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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

Apr 1, 2008 10:53 AM in response to mrkyle72

I'm having almost the exact same situation with my MBP(identical to yours)except that I haven't noticed any speaker cutout. However the high-pitched squeals and static (the R2D2 syndrome) is definitely there. This seems different than the "hum" sometimes described elsewhere on these boards.

At first I thought it was artifacts of the files I was listening to, but eliminated that and now wonder (the same as you) whether this problem is shared by all MBP's with this configuration or whether it's just broke.

Hopefully somebody will have some ideas. . .

Apr 16, 2008 8:46 PM in response to mrkyle72

I have this exact problem. Little electronic noises, and sometimes there's this high pitched sound that comes out of the headphones. I got a laptop two week ago, when i noticed the problem i went to the apple store and got a replacement. A few days later I noticed the replacement has the same problem... This really *****. I pay 2000+ for a 'pro' model and what do i get, audio that has random noises in the background!

Apr 17, 2008 12:55 AM in response to ScottDrummer

Same problem here!

High pitched electronic beeps, just like R2D2 right when there should be silence.
Happens all the time- regardless if wifi is on or off, bluetooth is on or off.

Amazing how simple things can be a problem on the MBP-
From freezing when you plug in a vga projector to bleeps and squeals when no audio is playing.

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B07
SMC Version: 1.16f8

System Software Overview:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (8S2167)
Kernel Version: Darwin 8.11.1

Apr 17, 2008 1:21 AM in response to PockyRevolution

I too have the white noise / static in my headphones when it is plugged in except mine doesn't shut off. It stays on. It ***** when I'm listening to music, but it's great for studying. I heard white noise helps you concentrate or something. Something about masking distracting sounds. Maybe this is what Apple wanted when they designed the system. Built-in white noise generator. Some people actually sell CDs of white noise. We're getting it for free. Works great. I put on some in-ear headphones cranked up the volumne up a bit. Got down to work. Helped me get through my eight page paper in one night. Woo Hoo....Go Apple.

Apr 18, 2008 11:02 PM in response to mrkyle72

Hi,
I have a macbook pro 2.66 ghz and I have a different sound problem. Evrery time I start the computer there is a little 'clic' sound just before the start sound. It does the same thing with the sounds of the system (like alert, volume...) or itunes, or any other applications that use sounds. It doesn't happen all the time (except when I start the computer) but it's very often. I bought this computer a month ago and went to apple store and changed it. It's always here...
If you have ideas, you are welcome.
Thanks

Apr 21, 2008 11:48 PM in response to mrkyle72

I'm getting random crackling and noises from my MacBook PRO headphone jack as well.

Seems like a standard insulation issue. It appears the analog portion of the headphone/out jack is not properly insulated/shielded from ingress and it's picking up interference from the MacBook itself. (When I scroll windows, for example, I can hear the white noise change frequency.)

I'm betting there would be no noise at all if I used a toslink cable in the jack, but I have no digital gear to connect it to. -So I'm stuck with an analog work-around:

I wound up "resolving" the issue by attaching an inexpensive Telex USB audio adapter from my old game/mic headphones I had laying around, and attaching my line out to the headphone port on the Telex and now the sound is completely clean.

The Telex came right up in my sound preferences, so I was easily able to set it as my output device.

I hate to give up a USB port just to keep my sound clean, but I guess I have no choice.

Disappointing.

Various audio problems with macbook pro

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