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tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
My Apple Support guy called me and said HS has an update, to install and check.

I don't see the update in App Store - anyone else?
 

CreeptoLoser

Suspended
Jul 28, 2018
369
333
Birmingham, Alabama
New Mojave doesn’t fix crackling. This doesnt include the fix. The new T2 firmware does improve volume response time. There is no more lag there.

When the High Sierra fix comes then the fix should be in Mojave too.
 
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zhy3213

macrumors newbie
Aug 8, 2018
28
6
Beijing, China
New Mojave doesn’t fix crackling. This doesnt include the fix. The new T2 firmware does improve volume response time. There is no more lag there.

When the High Sierra fix comes then the fix should be in Mojave too.
Thanks for your testing! And now I'm getting doubt about "an update is gonna be made this week" since it's posted last week...
[doublepost=1534837321][/doublepost]And guys you definitely don't want to see this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/98lqix/psa_2018_macbook_pro_speaker_crackling_issue_is/
 

CreeptoLoser

Suspended
Jul 28, 2018
369
333
Birmingham, Alabama
Thanks for your testing! And now I'm getting doubt about "an update is gonna be made this week" since it's posted last week...
[doublepost=1534837321][/doublepost]And guys you definitely don't want to see this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/98lqix/psa_2018_macbook_pro_speaker_crackling_issue_is/

This kind of speculation and “doubt” is more annoying than crackling.

There’s nothing in the Reddit talk that can’t be fixed with a firmware update.
 

AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
Another call from Apple.

They're saying it's definitely software based on everything they've received from other users with the same issues; sound echoing, distortion and crackling. But a fix is a long way off as they're still collating diagnostics from other 2018 MacBooks that have this problem to see what they have in common because it doesn't affect all units. Again, just going on what the engineering team are saying.

Despite being outside of the 30 day window, they're insisting I change my machine, so taking their advice they've sent an advanced replacement out to me today, so that I have the new one before I have to send mine back to them so I don't have to be without a laptop.

Fantastic service from them. I'm not even too fussed about the issue as it's simple to fix, but for me they couldn't do more to help me resolve this. Well worth the premium, in my opinion. This is why I stay loyal to them.
 
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tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
Well then why are they insisting on a replacement if it's software?

Long story short, Apple themselves doesn't have a unified opinion on the matter.
 

zhy3213

macrumors newbie
Aug 8, 2018
28
6
Beijing, China
That makes the most sense to me, because if it was a design issue, then why wouldn't all of us have the issue?
It's pretty sure that this issue is related to both software and hardware since it's correlated to temperature. So there may have different thresholds when triggering the crackling based on different build quality. And some of you may never experiencing the issue since you never beat the line. Still, a software/firmware update can also solve a hardware issue just as how we resolve the meltdown issue, pure hardware issue, only by software.
 
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AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
Well then why are they insisting on a replacement if it's software?

Long story short, Apple themselves doesn't have a unified opinion on the matter.

Because they said their engineers are still investigating and a fix is a long way off, so they said to just change it for a new one rather than waiting for a fix to come out.
 

AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
If it was a software issue, wouldn't all/more also have the issue if they were all running the same firmware on the chip?

From my conversation with them, they're still investigating what users with this fault have in common so they can identify the cause. This is also why they said a fix isn't going to be soon.
 

SDColorado

macrumors 601
Nov 6, 2011
4,360
4,324
Highlands Ranch, CO
Another call from Apple.

They're saying it's definitely software based on everything they've received from other users with the same issues; sound echoing, distortion and crackling. But a fix is a long way off as they're still collating diagnostics from other 2018 MacBooks that have this problem to see what they have in common because it doesn't affect all units. Again, just going on what the engineering team are saying.

Despite being outside of the 30 day window, they're insisting I change my machine, so taking their advice they've sent an advanced replacement out to me today, so that I have the new one before I have to send mine back to them so I don't have to be without a laptop.

Fantastic service from them. I'm not even too fussed about the issue as it's simple to fix, but for me they couldn't do more to help me resolve this. Well worth the premium, in my opinion. This is why I stay loyal to them.

I was told pretty much the same as you, except that I was still inside my 14 day return period. BUT they also added they were still investigating it being a hardware issue as well and trying to collect data on unit builds, which factory it was built in, the time frame it was built, etc. So, I followed their advice and swapped it out. I don't know about the new one because it arrived with chips in the aluminum on the upper left-hand side and has to go back. Working on getting replacement #3 now. :)

But I guess I am not 100% convinced that is software yet, because they didn't seem 100% convinced it was software yet :)
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
If it was a software issue, wouldn't all/more also have the issue if they were all running the same firmware on the chip?
I'm not sure, in all honesty. Since it seems to be affecting a small minority of people you can make a case either way.
 
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SDColorado

macrumors 601
Nov 6, 2011
4,360
4,324
Highlands Ranch, CO
I'm not sure, in all honesty. Since it seems to be affecting a small minority of people you can make a case either way.

I know. It is puzzling. I am trying to win the lotto and get a problem free machine like so many have. The replecement for my 1st one arrived with physical damage, so on to round 3 :)
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I don't know whether to laugh or cry :'(
I mean its good news in one sense, but I have to say the roll out of the 2018 MBPs has been anything less then smooth.

In one sense, I look back at my brief time of owning the Razer 15" and its rollout of a brand new design, and model was very apple (old apple like). The machine's beautiful, had no throttling issues, and ran like a champ. I returned that computer because I missed the apple ecosystem. While my machine is problem free, I'm not really pleased with these issues that seem to be plaguing the MBP. If I wasn't beyond my 14 day return window, I may have been tempted to get something with a better track record.

As it stands, I'm committed with the MBP, and for my needs, its been rock solid, but I am dismayed at seeing these issues.
 

SDColorado

macrumors 601
Nov 6, 2011
4,360
4,324
Highlands Ranch, CO
I mean its good news in one sense, but I have to say the roll out of the 2018 MBPs has been anything less then smooth.

In one sense, I look back at my brief time of owning the Razer 15" and its rollout of a brand new design, and model was very apple (old apple like). The machine's beautiful, had no throttling issues, and ran like a champ. I returned that computer because I missed the apple ecosystem. While my machine is problem free, I'm not really pleased with these issues that seem to be plaguing the MBP. If I wasn't beyond my 14 day return window, I may have been tempted to get something with a better track record.

As it stands, I'm committed with the MBP, and for my needs, its been rock solid, but I am dismayed at seeing these issues.

I have given serious consideration to jumping ship in light of the issues these new machines have been having. BridgeOS errors, speakers crackling, charging issues, someone recently reported another "stain-gate" issue with the anti-reflective coating on a 2018. And did I see a reference to someone already having a keyboard issue on the 2018 model? The developer of Better Touch Tool if memory serves (and my memory is getting worse). I hope the "stain-gate" and keyboard issues are just one-offs.

I just don't know which route I would go if I did jump. I was very interested in your Razer 15" review and comparison, though I think if I did go that route I would like the 4K model, which is out of stock. I have also had a good long look at the Surface Book 2, which I initially ruled out due to the lack of TB3, but have been wondering if I really even do need it (TB3). I have also been looking at the Dell XPS 15"

I have had nothing but Macs since jumping ship a decade or so ago, until purchasing a Surface Pro last year. What was a very uncomfortable move last year due to the unfamiliarity, has become much easier if I decided to go that route.

That said, I have been in touch with the sales team a few times since my initial purchase, going through the various return processes and they are motivated to keep me in the fold. Motivated enough, I am not yet sure.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I have given serious consideration to jumping ship in light of the issues these new machines have been having.
Owning the Razer for two weeks wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. I found windows to have some short comings that made life a bit harder for me. Perhaps its my mood this morning, but I do have some level of concern, bordering on remorse over seeing these issues.

So far my MBP has been problem free, and the reasons why I opted for the Mac were reinforced early on when I first got it. I mean some just plugging in my external monitor was smooth as silk. with the Razer, I had to mirror it and I wasn't able to drive the monitor at its native resolution when I had extended the display for some wacky reason.

Overall for my workflow the Mac makes a lot of sense, I'm hoping by the time Mojave hits the streets many of these issues will be behind us
 

SDColorado

macrumors 601
Nov 6, 2011
4,360
4,324
Highlands Ranch, CO
Owning the Razer for two weeks wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. I found windows to have some short comings that made life a bit harder for me. Perhaps its my mood this morning, but I do have some level of concern, bordering on remorse over seeing these issues.

So far my MBP has been problem free, and the reasons why I opted for the Mac were reinforced early on when I first got it. I mean some just plugging in my external monitor was smooth as silk. with the Razer, I had to mirror it and I wasn't able to drive the monitor at its native resolution when I had extended the display for some wacky reason.

Overall for my workflow the Mac makes a lot of sense, I'm hoping by the time Mojave hits the streets many of these issues will be behind us

I had a chat with someone who had one of the new Yoga's that echoed similar issues with docking/using an external monitor, even though that does have TB3. His feeling where that it wasn't quite ready for prime time. He was the one that was telling me that if he could do it over, he would have gone with the SB2, since he had a Surface Book prior. He said that while the SB2 lacks the eGPU support, due the lack of TB3, that the Surface Dock works very well for connecting an external monitor and the Nvidia GeForce 1060 6gb will drive a 4K monitor just fine for anything but hard core gaming and I am not a hard core gamer, so the SB2 is still on the back of my mind.

What were the Windows shortcomings you found? Most of the ones I found on the Surface Pro are minor ones. Obviously you can't answer calls on it like you can with the Apple products. Handy if you can't find your phone right away. You also don't get the iMessages and can't use Apple Pay with Windows. If you are tied in with the Apple Pro Apps, that is another issue, but I am not. I keep feeling as though I am tied in with the Apple EcoSystem, since I have an Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, MBP, iMac, iPods, etc. But the wall probably isn't as high as it once was after a year of using Windows 10 on the Surface Pro and getting comfortable with that.

But I am with you on having a level of concern over the issues with the current machines. With the first one I was like OK, I have a 14 day return. But after waiting 10 days for a replacement only to have it arrive with physical damage and then having to go through this again, with the mixed messages from engineering on whether it is hardware or software, if a fix will be soon or not soon, are some of the old problems like stain-gate and keyboard issues *still* around since 2013 (screen) and 2016 (keyboard). Time will tell. I gave my wife my 2016 which was and still is perfect. No keyboard issues to date (knock on wood).
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
What where the Windows shortcomings you found? Most of the ones I found on the Surface Pro are minor ones.
They were minor niggling issues. Its hard to remember them all now, but stuff like the issue with the monitor. I also had to constantly adjust the power profile because my settings would not stick. This is a quasi-Razer/windows issue. The laptop running a 1060 GPU can get hot (but it never throttled), and trying to mess with the power settings would always reset.

Windows inconsistent interface can be an annoyance, I mean I need to go to the control panel for some things, but then the UWP Settings app for other settings. The trackpad isn't as good as the Macs and palm rejection is a lot worse.

Btw, I use and support windows at my job, so its funny, I was taken by surprise by some of these issues, but there you have it.
 
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SDColorado

macrumors 601
Nov 6, 2011
4,360
4,324
Highlands Ranch, CO
They were minor niggling issues. Its hard to remember them all now, but stuff like the issue with the monitor. I also had to constantly adjust the power profile because my settings would not stick. This is a quasi-Razer/windows issue. The laptop running a 1060 GPU can get hot (but it never throttled), and trying to mess with the power settings would always reset.

Windows inconsistent interface can be an annoyance, I mean I need to go to the control panel for some things, but then the UWP Settings app for other settings. The trackpad isn't as good as the Macs and palm rejection is a lot worse.

Btw, I use and support windows at my job, so its funny, I was taken by surprise by some of these issues, but there you have it.

Gotcha. Yeah sounds like a couple were quasi-Razer/Windows issues. The trackpad maybe? SB2 pad seemed pretty nice, Dell XPS 15, not so much. Power settings sounds like Razer maybe? XPS throttles on battery, but that seems more aimed at preserving battery since it has such poor battery life. SB2 can also get hot due to the 1060, but since it is just that and the battery in the keyboard part, it seems to not get too bad.

I can relate to what you are saying about the inconsistency of where to find some things in Window though. It isn't quite as slick and consistent as System Preferences with MacOS.
 

user3887

macrumors member
Aug 3, 2018
32
6
so in summary
theres no fix in Mojave yet
and no patch in near forseeable future...contrary to what has been said on this forum lately...
nothing in media from apple addressing issues
all forum and apple support speculation
pathetic for a pro machine with professional users at the price point
with exchange periods winding down
some stores not replacing units with this issue because its software related-according to some
others saying get an exchange
this is a mess and a joke

also been considering jumping ship lately
 
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