Need favor if u own 2017 27" iMac -- Internal mic issue

[NervousFish2]

All,

I think there is something wrong with the internal microphone in my iMac.

If you own a 2017 iMac, could you do me a quick favor and tell me what the levels are like in your Sound > System Preferences > Input, when set to 50%?

Please try to ascertain your levels in a quiet room, using your normal speaking voice, sitting at normal distance from your iMac.

(Incidentally, I actually don't know what the default input settings are for the iMac, but I assume they should be 50%?)

Set to 50%, I am getting 20%+/- levels in the System Sound preferences. Using Audio Hijack, my RMS (dark orange) is not even getting into the -24db and -12db range.

The levels on my 2018 MacBook Pro, at the same input volume, seem a lot higher.

I sent it to BestBuy for repair and got to back from them tonight -- they were authorized by Apple to replace the internal mic, but they said they thought they'd solved the problem, without needing to do that.

Well, I don't think its fixed. But I need to know what the levels look like on an equivalent iMac, before I can go back to them.

Thank you very much for your help!

Nick

 

[mreg376]

I have a 2017, and hadn't touched the input level, which was sitting at about 77%. I reduced it to 50%, and speaking in a normal voice a couple of feet from the iMac the input level registered about 25-30%. At 77% it's about 45-50%.

I have received no complaints when using Facetime or Skype.

Hope this helps.

 

[NervousFish2]

I have a 2017, and hadn't touched the input level, which was sitting at about 77%. I reduced it to 50%, and speaking in a normal voice a couple of feet from the iMac the input level registered about 25-30%. At 77% it's about 45-50%.

I have received no complaints when using Facetime or Skype.

Hope this helps.

Interesting. That's about my level, too. I wonder if 77% is actually the default setting. Thank you very much.