MacBook Pro Retina Sound Issues

Hi everyone,

I noticed this issue when streaming video (e.g. YouTube) and it seems that using a new WebKit build fixes the audio and video stuttering, as well as improves scrolling performance (e.g. on Facebook): http://www.webkit.org

Give it a try! I guess we will need Apple to release a new version of Safari to include a newer WebKit version, but that will definitely happen at some point.

Thanks cschmeer! Using Webkit works for me so far. Tested with Spotify and iTunes running in the background while browsing - perfect audio.

Sorry. but the webkit builds have never resolved the stuttering with iTunes. I have been running webkit for a couple weeks and still get stuttering and crackling audio in iTunes. I haven't noticed the audio problems in videos from Youtube when running webkit so it seems to fix the audio problems when watching videos in webkit.

With respect - I can only speak of my own experience. No one's setup is identical.

Though since I last posted, I'm not sure it's 100% fixed. But I believe there's an improvement there. Let's not pretend this is a black and white issue.

(as a side note if it is anything to do with WebKit, the 'faulty' version of the framework will still be in use by other applications. Probably even iTunes itself. Using the WebKit browser does not update the framework as far as I understand).

Just want to chime in on this — I noticed this problem of clicking and static when listening to music on my 15" Retina MBP recently. It seems to have just begun with a software uptdate or something but i don't know which one. :-(((

Yep, same problem. Hoping for a fix soon.

Just to remind people, I do think that forcing "Discrete Graphics Only" using gfxCardStatus fixes the problem. It does fix it for me. Forcing "Integrated Graphics Only" did not work. So I think the clicking/popping either relates to the integrated graphics card somehow. Obviously this isn't an ideal fix because discrete graphics will run the battery out faster, so Apple really should fix this. But considering listening to clicking and popping during music *****, this is a good improvement when battery isn't an issue...

I've got this as well. Very annoying battery-life wise for a £2000 laptop. Will the Apple Store switch the laptops?

Definitely seems tied to use of the integrated Intel HD 4000 as many users here (myself included) get around the issue by disabling graphics switching / forcing use of the discrete graphics GPU.

OS reinstall, new user. clean external OS all produce the same issue.

I doubt replacing the units in store or replacing the logic board will resolve this problem - my vote is a firmware or software update in the future once Apple acknowledges the issue (:

This just started on mine last night. I'm almost sure it's tired to the graphics card... However, the interesting part is, a couple days ago, whenever the graphics card switches from the Intel to the Nvidia, everything freezes for 2-5 seconds, sometimes longer. Certain, pretty basic websites have started making it change to the Nvidia, too. It's really strange, and also just started happening. Makes me think mayby the Intel card is partially fried, or on it's way out?

Same issue for me on my retina 15" macbook pro. Please fix Apple.

Same Problems here on my 15inch retina. Has this been reconised by apple yet? hopefully there is a fix coming or my machine will be going back to apple. As said previously this is a premium, performance machine and we should not settle for such a bad issue. I encourage everyone to contact apple as your machine should be still under warranty and they need to come up with a fix.

Same issue here guys.. the audio disruption occurs a few times a minute (sometimes more sometimes less) its extremely annoying. This is among several other issues I am having and have had with previous replacements (yes plural - replacements).

Regarding the horrible graphics issues the Apple rep convinced me to hold off until the 10.3 update. If that doesn't fix this audio issue and the Safari graphics related issues (in addition to the overall lagginess of ML on the retina) I'm taking this thing to Apple I had a 11 inch Macbook Air with 2gb ram that had no issues compared to this quad core 16gb ram "supposed" powerhouse. *extremely disappointed with Apple.

*and yes switching to the external graphics card does resolve some issues but that's not a fair fix, especially for a $3000+ computer.

Same problem here, Do you know, by the time, if the problem is in the software or in any part of the hardware? I bougth this thing in NYC one month ago, im from Argentina and I dont trust in the tecnical support that the resellers has here, I dont know what to do, if wait for an soft update or send the MBP to be check by an “expert“ here in my country. Im having the same problem with music, something similar happens with graphics, for example when u r looking some video in youtube u can see it with “little jumps“ in graphics and music aswell...

So now that Apple is rolling out the higher spec, or second generation models, we should start specifying which one we have. If no one has the issue with the newer version, it could be a very helpful indication of what we need to do.