MacBook Pro 2018 - Speakers Crackling

[AdamA9]

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.

macOS is now reinstalled and there was also a supplementary update available for me (assume this was the throttling update). I'm pleased to say that under conditions where the crackling would occur, they've not since I've done this.

Stress testing for the last hour and so far so good.

 

[DeNachtwacht]

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.

I am afraid it is a hardware issue, because it happens both in macOS and in Windows under Boot Camp. Would it be a software issue, then it would likely occur only in one of the two operating systems.

 

[OSX15]

I also noticed the crackling a few times on my 2.2 15”

 

[AdamA9]

macOS is now reinstalled and there was also a supplementary update available for me (assume this was the throttling update). I'm pleased to say that under conditions where the crackling would occur, they've not since I've done this.

Stress testing for the last hour and so far so good.

Damn. Just happened again. Replacement it is then.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I am afraid it is a hardware issue, because it happens both in macOS and in Windows under Boot Camp. Would it be a software issue, then it would likely occur only in one of the two operating systems.

If the underlying sound driver is similar enough the issue would manifest in both operating systems. As it only happens under certain circumstances or even has to be provoked to manifest itself I'd say it's more likely to be caused by software rather than hardware. But this is speculation. I'm not really certain.

 

[ezgojb]

I was getting the same strange noise on my Macbook Pro 2018.eveey 10 section nos while playing itunes music or playing video games.

I just resetted the PRAM and it seems to help, I did not heard it since (2 hours ago). But it may come back.

I believe this is a firmware problem, probably related to the T2 chip.

I hesitate to go to the genius bar and get it replaced since the new one will probably have the same defect.

I am having the same issue on my 15" new MacBook Pro 2018 i7. Returning it today since I am in the grace period. Just got off the phone with Apple support. Ran in Safemode and it did not recognize any internal speakers or internal input.
[doublepost=1532988143][/doublepost]The two issues I ran into was random cracking speakers and overheating with fan running high. Even after Apple's fix update on the 24th. Throttling was better, but not the heat/fan issue. Anyone else having these two problems on the new 2018s?

 

[tehStickMan]

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.

I have job open with Apple and they've flagged it with "T2 issue".

 

[DeNachtwacht]

If the underlying sound driver is similar enough the issue would manifest in both operating systems. As it only happens under certain circumstances or even has to be provoked to manifest itself I'd say it's more likely to be caused by software rather than hardware. But this is speculation. I'm not really certain.

You are richt. In fact, I can confirm that it is indeed a software issue. I only notice the problem over the microphone when chatting in TeamSpeak. I don’t hear it but my friends hear the microphone crackle.

In Boot Camp, I disabled the microphone from the MacBook Pro, and used an Apple headset with internal microphone that came with my iPhone SE. Using that headset, the crackling ALSO appears after a while. So it is definately not the MacBook pro speaker or microphone itself, but Some problem with the driver!

 

[tehStickMan]

Can anyone else confirm they get slight hissing from speakers (left for me) when any audio stream is playing?

 

[ezgojb]

Not sure it’s related but I am picking up a lot of hiss when using earbuds with the headphone jack during silence.

Anyone else?

I’m getting the hiss, some strange background sounds on all music playback on my new 2018 MacBook Pro 15” i7. It’s the random pop, clicking and crackling sound that is the big problem. Those sounds stopped each time I rebooted, only to return later. Can’t relate it to any specific program or the overheating issues. Mine runs hot, but the throttling is better. Returning it since I’ve only had it for 5-6 days. Will wait for Apple to fix the problems unless they come out with an easy fix today.

 

[tehStickMan]

I’m getting the hiss, some strange background sounds on all music playback on my new 2018 MacBook Pro 15” i7. It’s the random pop, clicking and crackling sound that is the big problem. Those sounds stopped each time I rebooted, only to return later. Can’t relate it to any specific program or the overheating issues. Mine runs hot, but the throttling is better. Returning it since I’ve only had it for 5-6 days. Will wait for Apple to fix the problems unless they come out with an easy fix today.

Heh, so the hiss isn't just me.

Try this:
1. Get the volume feedback sounds turned on (coincidentally, there's a software bug where the system prefs option is actually inverted...)
2. Turn volume down to mute.
3. Press the volume down (Fn + tap volume).

Do you hear the hissing only when the playback sound should be playing?

Then open up youtube. As soon as you click Play on a video, hissing will start (volume down to mute). Press pause, hissing will continue, and eventually stop after 10+ seconds. Play again, hissing starts, close tab hissing stops.

 

[ezgojb]

Experiencing this exact thing when running any resource intensive application and playing audio

That is similar to static on my new MB Pro i7 15” 2018, but mine has clicking and popping in addition. Randomly appearing till I reboot.

 

[tehStickMan]

My hissing is any time the mac is playing any audio stream.

During support call I reinstalled macOS, and on the very first screen (continue) I pressed Return instead of clicking the arrow. Hissing while playing the error-bong.

 

[Ideanj]

That is similar to static on my new MB Pro i7 15” 2018, but mine has clicking and popping in addition. Randomly appearing till I reboot.

Strange, I haven’t had any issues with hissing. The only audio issues are the static and it happens when playing a game for 30 minutes and makes the noise every 10 seconds afterwards. A reboot fixes it for it to return after playing a game for another 30 or so minutes.
[doublepost=1532998151][/doublepost]I submitted a bug report to Apple and a help desk specialist reached out to gather more data surrounding the issue. I’ll be calling him tomorrow to discuss, here’s to hoping apples becoming more aware and starts working on a fix if it is indeed software related.

 

[Stux]

My concern is the hiss is actually electrical noise and can't be resolved

I suspect the static is a software issue, and thus resolvable.

 

[Ideanj]

So I’ve narrowed mine down to playing games. Once in a game for anywhere from 30-60 minutes the crackling/static starts and does it every 10 seconds exactly. I’m going to Apple tomorrow for another issue but I’ll be mentioning this as well. I’m tempted to just exchange it but other then the speaker everything else is running great. Has anyone else made a decision on what they’re going to do yet?

 

[tehStickMan]

...The more I search online, I'm finding numerous entries for the hissing speaker problem from the 2016 model release onwards. Zero answers.

 

[UBS28]

I think the problem is caused by the new T2 chip. Because I experience both in Bootcamp and OS X under heavy loads for a sustained period of time (pretty much maximing out the machine).

I don’t think it’s a hardware issue, because when I close the task which is causing the heavy load, the speakers functions like normal again. (So it is no temperature issue, because the temps don’t drop that fast).

So I’m willing to bet that Apple f*cked up the new T2 and needs now a new EFI update (or whatever it is called for the T2 chip).

I will talk to Apple about it this week to see if I’m correct. I really do not want to replace this machine because I got one of the best screens I ever saw on a Macbook Pro (uniform, no backlight bleeding and no yellow stuff) and don’t have a voice coil issue.

 

[kagigod]

I think the problem is caused by the new T2 chip. Because I experience both in Bootcamp and OS X under heavy loads for a sustained period of time (pretty much maximing out the machine).

I don’t think it’s a hardware issue, because when I close the task which is causing the heavy load, the speakers functions like normal again. (So it is no temperature issue, because the temps don’t drop that fast).

So I’m willing to bet that Apple f*cked up the new T2 and needs now a new EFI update (or whatever it is called for the T2 chip).

I will talk to Apple about it this week to see if I’m correct. I really do not want to replace this machine because I got one of the best screens I ever saw on a Macbook Pro (uniform, no backlight bleeding and no yellow stuff) and don’t have a voice coil issue.

I think I found another way to force the crackling: watch any Youtube music video and fast forward to different parts of the video using the progress bar, every time the audio starts playing again a crackling noise happens. This happens on my 2,2Ghz rMBP 2018. On my iMac 5K it's not happening, I can fast forward and the sound plays just fine.

Checking the MIDI configuration of both machines, the sampling rate for the iMac is 44,1 KHz but for the rMBP is 48KHz, maybe it has something to do with resampling?

I really hope it's a software issue and Apple is able to fix it with an update, because besides this I'm super happy with the rMBP.

 

[iMacDragon]

I am afraid it is a hardware issue, because it happens both in macOS and in Windows under Boot Camp. Would it be a software issue, then it would likely occur only in one of the two operating systems.

It quite possible is a software issue, in the T2 firmware which now runs the audio.
[doublepost=1533030164][/doublepost]

I think the problem is caused by the new T2 chip. Because I experience both in Bootcamp and OS X under heavy loads for a sustained period of time (pretty much maximing out the machine).

I don’t think it’s a hardware issue, because when I close the task which is causing the heavy load, the speakers functions like normal again. (So it is no temperature issue, because the temps don’t drop that fast).

So I’m willing to bet that Apple f*cked up the new T2 and needs now a new EFI update (or whatever it is called for the T2 chip).

I will talk to Apple about it this week to see if I’m correct. I really do not want to replace this machine because I got one of the best screens I ever saw on a Macbook Pro (uniform, no backlight bleeding and no yellow stuff) and don’t have a voice coil issue.

I agree, the imac pro would have seen so few sales compared to macbook pro that all the teething issues with whole new system setup in T2 come more visible, but it should lead to being easier to iron out too with more test subjects.. though it does feel rather like we're all being beta testers.

 

[Sterkenburg]

And after a couple weeks knocking wood for my new MBP, it's speaker issues for me as well. Dang.

Besides the YouTube thingy (which I'm very positive is a software bug), I'm hearing loud-ish popping noises when I pause/restart a track or switch off the volume with the TB. On top of that, I ran a simple audio test

and my left speaker consistently crackles at mid-high volumes around 0:15.

To rule out software issues, I switched the left and right speaker outputs (crackling is still from the same speaker), listened to the same audio using a different player (issue still happens) and again using headphones (no issue), so unfortunately it's very likely a hardware problem.

I could live with it, but why should I on a machine worth $4000? Back to the Apple Store this weekend.

I'm really not enjoying the best of luck with this design, this will be my 3rd top case replacement on as many computers (work-issued 2016 keyboard, work-issued 2017 trackpad and now personal 2018). Never had to do it once before then.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

My concern is the hiss is actually electrical noise and can't be resolved

As I recall, I had hiss in the headphones jack of my 2011 MBP. Been ages now since I used it, so I don't know if it was ever resolved through some update, if indeed at all possible to fix.

Personally I would say speaker or headphones hiss of this nature is because of cheap (and/or bad) analog components used in the audio subsystem, so not fixable in software. Maybe a lack of filtering hardware, whatever, I'm not an audio hardware engineer.

It's strange - and dumb - to hear hiss coming out of brand new laptops that cost €/$2000 and upwards. My old Macbook cost like €1300 at the time.

 

[C418]

Pretty confident this is a software bug, since I seem to be able to make this happen on all 2018's.

In the meantime what works for me without resetting anything is to quite simply force quit "coreaudiod", which will restart immediately, getting rid of the crackle until whenever it decides to desync again.

 

[macpcf]

"Crackle?" Sounds like it just ripped a big one.

Ifart
[doublepost=1533049449][/doublepost]I was waiting for two weeks to buy this machine. There seems to be issues one after other (throttle gate, bridge os, now the sound issue). I will wait for another week before purchasing mine. I hope apple sort out these new issues quickly. Otherwise, I have to buy a windows machine, which I really don't like

 

[CreeptoLoser]

Remembering the video driver glitches when the 2016 came out. People crying hardware failure when it was software.