Hiss in MacBook Pro Speakers

Question

Level 1

20 points

Hiss in MacBook Pro Speakers

I have a MacBook Pro that has been giving an intermittent quick hiss (1 second or less) throughout the day. Obviously, the sound has to be on for the hiss to happen, but I have not found any pattern to the hissing.

I have sent the MacBook to AppleCare and they have replaced the speakers...twice, but the hiss is still happening after getting it back yesterday.

Does anyone have any ideas about what is causing it or other troubleshooting measures I can do?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo • 2 GB RAM

Posted on Dec 17, 2010 10:39 AM

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Answer 1

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 17, 2010 1:51 PM in response to Brian Rizer

Hi Brian

you could reset the pram - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

& at a stretch, test with a clean OS install, whereby if it persists - back to applecare it goes.
I'd be inclined to have apple test it, unless you've a spare drive & a little time.

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Answer 2

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Dec 17, 2010 2:50 PM in response to Brian Rizer

Take it right back to the repair shop. Before bringing back home, check out the speakers for the hiss.

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Answer 3

Brian Rizer Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 17, 2010 8:04 PM in response to CMCSK

I will try the PRAM, but I am trying to keep from taking it to the shop again. The closest one is over three hours away, which means that I will have to send it back in through FedEx. I use my computer too much to be missing it for another week!

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Answer 4

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Dec 17, 2010 8:28 PM in response to Brian Rizer

Ask Apple for a loaner?

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Answer 5

Brian Rizer Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 20, 2010 5:06 PM in response to CMCSK

Okay... I'm still verifying this, so it may have nothing to do with it...

I have noticed that the hiss happens within a few seconds of opening Microsoft Outlook. Now, Outlook makes a chime when it is opening, so it may be hissing due to the speakers having sound when it opens, but I'm not sure yet. I am trying to make sure that the sound is only happening when Outlook is open, and if it so, I might have a better idea about how to fix it. Any ideas?

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Answer 6

Dec 21, 2010 6:40 PM in response to Brian Rizer

I have this exact same problem and it's been driving me crazy for weeks! It's such a short tisk sound of static but is equal to the annoyance of dragging nails down a chalkboard. It will do it intermittently but never ceases to stop.. that is until I read your comment about Outlook. Then I remembered that it hasn't always been making this noise and I only recently installed Outlook. I closed Outlook and didn't hear the sound. I opened Outlook and within seconds after hearing the initial welcome sound, the "tisking" was back. Though I only tested it for 30 seconds before returning to iTunes.. I'm pretty sure Outlook is the problem. It sounds as if it makes the sound every time it checks the server for new mail.. or something of that nature. I can't say it's doing it on all macs because I have a late 2009 MacBook Pro at work and have Outlook open all day. Never heard the sound on it.

Still, a bit of relief that it's not my sound card or something serious. Hope Apple or Microsoft comes out with a fix.. I'm going to assume this is Microsoft's fault, though.

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Answer 7

Dec 21, 2010 9:54 PM in response to Brian Rizer

Found our problem.. go to Outlook preferences, click on Notifications and Sounds, click on the play button next to "No new messages". Now deselect it and join me in finding the programmer who made this selected as default. Guy must have had a sense of humor.

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