snap crackle pop noices from iMac 27

Hey Guys, I finally had a chance to call Apple.

FYI. My machine is also a 1TB fusion drive model. Audio pops happen when awaking the display from sleep and then the pops stop after about 10 minutes, but occur evertime I awake the display from sleep.

I would advise everyone to update 10.8.3 in Software Update.

According to the Apple represantive I just spoke with, the latest OS X update addresses some iMac issues.

The update is so recent to me that I can't tell if it worked yet or not, but it supposedly should solve most of our problems, according to the rep.

On the official release, I don't see anything listed specifically about our issue, aside from maybe the audio stutter on 2011 iMacs, so maybe that is what suppossedly fixes our issue:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5612

Alas, I updated a couple of days ago and the issue continues. Like you, I mostly notice it within 10-15 minutes of the screen awaking from sleep or shut-down.

Planning to bring the system into the Apple store for an extensive review shortly.

I did speak with Apple techs who assured me that the issue would be resolved beyond the 14 day return window, especially as I have called twice to log issues and have case numbers to go with them. I can only take them at their word that this is the case. Haven't had to deal with this before, ever, with an Apple product so I don't know what will come to pass. I've seen 5 reports so far all from people with Fusion drives. Odd, but interesting.

I get the sound too when I turn on the mic and turn on the speakers and eat rice krispies next to my iMac.

You're right. Update didn't fix the problem.

I'm back to square one.

Apple support recontacted me. They forwarded the issue to Engineering and they have been collecting some reported units to see what's up. In the meantime they have recommended replacement of the system as the proper approach so I returned mine last night.

On the bright side, shipping has dropped from 3-4 weeks to 3-5 days.

jon01721 wrote:

One guy on Macrumors could recreate the sound by pressing on the black glass at the bottom left and right sides of the screen. I was able to do this as well, but it sounds like the random pop is coming from different places on the back and thought it might be some sort of glass "settling" issue. But if that were the case then I'd imagine we would see a lot more reports of the same problems.

Just a thought, but I wonder if the sound could be something to do with the adhesive tape that's underneath the black glass area. Perhaps has the iMac warms up and cools down there might be a bit of movement in the adhesive tape area and the sound from this could perhaps resonate from the bottom vents? just a thought.

Yeah I saw that suggested and I mentioned it to the support folks who said they were "skeptical" that would be the problem. In my case, the popping seemed to be located somewhere on the mid-right side. Hard to be sure but when the tech in the store verified it she immediately pointed to that general area and asked if it was coming from there.

At any rate, I'll report on the new one when it arrives.

im on my 3rd replacement now this one is as worse as the first one i got with that sound..
oh and yeah there sticks a small part of black rubber out of the bottom right of the screen.

******* great.

idkn what to do.

Do you start getting the noise right upon getting the replacement or does it take a couple of days? Mine was fine for the first 2.5 days then started up...At least I think so...It's possible that it took me 3 days to register the sound as a problem but I'd be surprised.

The specific direction from the Senior Advisor at Apple was as follows:

--

I wanted to update you on the case. I forwarded your information to our Engineering team to ensure they were aware of the issue. They have let me know that units exhibiting the issue have recently been collected to further investigate, and they recommend going forward with normal repair or replacement routes.

You shouldn't have any trouble with getting the unit replaced, if that is your preference. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

--

This is my first time having to deal with this on any Apple device so I don't know how the support bureaucracy works over there but it seems to me that something like this will eventually be recognized as a hardware defect and corrected via recall or at least return-able outside of the initial return window. Just make sure to leave a thorough paper trail of defect reports with support and keep track of your case numbers.

I scoured for people reporting this and am not coming up with that many though, so the fact that you have now gone through 3 with defects leads me to believe that either this is being very under-reported or you need to avoid Vegas. Still haven't seen any reports of this happening on non-Fusion drive systems... Anyone?

Holy **** dude i got the solution to this problem!

i used the cable from my 2d imac replacement in my 3rd and it STOPPED making that sound. even in sleeping mode. it seems that the cables are the problem!

thank god..

You mean the power cable?? Really? Wow, hope that does the trick for you! Please keep us advised if anything changes.

IT 100% STOPPED.

WHAT THE F ! apple is producing **** cables apparantly and don't even know thats what it looks like.

Great that it's working! It's puzzling, though. So you used the power cable from your previous replacement machine (that was making the noise with that cable as well) and plugged it into the new machine and that made it go away? Even though that same cable was plugged into the 2nd machine? Bizarre.

no it didn't make that sound my 2nd sorry my english is not really good.

but it really did solve it. i made the screen less bright when i got my 3rd replacement in and i got that tick tick tick..

called apple to say this, they couldn't help me much.. so i thought fk this, what can i do to see what this problem is? i cannot go in the machine so maby it is the cable (idontknownothingaboutelectronics) so i changed them and i haven't had 1 crackle pop nothing! i would advice anyone with this problem to ask apple for a new cable. see what happens.

luckily my case is solved.. now i can enjoy mine.

again, thank god...

Got it. Congrats! Let us know if anything changes and keep fingers crossed for my replacement coming next week.