Sleeping soundcard? Pop and then sound.

Yes, there are a few posts about this issue. I just bought the new MBP 2.4 last week, and noticed alot of things wrong with the audio system in general. The headphones oscilate and make beeps and bops like a robot, and the speakers pop. I know why the speakers pop but not why the headphone card is so bad.
There is a gate on the speakers to turn them off to save power and excess noise. Every speaker has noise, if you have an iPod you'll notice that when you turn it on or off it will do the same thing as your computer. Its not a bad thing to have, but the main problem is what I experience, frequent switching back and forth distracting me when I work.

Hello,

Apple technicians seem to surprisingly inadequate when it comes to diagnosing this problem. Not a single one could hear it in the quietest part of the store. It was the most ridiculous thing. I don't doubt that the speakers are supposed to sleep in order to save energy. However it is the popping the speakers make that bothers me. I had a Merom MacBook Pro prior to this one and it never made a single pop. Is this sleeping of the sound system a new feature? Also, when listening with the headphones I don't not hear an actual pop, just simply a disappearance of the hiss after 30 seconds. It is fine that the sound system sleeps, it just doesn't seem like it should pop in the process. Perhaps Windows XP doesn't sleep the sound system so the speakers never get the chance to pop. Like I said, I get two pops on startup even with the speakers muted (I believe the sound system is switched on and off). This leads me to believe that it is the actual sound card popping which, given its location, would explain why we are all hearing the sound from the vicinity of the left speaker. Also, perhaps if it is the sound card popping, then you could still hear the sound from the vicinity of the speaker even with the headphones in (you may need to people for this). Please, anyone with more information about this issue, or any more cases, particularly after the Penryn update, please come forward.

Thanks

I just upgraded from a core duo to the latest 2.5mhz 15'' macbook pro. When I am home I keep a monitor and keyboard hooked to my laptop. I also have it running through my audio system. Man can you hear the pop!! It really *****.. hope they find a fix for it soon.

Yes, but be sure to bring a megaphone for the technicians to put up to the speaker because apparently not even the manager's private office is quiet enough for "caring and skilled" technicians to hear the thing. Please, if anyone makes any headway at even getting a technician to hear the issue, I would love to know their professional opinion.

I also recommend you listen as carefully with your headphones on for other problems such as ringing and "robot" noises. I think they just cheesed out a bit on their audio card/system.

Here is my solution, ignore it and play music all the time. What can they do anyways? redesign the computer for people who want a good computer with no stupid problems?? who the **** would want that? What would be the point of buying a new one then? yeesh.

Anyone made any progress learning more about the issue?

Klegacy,

I am wondering one more thing. On every computer you have observed this issue, do they all pop out of the left speaker? And also, how many total computers have you observed in total, and how many have this issue. I guess I am asking for a ratio, something like 9/10 (computers with issue/computers examined). I'll keep in touch with any updates.

Thanks,
John

I have the issue as well. The pop is very annoying, especially when iChat is open. I also can notice a long BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP at times, although there isn't any apparent pattern to the beep.


Is everybody experiencing the pop with the new MBPs? Or is it only a select few?

Andrew,
I am hoping that it is an issue with all new macbook pro's that can be remedied in the future with a software update. Are you experiencing the pop emanating from the left speaker?

-John

Hey John,

I'm not in front of my laptop right now, but I'll check it out when I get home. I too hope it's an issue remedied by a software update, but reading some sites I googled, it doesn't seem to be that promising.

I did contact technical support, and they were unable to assist, and advised me to return it. Since I can't be without a computer at this time, that's not an option for me.


I notice the popping on my external speakers, and even when I muted the system's sound, I experienced the popping (I assume it occurs when iChat makes a noise... I'll have to test it at rest with no applications running to see if that's the case).

I unplugged my speakers last night, and still experienced the popping. When I get home today, I'll have to listen closer to see if it's Left speaker only. I'm hoping that's not the case, as it would seem that if it were only 1 speaker, it would be more of a hardware issue than software.

I too have this issue, A clear pop from left speaker when sound comes on after being quiet for a little while. The funny thing is that Ive had my computer for a week and havent noticed the pop until now.

...update

After a reboot the pop changed character and became much less noticable. Which might explain why Ive not noticed until now, having used my computer for a week. One can also notice a little delay when the sound comes on after being silent for a while. Which also supports the "soundboard-goes-to-sleep"-theory.