MacBook Pro 2018 - Speakers Crackling

[jafico1]

I’ve submitted feedback as a bug report as well.


Please update with what Apple tells you. I’m really curious to see how they resolve this as I’m sure my BTO MBP will be a pain to exchange. Not to mention going through the entire set up process again with the possibility of experiencing the same issues.

For now they just walked me through resetting the SMC and the PRAM (being a new Mac user I had no idea how to do those), and told me to call them back if either issue happens again It's very intermittent for me - it last happened I think 5 days ago, so we'll see.

 

[makingmusic]

I opened a ticket with Apple's "engineers" through tech support. Is there a way to reproduce this under macOS? So far I've only had it happen in Windows where it is clear it's a DPC/driver issue.

I have another call scheduled with them tomorrow, so if anyone can help me reproduce the issue under macOS I'd appreciate it. Under Windows it happens within 5-7 minutes of playing audio while doing a demanding task (like gaming), but I haven't really done anything to cause it to happen under macOS.

I installed Civ VI under macOS and was able to play for quite a while and never noticed a problem.

Happened to me while watching a YouTube Video on Safari

 

[ESA]

The cracking sound is on every 2018 MacBook Pro if you hold shift and press fast on the volume, tested on 4 of them.

But for me it never cracked except for that situation. Worked perfectly.
On the 2016 MacBook Pro its 44100, on 2018 48000

In windows its always like that. Its start to crack after a while and it get worse and worse, if you disconnect the speakers in windows and then connect them again, it starts to work =)

Its exactly the same on the iMac Pro

 

[kotlos]

I had an interesting experience this evening. I was watching a movie while the crackling started. It didn't correlate with any activity going on, just an oscillatory pattern. Then I tried to change the format from 44000 to 48000, and the audio midi setup crashed. After that, no more crackling. So I bet this is a software bug. I just hope it doesn't ruin the speakers before they fix it

 

[macpro2018]

Maybe it has something to do with bootcamp ? Maybe using the bootcamp to install windows 10 would damage the speakers permanently?

 

[Ocias]

Returned my MBP today, the technician at the store said they don’t know the cause or how to fix it, but that it’s “probably a software issue”.

Lucky my late 2013 model can hold out a few more years for a version with working audio and no coil whine.

 

[kotlos]

Maybe it has something to do with bootcamp ? Maybe using the bootcamp to install windows 10 would damage the speakers permanently?

I only use macOS and I come across the crackling quite often, so no it is not bootcamp related.

 

[theSchtickler]

Confirming issue on my 2018 15" MBP running macOS - crackling sound on audio intensive apps, both thru speakers and headphone jack.
Noticed the issue on Spotify and using VST plugins. On Spotify it happens every 10secs exactly. If I restart Spotify, it goes away for a while, but then comes back later.

Based on the fact that it goes away for a few minutes after restarting Spotify, is it some kind of buffer issue???

 

[Ideanj]

Returned my MBP today, the technician at the store said they don’t know the cause or how to fix it, but that it’s “probably a software issue”.

Lucky my late 2013 model can hold out a few more years for a version with working audio and no coil whine.

The fact that my 2012 and your 2013 run more reliably then these top of the line 2018 models

 

[tehStickMan]

Ah damnit. I have this issue.

I also have a hissing sound coming from speakers (left one more) if there is any audio playing on the system. It's audible when my sound is off/muted too.

 

[johnalan]

It will be fixed with a software update - no doubt.

This forums inability to recognize a software issue is outstanding.

 

[Ma2k5]

Wasn't there issues back with the 2016 models introduction with speakers just popping and dying (on the hardware level thus requiring a complete replacement), is there some sort of root cause to all these speaker issues?

 

[johnalan]

Wasn't there issues back with the 2016 models introduction with speakers just popping and dying (on the hardware level thus requiring a complete replacement), is there some sort of root cause to all these speaker issues?

It's not a hardware issue if the speakers normally work fine, and you can cause them to act funny by doing something unusual with the audio controls.

 

[Ma2k5]

It's not a hardware issue if the speakers normally work fine, and you can cause them to act funny by doing something unusual with the audio controls.

Well from some of the posts here, it seems to suggest over time it is getting worse. Maybe some kind of circuit/power issue?

 

[tehStickMan]

My hissing happens when there's any system audio playing. SMC + NPRAM reset did nothing.

Also the system UI for "play feedback when volume changed" is bugged and is inverted.

I can make the crackling and cut out audio happen only when the feedback sounds are playing. If they aren't, it doesn't crackle/cut-out.

 

[AdamA9]

I had an interesting experience this evening. I was watching a movie while the crackling started. It didn't correlate with any activity going on, just an oscillatory pattern. Then I tried to change the format from 44000 to 48000, and the audio midi setup crashed. After that, no more crackling. So I bet this is a software bug. I just hope it doesn't ruin the speakers before they fix it

Stupid question, but how do I change the format?

 

[AdamA9]

Posted in another thread, but I also have issues.

When the laptop is under stress, e.g., gaming or running multiple apps the sound goes crackling and distorted. I've not tried this shift and volume slider method, I don't have to because it does this normally.

 

[HumpYourWayUp]

I had those issues with my iMac Pro back in January. They patched it and now there are no problems anymore. Must be connected to the T2 chip IMHO.

 

[maflynn]

Knocks on wood, so far no crackles, pops or other issues with my speakers.

 

[Ma2k5]

Knocks on wood, so far no crackles, pops or other issues with my speakers.

You forgot Snap!

 

[AdamA9]

Oh great now it’s happening on notifications. This is a joke now. I cannot watch any video or even receive notifications. The sound on my MacBook Pro is essentially gone.

These are WhatsApp notifications. If I play a video it's the same. Something isn't right. I'm reporting to Apple.

And this is playing back video. Speaker-gate is in session...

 

[UnexpectedHuman]

I am not joking, but does this solve the problem:

1. sleep the computer
2. wake the computer (this resets the audio driver and possibly the hardware too)
3. launch Photo Booth.app (this prevents the memory and IO system from entering extreme low power sleep states)
4. play the audio

I have seen problems with touch bar Mac's audio dropping out due to excessive power management. What happens is that the audio data stream is not fast enough enough to prevent parts of the hardware entering a deep power-saving sleep state - and the wakeup time is slow enough to disrupt the DMA causing drop-outs.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Has anyone experienced audio/crackling issues using bluetooth earplugs or headsets, like airpods or such?

Thanks in advance!

 

[AdamA9]

Oh great now it’s happening on notifications. This is a joke now. I cannot watch any video or even receive notifications. The sound on my MacBook Pro is essentially gone.

These are WhatsApp notifications. If I play a video it's the same. Something isn't right. I'm reporting to Apple.

And this is playing back video. Speaker-gate is in session...

Update. Been on support call all day to Apple, despite me saying this is an issue others have had and that they've tried the same you're making me do, I've gone through an SMC and NVRAM reset. I'm now going through the process of reinstalling macOS. Once this is done they'll finally have an engineer look at it.

I'll be asking for a straight swap. I don't want to be without my two-week old laptop. Alternatively, I'll live with it until someone else finds a solution.

 

[jaack]

Has anyone experienced audio/crackling issues using bluetooth earplugs or headsets, like airpods or such?

Thanks in advance!

I haven't noticed it with my AirPods, only when using the speakers