Does your MacBook Pro Retina speakers buzz?

I haven't had any problems, but haven't really used them a lot. I have listened to several internet videos of varying quality, but not a lot of music.

Has anyone had any luck with Apple support on this? I don't have time during normal Apple support hours during the week to call, so I won't get to it until Saturday. Just got the computer two days ago, and I'm hearing crackling and popping during most playbacks. It's faint, but it's definitely there.

I think I've isolated the frequency as the bass riff in Unobstructed Views, by Death Cab For Cutie. It has a distinctive rythm that is matched by the buzzing of the speakers. Listen at 1:50 and its very easily discernible. I don't know what frequency this is, but it definately causes buzzing. I plan on phoning Apple Support today, and I'll report back.

I received my replacement yesterday, and the buzzing is gone!

Is your computer buzzing on the song that stu_douglas mentioned? Mine are buzzing like the buzziest bee of them all!

Yup! :)

I brought it to an Apple Store, and the Genius took it into the back and agreed that it was very noticeable. My replacement should be in in a couple of days.

As for that song, I do agree that there is a little Pink Floyd in it, and though slow, I love the gentle bass riff. Personally I think there can never be a single perfect truth, nothing can be 2 dimesional enough to be captured perfectly. To each his own 🙂

OK, I got a new Macbook from Apple, and the problem is much less noticeable, but it is still there on some songs. At this point im thinking its a hardware issue, so maybe in the future Apple will release a firmware update that prevents those notorious frequencies from playing instead of buzzing.

if you use another application to play the same music the buzz will disappear,or u can just pull out the music from itunes to the desktop,and use the preview to play it;it will be still good. And also if you play a video from safari or VLC, mplayerX, there will be absolutely no buzz.

SO THE BUZZ IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND IT CAN BE SOLVE BY THE NEXT UPDATE FOR ITUNES.

Spot on. Play the same song through QuickTime. No buzz. Not for me anyway.

This is an iTunes problem on the new rMBP.

My MacBook Pro Retina has the exact same issue (a constantly buzzing right speaker). It started precisely 4 days ago while I was editing a video on iMovie. Now the right speaker always makes a buzz - sometimes only opening a window on my screen makes it buzz. It has nothing to do with iTunes - as the buzz is still there if I try to listen to the same tracks using other software programs. Also, there is no buzz at all when I use my earphone - which to me is a clear indication that this is a hardware problem. I am talking here about a 40-day old MacBook Pro with Retina Display, with very little use. I contacted Apple Support, they tried everything - and nothing. Then I was asked by Apple support to take my computer to an authorized repair center. I can tell you that I was already upset with the instruction received (it is never nice to see your brand new computer being turned into a repaired item after 40 days of use). Nevertheless, I went to the Apple authorized repair center on the very same day just to hear, to my surprise, that they did not have the required tools nor knowledge to fix issues on the new MacBook Pro Retina (I am in Brazil by the way - where Apple has a local presence and is currently selling on its Apple Store website the MacBook Pro with Retina Display and the Apple Care program expressly indicating support/coverage to the MacBook Pro Retina). Then I contacted Apple Support yet again. The guy, acting very politely as they always do, contacted Apple US and I received as a response (I am not kidding) a: "We are sorry but your case is sui generis since in order to replace your MacBook Pro Retina Apple needs to receive a recommendation from the authorized repair center indicating that a repair is not possible and therefore the computer needs a replacement. Since local authorized repair centers are not yet capable of accepting MacBook Pros with Retina display, a replacement recommendation will not be issued and therefore you will have to stick to your computer as is and, meanwhile, keep calling the list of authorized repair centers until I find one which is capable of servicing or accepting my notebook. In time: my computer is covered by a pretty expensive MacBook Pro Retina Apple Care program that seems to add zero value or benefit. I do not want or need to enter into local consumerist law details, but from an purely Apple supporter perspective, I can tell you that I am very upset and frustrated, to say the least. Apple itself has shown so far a total lack of respect for its customers and quality control (how can I rely on an equipment, supposedly the state of the art on personnal computers, if after 40 days of use it already put me into that kind of trouble?). Luckily my problem to date is limited to a buzzing right speaker - imagine if it was a malfunction with the display itself. For now I can mute the speakers and use the computer - but be honest: how disappointing is that? If anyone knows how to solve the buzzing issue, I would be very glad and thankfull to receive your input. Meanwhile, as far as Apple is concerned and sorry, I will be here, typing on my muted/silent 2012 MacBook Pro with retina display duly covered by a useless Apple Care program. How great is that?!

Yep. I've replaced my rMBP twice (this is my third) for various issues, including the buzzing speaker design. Each computer had the same issue - a rattling/crackling noise at certain frequencies, mostly with piano music at a high volume. I have determined this is simply a hardware design issue. I do not think it is the speakers, but perhaps something else vibrating in the unibody assembly (most likely where the metal springs make contact with the chassis). If I press very firmly on the speaker grill area, the buzzing goes away. Not a viable solution, however. I'll stick with headphones.