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Various audio problems with macbook pro

Hello all, I am posting here before I go through the trouble of trying to get my macbook replaced.

My laptop, which I bought around 3 weeks ago, is a 2.5ghz (upgraded processor) penryn 15" macbook pro. If it's worth anything, it's the model with a 512mb graphics card. I also upgraded the hard drive to the 7200 rpm version.

Anyways, I have been having problems with the right speaker as well as the sound in general. It was working perfectly until one day when I was watching a youtube video and the right speaker suddenly cut out. The only sound was a very high pitch whine that seems to constantly come from it until the speakers cut out to save power or whatever they do.

Now I know that hearing worsens with age, and I think that it's possible some older owners cannot hear this if they have the same problem. I am 18 and can hear it, my parents, on the other hand, cannot. It sounds almost exactly like it does when your ears are ringing, except higher-pitched.

As if listening to one speaker (the left one) and a high-pitched whine that hurts your ears after awhile isn't enough, I am also having problems with headphones. First, I am 100% positive that the headphones are completely functional as I also use them on my ipod and a PC (I also tried a second set to be sure). When they're plugged in, there is a constant static sound (until the sound cuts out to save power, that click is also really annoying), and when the system transmits a sound there are random beeps. It literally sounds like an R2D2 crawled into each of my ears.

Another thing I'd like to point out: when I restart my computer, both speakers broadcast the bootup sound perfectly. In fact, the right speaker continues to work for several seconds after logging in before it goes back to it's broken and whiny state. This makes me think it's a firmware problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

- Kyle

P.S. I have installed everything available from system update.

2.5ghz Penryn Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Mar 19, 2008 9:39 PM

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50 replies

Jun 13, 2008 7:11 AM in response to mrkyle72

Ok, so in my quest to get rid of this awful static noise coming from the headphone output, I found something very interesting.

If I play any audio file (regardless of its bit rate) with iTunes I get this annoying noise, BUT if I use VLC multimedia player I get a much more dissimulated noise. I don't want to say it's completely gone but it is definitely easier to deal with, especially with piano solos or vocals with no bases or percussion... (an explanation to this may be the higher volume gain of VLC, its output is about 60% more powerful)

I would like to hear some input from some of you guys... give it a try, maybe your sanity might become less of an utopia when listening to your MBP.

Cheers.

Jun 22, 2008 4:29 PM in response to mrkyle72

I'm not having the right channel issue but now I'm biting my nails...

I am having the R2D2 sounds in my headphones when engaging the sound card in anyway. As well as the constant high pitched "air." I noticed the change in sound quality from my PowerBook G4 1.67 IMMEDIATELY. (I am a professional audio person.)

I'm now kicking myself for buying this instead of just upgrading my internal harddrive on the powerbook....

Jun 22, 2008 5:55 PM in response to mrkyle72

Well, I just got a brand new Macbook Pro, it shipped direct from china and it was manufactured about 1 week ago. Over the past 3 days i've been using headphones a lot and have NOT heard ANY beeps or other artifacts that I heard with my last two Macbook Pro's (both of which were manufactured a few weeks before the last revision launched). So I seems apple has fixed this problem in the newer production models. I would try and get your laptop's replaced for a brand new one.

Jul 2, 2008 5:48 PM in response to mrkyle72

I don't have the problem you're all describing but I'm curious to know if anyone has opened their Sound control panel in System Preferences and checked what their input device is set to. It should be set to Line-In not microphone or built-in-microphone (or whatever it's called). You should check it with your headphones plugged in and when they're not plugged in.

The sounds you're all describing (R2D2 sounds, hissing, whistling) sound like feedback to me. Anyone who's ever held a microphone too close to a speaker will know what I mean.

As an experiment if I turn the volume up on my MBP and switch my input device to the built in mic I get all kind of horrible hissing and squealing noises coming out of my speakers. Headphones too if I sit too close.

Just a thought...

Jul 3, 2008 6:02 AM in response to Jonathan Kull

No, this problem has nothing to do with acoustic feedback. I really think it's a microscopic, electronic audio chip problem.

I would bet, most users of an actual MacBook Pro do not recognize this problem. Many don't use the headphone out, some may not hear high noises and some only user it in a not quiet environment.

Just take the time, sit don't somewhere you're alone and where it's really quiet, take out a headphone, plug it in, adjust volume to one step aobove mute and play some sounds, music. You may then hear strange sounds, high noises, nothing you expect your MacBook Pro to do.

Aug 5, 2008 4:32 PM in response to mrkyle72

Any viable solutions yet? I've got a brand new (?) Macbook 2.1Ghz Core2Duo bought just over a week ago, and I've got all the good stuff: hissing, static, high pitched whining, R2D2 bleeps. Tried 'force quitting all unnecessary applications and taking Airport off.

Especially annoyed when I'm supposed to be working on music in Logic and Macs are supposed to be "what musicians and the pro's use".

Aug 16, 2008 5:37 AM in response to macmacmacduck

Hey macmacduck ---

any chance you could post some Rev info for us?

I am on a Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B03 (2.4 Penryn)

My 'Intel High Definition Audio' reads:

Device ID: 0x106B00A3
Audio ID: 56

I'm really needing to get this fixed, if there is a logicboard number that is clear of the noises -- i'll be requesting a repair ASAP.

many thnx in adv.

J.

Various audio problems with macbook pro

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