Loose Connection Headphone Jack MacBook

I purchased a MBP 2 weeks ago from Apple Store Chatswood, Australia - I use my audio out frequently. So After much research and experiencing the problems myself (like mid- presentation at a conference!), I took it back. We plugged my 4 different headsets ranging from cheap to apple to +$400, same problem on every MBP in the store - we tested them all as well as cracking open to new boxes. So the problem remains unresolved and would appear to get worse the more you persist. There business manager has been great and is now in liaison with Cupertino re: what are we dealing with this. However, knowing that this probably will not be reached, I'm not sure how to resolve this - they are happy to give me a full refund - but I want a mac NOT A PC, just a mac with an audio out which works everytime. Where do we go next??? I have left feedback on the apple site

Count me in too, I have exactly the same problem and it's crap! it's disappointing to have such a crappy connection problem, it's even leaving a hissing sound in my audio because the connection is not solid. grrrrrrrrr!!!

WOW! I have read everyone's response to this MAJOR problem! I too have a faulty macbook! This is my 5th mac product and have never been more fustrated with the audio out than all my mac experiences. Count me in!

well i had the same problem but now i am stuck on internal speakers only, none of my headphone / line out / external speakers cables work anymore (they used to , although with the issues as reportered here)
whatever I plug into it the only sound I here is from the internal speakers.

we need an adapter, FOC from apple, period.

unbelievable..i've had this problem from day one, and mentioned it to applecare on two occassions and they didn't say that there had been other complaints..then I had to send it in for repair (new keyboard - another story but not mac's fault)..anyway, i asked the tech to check it..when I picked it up, he said "there's nothing wrong w/ it -i checked it w/ headphones, jiggled around, and it plays fine" - unfortunately when I picked it up i was in a hurry and didn't have headphones to check it right there..i got home later, and sure enough same thing..so i log on here and read all this...

it does seem to be the "3 ring" thing that someone else mentioned as my crappy ipod headphones work just fine..surprising to see a flaw like this on such a great machine

A lot of people are "on board", but we don't have a boat yet!! We need a plan.. Is there anyone out there who has an idea of how we can get ourselves heard? Anyone have connections with publications, websites, magazines that we can use to broadcast our concerns? Otherwise, nothing will be done.. It will just be us, complaining here on this forum... any ideas??

I am having the exact same issue as everyone else with my new unibody macbook. I brought it into my local apple store ( Next Byte Broadway, Sydney), after a month of keeping my laptop they told me that there was nothing wrong with it even though i showed the technician the problem he said that all head phone jacks are like that to which i replied none of my other macs do this and to top it off he told me apple will not service this because it passed all hardware tests.

My course of action at the moment is to speak to apple themselves. If this is not resolved by then i will report it to the Department of fair trading and try to get the media involved.

Not happy 😟

Message was edited by: John Phuah

Bought a 13" aluminum powerbook the day before yesterday for my college-bound son, from the local mac store, and it exhibits this same problem.

I was wondering if anyone has tried this adapter http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207655624&listingid=21231335&dcaid=179 02 and what success they have had.

Well I have made my way up to Apple Australasia Executive Relations and am in conference with MacWorld Australia. The person dealing with me at Apple had in the beginning tried to dismiss me (her name is Janine) email me stat71 (at) me (dot) com, and I will provide you with email address and all other relevant contact details - it's time to rattle the cage.

I think you are the second guy with this problem i being the first. i have also noticed this but it doesnt happen always. i am still not sure on what causes itunes to play my tracks when i move my headphone jack.

everyone is mentioning here that they have a problem with their line out and i am also on board with that, but did you guys test your line in as well. i dont do much recording or audio chat but a few days back i tried my mic on using the line in and it didnt work i restarted the mac i used different kinds of mics and nothing worked the only mic the works is the built in microphone. does anybody have this problem

Just wanted to say - it's definitely the 3 ring thing. I had exactly the same problem with my brand new Macbook - eventually got around it by picking up some of Apple's 3 ring mic/earphones (latest ones, for the newest models of Apple's gear).

Not very impressed, I have to say.

With their earphones, there is a noticable click and the connection becomes reasonably secure.

I've ordered a 3 ring - universal 3.5mm adapter from eBay for £2 which should sort the problem for my headphones and other gear.

Ridiculous problem.

Ok, so instead of futzing around with an adapter (some of which i hear don't even work right), I decided to splurge on something I should probably have bought a while ago: a usb audio interface. now this doesn't erase the fact that i've lost some faith in apple, but it does solve the loose headphone-jack issue. check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

sure, it's 30$, but i can say that it indeed works. i do a lot of headphone listening and it's totally worth it. plus i record into garageband from my mixer, so this works better than the line-in anyway. behringer is a pretty trusted name in audio, and if you're skeptical about this device, just read the reviews on the product page. happy listening!

(oh yeah, if you do buy this, make sure to go to System Preferences, then the Output tab, and select the USB interface for sound output. then just plug your headphones into the interface's headphone jack)

Count me in with the same problem on a macbook purchased 6 days ago on 15th april 2009. Loose connection and a ssssssss sound when no song is playing.

It's really annoying because i had a powerbook g4 for 3 years and the headphone socket was perfect.

@ gung310 - Fortunately i already had that audio interface you mention and it does take away all the problems. It proved to be a useful purchase. I can plug headphones in and listen to music through it. And i can play music through external speakers using it as well. Once the audio settings have been changed, it automatically sends it through the usb device. It appears that this is the perfect bail-out. I have also ordered one of the fritz 4 ring cable adapters, so i'll post up in a few days as to whether that eliminates the problem.

It's a really poor show from apple though. My previous powerbook laptop was so good that i didn't even bother to check about potential problems on the new macbook. On a 1100 ENGLISH POUNDS computer, i didn't expect that to be a headphone socket issue. I'm just debating whether i should get a refund and then wait until they bring out the second generation or version of the macbook or whatever because surely they'll have fixed it on that.

It's pretty disgusting that that guy/girl above gets an email from apple saying they are wrong. So we're all making it up are we? It's clearly a fault when previous apple computers don't have the 'problem'

luke_am wrote:
Count me in with the same problem on a macbook purchased 6 days ago on 15th april 2009. Loose connection and a ssssssss sound when no song is playing.

It's really annoying because i had a powerbook g4 for 3 years and the headphone socket was perfect.

You must realize that thay are now using some inexpensive low quality parts on the new machines, (Macbooks anyway) Nice shiny case but cheap noisy Realtek audio chips, (long known as the worst in PC circles). Plus other shortcuts.

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