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LCPepper

macrumors 6502
Aug 5, 2013
275
246
United Kingdom
Just going to throw in my two pence.

I am now on my third MacBook Pro 15" 2018...

The first one had some hiss and crackle, not that farting noise type, but the hiss under and after audio with some gentle cracking. Another issue I had was that the internal microphones would just randomly stop working; it would say No Input Device detected in macOS or not show anything in Windows.

Went via Apple Chat, did PRAM and SMA, and then a full wipe. Nothing.

The hissing and crackling always persisted, and the microphone would make a reappearance here and there for short periods. Useless for spontaneous FaceTime calls, Siri etc

The second one only had the microphone issue.

And now the third one has both the speaker and microphone issues... It's ridiculous.

Taking it back to the Apple Store for a refund tomorrow morning, I cannot justify spending the best part of £3k on something that doesn't work/is unreliable.

My old MacBook Pro 13" 2013 hasn't had one hiccup in its whole life, and this nice new MacBook Pro was a nice luxury that's turned into a nightmare. Wish I had never abandoned the trusty old steed.

Very very close to considering a jump to something like a Razer Stealth, which make me feel a heretic just thinking of it.
 
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tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
Yep, third here too. Apple support is silent. I am unsure if I should just refund now, or what. I do need a Mac though.... and 2019 model isn't out yet for a while.../
 

nikon131

macrumors newbie
Oct 2, 2009
6
0
Dallas, TX
I've had this speaker issue for a few weeks, my right speaker died on me shortly after the crackling started. I let it go, until the noise happened again, from the dead speaker.

Apple replaced the whole top keyboard/speaker housing, (Macbook pro 15" 2018) and now my touch id won't work, I cannot remove or add finger prints. I can't deal with the store again. I've not had issues with past iMacs or Macbooks before this one.
 

myret

macrumors member
Dec 18, 2018
38
8
I don't get why some 2018 Macs have and other 2018 macs don't have the issue. Maybe issue is related with some Macs that are produced within an exact time period
 
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loby

macrumors 68000
Jul 1, 2010
1,885
1,517
Still have the click distortion speaker pop sound when I hit the spacebar to stop playing the video when working in the Motion app....

Hopefully we have one more update that can take care of these issues. If not, then we have another whole set of issues to work through for a year with the next version of MacOS...especially all 64-bit..
 

vaugha

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2011
611
206
Popping noise when pausing/changing music is still there in macos 10.14.5. I'm thoroughly convinced that this bug affects all 2018 mbps.
 

noughtme

macrumors newbie
Jan 11, 2019
17
2
Popping noise when pausing/changing music is still there in macos 10.14.5. I'm thoroughly convinced that this bug affects all 2018 mbps.

i’ve been trying to figure out if this is the case. it seems like some people claim that they have had their macbooks fixed and no longer have this problem, or they just disappear from the forum.

if it is the case, at least i will be less annoyed because it’s not just affecting me and a small group of individuals (and i can dispense with the idea of taking my macbook in for repair).
 

tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
My support person got back in touch. Long story, but Apples support process is a shambles, and I got effectively put on IGNORE for a while.

Anyway, they asked engineers who had my device "sup" and the response apparently was "cannot replicate issue, still investigating". Which is an outright lie.

So here's the possibilities:
  1. They are lying because they don't plan a fix.
  2. They are actually completely incompetent and 'engineers dept' isn't just one, and they don't share information, and 'T2 audio issue' isn't even logged in any mainstream Apple documentation (this last one is almost known fact at this stage)
  3. They are lying cos admitting any fault at all will be evidence for court case when apple gets sued for all 2018's being faulty.

I replied to the support guy that I'd like to proceed with refund in that case.

Jumped through many hoops, because Support guy had to do various things before he could even initiate the refund process. Getting a $110 (will be refunded) service report to say "yeah this new replacement laptop has the same issue as last one we did report on".

Now I'm with the Customer Relations agent, kicking off the process. And it's another set of hoops. 6-8 weeks set of hoops. I've been asked about the case, and now apparently they are going to do back and triple-check from every other party on this case.

I guess with reduced profits Apple staff have been told to be super tight.
 

loby

macrumors 68000
Jul 1, 2010
1,885
1,517
My support person got back in touch. Long story, but Apples support process is a shambles, and I got effectively put on IGNORE for a while.

Anyway, they asked engineers who had my device "sup" and the response apparently was "cannot replicate issue, still investigating". Which is an outright lie.

So here's the possibilities:
  1. They are lying because they don't plan a fix.
  2. They are actually completely incompetent and 'engineers dept' isn't just one, and they don't share information, and 'T2 audio issue' isn't even logged in any mainstream Apple documentation (this last one is almost known fact at this stage)
  3. They are lying cos admitting any fault at all will be evidence for court case when apple gets sued for all 2018's being faulty.

I replied to the support guy that I'd like to proceed with refund in that case.

Jumped through many hoops, because Support guy had to do various things before he could even initiate the refund process. Getting a $110 (will be refunded) service report to say "yeah this new replacement laptop has the same issue as last one we did report on".

Now I'm with the Customer Relations agent, kicking off the process. And it's another set of hoops. 6-8 weeks set of hoops. I've been asked about the case, and now apparently they are going to do back and triple-check from every other party on this case.

I guess with reduced profits Apple staff have been told to be super tight.

There is a possibility that it effects many or even most of the 2018 models, but unless there is a lawsuit or something, we will not know...

What is probably occurring is that owners are just tolerating it. The issues HAVE improved, but are not completely eliminated. Owners tolerate it (like me) because we need the laptops to work and I for one do not want to risk having something else go wrong with it getting it back from support.

Too have a "perfect" laptop with no issues is not reality, but having issues that are determined to be Apple's fault or issues with a product that is not tolerable or faulty will probably have to be determined in a court ruling unfortunately.

This is not a $300 Windows plastic laptop that you disregard after a year or so. This is a sometimes $4,000+ Laptop that should not have the issues that are occurring.

Unfortunately, the game being played (and Apple has learned to play very well) is that they will wait UNTIL some lawsuit makes them do something. What a shame...

I personally like the laptop and it does what I need...BUT basic audio issues like this embarrasses the brand to say the least and needs to be corrected.
 

tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
I'm proceeding with refund because I use it a lot for creative work involving audio. And also general use is poor, when I have hiss all the time, and crackles when I get SMS. I've probably used the laptop 20% as much as I would if it had no issues.

Also I'm looking at AUD$5000+ and AppleCare+ on top. Just not interested in a flawed product for that much.
 
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tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
Refund should be booked in, courier pick up should be Friday. Looks like good timing! New MBP update.... now to see if they are still using T2 or not ....
 

zedsdeadbaby

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2016
145
64
New MBP update.... now to see if they are still using T2 or not ....

Yup they do... I do understand your enthusiasm, but the past 6 months have given me zero faith in Apple doing any kind of quality check. It's been 3 years and the T chips are still completely F-d up... As the saying goes fool me once... Definitely hoping it works out for you, skeptical in Apple though...
 

loby

macrumors 68000
Jul 1, 2010
1,885
1,517
Yup they do... I do understand your enthusiasm, but the past 6 months have given me zero faith in Apple doing any kind of quality check. It's been 3 years and the T chips are still completely F-d up... As the saying goes fool me once... Definitely hoping it works out for you, skeptical in Apple though...

Just applied the 10.14.5 supplemental update to my MacBook Pro 2018...

The clicking when stopping audio in Motion still occurs...

But...it looks like the audio levels in the speakers are louder ?!? Maybe it is just me as I updated first thing in the morning. :) Anyone see a difference?

Hopefully fixes some of the issues...

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/22/apple-releases-macos-10-14-5-supplemental-update/
 

vaugha

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2011
611
206
I confirm the popping noise is still there w/ the supplemental update to my 10.14.5. I don't know exactly what changed to be honest and what it fixes.
 

tehStickMan

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2018
341
157
Australia
If the latest supplemental update didn’t fix it, chances are the 2019 model will be exactly the same. Which is, both hilarious and sad.
 

mdnz

macrumors 6502a
Apr 14, 2010
535
2,153
The Netherlands
If the latest supplemental update didn’t fix it, chances are the 2019 model will be exactly the same. Which is, both hilarious and sad.

People will buy it anyway and Apple knows it. They didn't even bother with a redesign for the 2019 model because apparently that takes years to develop. With so many flaws you would figure that they did.
 
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