adapters. It’s an internal issue. I never had it with the previous OS either - same system.
My theory is it’s a software issue - most likely a soundcard driver issue of some sort? Apple resolved it once before with a software update, I’m expecting the same again.
No external devices connected whatsoever and issue still happens. I don’t think it’s anything to do with external devices or adapters. It’s an internal issue. I never had it with the previous OS either - same system.
My theory is it’s a software issue - most likely a soundcard driver issue of some sort? Apple resolved it once before with a software update, I’m expecting the same again.
I've not had it from the MBP speakers themselves ever. Even in the dim and distant past when this issue has cropped up - it has always been via external speakers only.
It has always been from a TB2 to Audio Out or now a TB3 to Audio Out to the same speakers that has been the problem.
As you say over various macOS updates going back years now the issue has come and gone.
It has never, in my view, been a hardware issue. Indeed if I plug into the built-in audio out instead of via TB/USB-C then it goes away, even now. Switch back to USB-C to audio out and it's back.
It used to happen through my Belkin TB2 dock (I still have it and it still did it last I checked) which had TB2 to 3.5mm audio out on it.
I'm lazy though and I like one connection to my MBP to plug in and get working so I hope they do fix it.
It has always been from a TB2 to Audio Out or now a TB3 to Audio Out to the same speakers that has been the problem.
As you say over various macOS updates going back years now the issue has come and gone.
It has never, in my view, been a hardware issue. Indeed if I plug into the built-in audio out instead of via TB/USB-C then it goes away, even now. Switch back to USB-C to audio out and it's back.
It used to happen through my Belkin TB2 dock (I still have it and it still did it last I checked) which had TB2 to 3.5mm audio out on it.
I'm lazy though and I like one connection to my MBP to plug in and get working so I hope they do fix it.
Very disappointing that this issue came back for me, after being gone for almost a year. 
Happens all the time watching YouTube on Chrome.
Happens all the time watching YouTube on Chrome.
Same except I watch Youtube on Safari.Very disappointing that this issue came back for me, after being gone for almost a year.
I really wish Apple would fix this issue already! It is so annoying!
I had a popping/clicking issue when running any sound (YouTube/Spotify/Ableton/Reason etc) through my Behringer FCA610 over USB with MacBook with T2 chip and OS 11.3 or 11.3.1 or 11.5.1. The glitches sounded like the scratches you’d get on an old record - quite subtle but still noticeable, and happening in random sides (L/R) every few seconds. The fix I worked out doesn’t seem to be on any forums so sharing here. Open the Audio MIDI Setup (use command -> space to find it), select the FCA610 and change Clock Source from ‘Device Internal Clock’ to ‘USB Bus (SOF)’. However, this only solves the clicking if you run your USB cable through a standard USB C to USB 2 dongle I.e. it doesn’t work if you connect the FCA610 using a direct USBC to USB2 cable. Hope that helps many of you out there.
Glad i found this thread. Only stumbled upon it having an ultrafine 5k going for a single cable disconnect with the usb hub and audio directly connected to the 5k using the official apple usb c to 3.5mm.
it seems the issue with popping isnt related to the apple dac since its happening on other usb dacs.
it seems the issue with popping isnt related to the apple dac since its happening on other usb dacs.