Loose Connection Headphone Jack MacBook

Actually, the reason I made my video, is because the engineering department stated that this video wasn't clearly identifying the problem. They stated that the tolerances were acceptable, and they said it looked like the user was applying a significant amount of force to insert and withdraw the cord.

There will certainly be only more and more people who join this thread. The bottom line is, it is a problem. I can use the Apple in-ear headphones and it works fine, but my $200 computer speakers are very unstable and lose connection fast...

I don't know where we can go from here, if Steve Jobs told me I'm wrong - you can't go much higher than him!! I suppose if there are enough complaints, maybe something will get done, but until then?? I think they need to make an adapter that can be inserted that is 3-ring, rather than 2. This way, it will grip in the hole, and allow for external headphones and speakers to then be plugged in to it.

Keep the messages coming!

Richard from Bristol wrote:
Have any press picked up on this yet - it seems like it's quite a serious problem... If the headphone jack is knackered, I think it's part of the motherboard, so huge expense for Apple to do a recall and replace X thousand motherboards...

Before doing that I would imagine Apple would make an adapter that provided more exact tolerances. It's probably because it's a multi-purpose port, as a result the segments that make the internal connections are smaller.

pancenter-

I'd be happy with an adaptor. I wouldn't expect to pay for it though. But then even making that is going to cost them thousands. Do you think there are any existing adaptors that might do the job? I've seen adaptors for mobile phone to minijack, but I don't know what type of plug would fit this properly...

My Mac, a MacBook5,1, A1278 also has this problem. It seems to be okay on my desk with external speakers but when I use any non-Apple headphones the slightest touch, a mere brush of the finger, will send audio back to the built-in speakers.

It's made it absolutely impossible to use these headphones which work perfectly with my iPhone 3G.

Richard from Bristol wrote:
I'd be happy with an adaptor. I wouldn't expect to pay for it though. But then even making that is going to cost them thousands. Do you think there are any existing adaptors that might do the job? I've seen adaptors for mobile phone to minijack, but I don't know what type of plug would fit this properly...

Richard,

"Thousands" would be nothing compared to a mainboard recall. If you or anyone you know is handy with a soldering iron it would be easy enough to do a roll-your-own adapter, finding a 1/8" stereo plug that fits the Macbook's port snugly is important part. Parts list would be: 1/8" stereo male jack that fits the Macbook port, 6" stereo flex cable and an enclosed 1/8" stereo female jack.

I'm guessing a "Switchcraft 1/8" stereo male jack will fit the Macbook correctly as Switchcraft parts are built to the same tolerances they were 50years ago, unlike most of the cheap junk being used today.

pancneter-

Ty, how did you deal with executive relations? I'd like to voice my concern to Apple in the same manner. If they hear enough voices, maybe they'll realize that it is they who are "wrong"; just because their product is within "specifications" doesn't mean those specifications are good.

Same problem. Slightest touch to the ANYTHING connected to the headphone output and will disconnect and start to play through the onboard speakers.
This problem REALLY *** since i DJ through my Mac. I believe that Apple should recall ALL effected units and resolve this issue.
😟

I DJ through my MacBook too, using Traktor Pro.

As much as I want this problem fixed and I agree that is is very annoying, if you're serious about DJing anywhere other than your bedroom, you'll have an external USB sound card anyway, which isn't affected by this issue.

I can recommend the Numark Omni Control as a combination DJ controller/sound card setup that's great for beginners as it's not too pricey.

The problem, as far as I can tell from this thread, is that all new macbook pros have this issue when used with any 3rd party headphones; there isn't a small amount of effected units. If you look at it in terms of a software analogy, they see this as a "feature" by design, we see it as a "bug". We need to convince Apple that it is indeed a bug. I doubt any kind of recall, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't make our opinions heard 🙂

Just wanted to weigh in. I am having the same problem. Looks like it is a compatibility issue. If I have itunes open, moving the jack will actually start my itunes playing. For a while i thought my computer was haunted, or that maybe i had been infected with a virus (Gasp, i am used to PCs, so this was actually my first assumption).

Glad I found this post, and that it's not just my imagination. Looks like it is not really something that can be "fixed" per se, but I haven't purchased AppleCare, will they still help me with issues like this?

Maybe I will just look for some sort of adaptor, or just run all my audio through my M-Audio Fasttrack USB. Otherwise, love the macbook.

to Qwikrex: if the iphone headphones works, then it is quite certain that apple put the same jack connector on its macbook but didn't feel the need to inform its consumers : (
Why don't you try one of those adapters: http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/30/iphone-headphone-adapter-roundup/, and see if it works. if it is, then we all know the solution, and that will prevent some people to damage their computer. I don't have a unibody macbook, so i can't speak from experience, but reading many post on other forums, the issue seems to be the same, so perhaps the solution is too. Good luck and let us know about it.

I have exactly the same issue with my MBP (2 weeks old), tried my old headphones, which I had been using for 3 years on my old G4 Power Book, and the speakers kept cutting in rather than the audio routing through the headphones, the slightest touch would either significantly degrade the audio via the headphones, or worse still cut the MBP speakers in (leading to one very annoyed other half as she kept getting random blasts of Battlestar Galactica very late at night! and also many annoyed train passengers on my journey to work as my music cuts across the train carriage should I dare to move my head 2 degrees to the left, or the train 'bump' the connection), this effectivley renders the headphone socket unuseable and significantly impacts the MBP's effectiveness as an efficient and portable media centre.

I see from the Apple insider post that this is likley caused by the design being optimized for the mini-jacks with more plastic collars than a standard stereo mini-jack, so I am forced to buy a propitiatory apple product (the headphone with built in mic, that I will never use...), having just shelled out £1.3k on new MBP this leaves a very bitter taste.

I appreciate that a full logic board recall is just not going to happen, but if Apple are as serius about Customer Service and product design as they woudl have us believe, then I believe the least they can do is provide a free set of 'compatible' headphones to those who complain.

I have the sam problem with my Macbook I bought a couple of days back. Aside from this problem I was annoyed that the Mac I got from the store (2 days back) had only 10.5.5 and ILife 08 installed ! February is almost ending, so it seems they gave me something that's been in their store for a couple of months !

Anyhow I am over that now - have upgraded to latest software, so not whining about that.

However, this headhphone jack problem is annoying. I've noticed that the only pair of headphones that work reliably (even when I wiggle the laptop a bit) are the iPhone/iPod headphones !

So I would guess that the connector being recommened above will work. I am going to walk into the local apple store and demand that that be given to me for free !! It is annoying that Apple didn't get this basic thing right, and I have to get an adapter cable - however, this is my first Mac and really don't want to return/replace it. Already spend many hours uploading photos / etc.

On a completely different note, I am also a bit a annoyed that I have to pay $99 to run any of the iphone apps that I develop on my SDK. I do this only for a hobby and have no intention of selling any of my "baby" applications that I am writing on the iPhone Simulator - however, would have been fun to just test it out on the device. Alas, I need to pay $99. Jailbreaking may not work on the latest SDK and anyhow that's not recommended.

A somewhat-happy / some-what-unhappy first time Mac owner.

Has anyone actually used the ifrogz adapter? And if so, does it eliminate the issue?

Obviously having to pay for an extra adapter is not ideal, but I'd easily pay a few bucks to fix this issue, as a recall is all but impossible. I'll certainly be more cautious if/when I purchase another Mac 🙂

I haven't used the adapter yet and really dont want to (when you buy a £1.3k this should be the least of your worries!) I have booked an appointment with a 'personal' shopper at regent street tomorrow, as its impossible to get a 'genius' appointment, so I will let you all know if Apple do actually 'walk the walk' when it comes to acknowledging and resolving customer service issues. For the record (as in my previous posts) I love my mac and we now have 3 macs in the house, but this issue is in serious danger of tarnishing my perception of Apple's reputation for quality of hardware build (fortunately I didnt have enough cash at the time the 'overheater' 'cube' came out ;)).