Brand New M1 MBA - speaker issue/defect - crunchy and distorted sound at max volume in some audio content

[amarnator]

I just found out the real cause. It's the keys next to the speaker. They resonate at high volumes with sounds in the 500-700Hz range. It's likely a design issue and I'd say it comes down to keyboard variation between individual units, so it's a lottery whether the next unit will have the same issue or not. I'll keep using it for a week and if it bothers me a lot I'll return it and buy a different laptop.

can confirm, i have 1 month old mba m1. if I keep hands on the keys its fine.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Superhuman? Keep looking for /s

/superhuman

 

[germacbook]

Ok. So, I had my speakers replaced today because the Genius said that it sounded like a defect in the speaker. Just as an FYI, it still makes the small rattling noise at high pitches in piano music. It's not terrible, but it's there. I think it's just the speakers or something about the design of the computer.

I have heard one person show a recording with theirs and it was VERY bad, but in terms of a little bit of rattling at high pitches, I think it's just normal. I'm just not going to worry about that at all anymore. I'm convinced that they would all do it. The MBP does not, but the speakers and sound are both very different for it compared to the Air.

I just bought a 2020 M1 13" Macbook Pro and it has the same issue. (

 

[ignatius345]

It seems to be an issue only for us with superhuman and musical hearing. I regularly hear 20KHz noises coming from switched power supplies and electronics. Most people are quite badly deaf at those frequencies.
The key rattling seems to be in these high frequency regions where people just can't hear it.

Ah, I used to be able to hear stuff like that when I was that age. I remember being able to tell immediately if a TV was on in the house, even several rooms away, because of the very high-pitched noise from (I guess) the power supply or something.

 

[AlexanderUK]

I just wanted to add to the thread with the same issue. Mine is a near year old 2020 M1 Air where the left speaker sounds visibly more muffled than the right (if you push the balance from one side to the other it's noticeable). I've also tried the keyboard / chassis test (gripping) and it resolves it on either side. This is definitely a design issue - though to be fair, it's laptop speakers, they're not exactly designed to be cramped in such a small interior. My advice: either get a pair of external speakers, some lovely IEM's or if you must use laptop speakers, use an app like Boom 3D where you can boost the volume and target the balance more with the EQ and leveller. It's not pretty but it'll sledgehammer the nut.