Macbook Pro Speakers are built wrong

but it only comes out from the right speaker so it simply sounds like a constant tone.

This sounds like a balance issue to me. You have triple checked the balance slider in System Preferences, right?

It seems like there is a left speaker that responds above 1100 hz or so, but below that, the sound is essentially mono to the right.

I don't see how that could be possible unless the speaker is damaged in some way, which is the direction I'm leaning to right now. I think you have a hardware issue with the speakers in your computer. What you describe is definitely not normal behavior; I'm more than satisfied with the speakers in my MBP, when viewing them as notebook speakers.

I think you should call Apple about a warranty repair, or if you are in range of an Apple store, visit them and demonstrate the issue.

--Travis

I have just purchased the 15" MBP and noticed this left and right speaker discrepancy immediately, I took it back to my local Apple Store and they swapped it out for another machine agreeing that they could hear the problem. I am now on the new machine and exactly the same problem remains.

I am a sound engineer (have been for 14 years) and can verify that there are definite phasing problems with the combination of the various speakers / 'subs' in this design of MacBookPro. Using various utilities in Logic, inverting the phase in the left side of audio results in an increase of bass and low end and all manner of tonal changes occur when converting to mono and panning left to right.

I will be returning to the Apple Store on Monday to directly compare my 15" MBP with the MB's and the 17" to see whether the problem is widespread and will attempt to report back with any new info.

I can feel vibrations coming from the right speaker of my new Unibody MBP 15" when the volume is 50% and higher. There are no vibrations from the left side..its the shaking that bother me because I place my hand there to type.. >:( will it mess up the harddrive? it shakes the entire right side of the computer, im afraid the subwoofer will affect the other hardware inside.

Nothing to worry about, as far as "affecting the other hardware inside". If the (comparatively) low-frequency vibration from the subwoofer that you're feeling annoys you, turn the bass down or use headphones. I frankly don't understand why you or anyone else would ever want to listen to the built-in speakers anyway.

Hi,
I just invested in a new june 2009 MBP 15" and am just now playing some tunes through it.
There is most definitely a very noticeable right hand side bias to the speaker output.

Testing in system prefs/output confirms this.

I suspect due to the number of complaints here that this is a design fault not specific to my machine.

I have to say I am extremely surprised that at this for a machine of this overall design and build quality - obvious heat control issues aside. Something this basic should be highlighted in the manual and product literature, as solid central audio placement for spatialised listening is audio 101.

What can we do about this? I suspect not much, but an official admission from apple should be the minimum...

Message was edited by: sonicviz

What can we do about this?

Nothing — except tell Apple what you think:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

This isn't real life?

Hi i just bought the late 2009 15" Macbook Pro and have also noticed that the right speaker is more louder. I also tested the sound with the ToneTester app and also have the same problem as Chris8535. I tested the app on my 06 15" Macbook Pro and it is different compared to my new Macbook Pro.

So my question is, is my Macbook Pro faulty? Does anyone else have the same problem or is this a design flaw?

jon_k86, Chris, et. al.:

I have the same problem/condition with my new MBP. Just spoke with Mike @ Apple Support and conducted a test, resetting the PRAM. No change in the condition with left speaker. Mike determined that it may be a sound board problem and scheduled an appointment for me at our Apple Store.

Kurt

Hey Kurt Naser let me know how you go with your appointment.

Perhaps I may jump in this situation. Last week I had an appointment with a genius bar representative for the same problem. After demonstrating the right side loudness and then plugging in a pair of portable speakers that functioned correctly, he agreed with my findings and then proceeded to fetch his own new 15" MBP which did the same thing. He also mentioned the 3 speaker placement issue and stated that the 17" had 2 speakers per side and that the problem didn't exist on that model. We went over to a display 17" and tried to play and balance left to right - everything worked and more importantly sounded correct. This is a design issue - what you hear is what you get.

3 weeks ago i bought a 2.66 MB pro 15" and today my left speaker did the same thing, but it stops working every now and then and i have used the balance in settings and when i put it on the left side only the sub seems 2 work . the strange thing is that the left speaker seems to sound ok when it works, but i dont know what causing to make it stop working

I have exactly the same problem from a recently purchased MBP: unbalanced sound and terrible vibration down by the hard drive on the right side of the case. Apple support sent me to an authorised apple repair store. The store said they had never seen anything like it but then when we looked at another 15" MBP in store it had exactly the same issue. The chap in the store was very surprised. I have now checked four separate 15" MBPs and they all have the same the problem.