2013 Macbook Air Sound Issues

I have exactly the same experience, but today, the right-channel is getting faulty too... When I use my Bose headphones or whatever other headphones, music is playing at a really low levek on the right side?

Tried the reboot (Command Option P R) but I have still the same problem.

Any comments?

PLIST file change didn't resolve the issue, not surprisingly. Now I have no choice but to give up the machine to Apple to have them send it out for repair. If they are good on their word, I'll be without the machine for 3 to 5 days. According to the tech in the store, they need to do "invasive" (their word) work on the laptop which likely includes replacement of logic board and/or speakers. I asked for, but was not given, either a loaner or simply a replacement machine. As always the tech was friendly, however this is not resulting in satisfication with my purchase or my liklihood to recommend Apple to others.

That's been my experience too. I'm also looking at 3+ days without a computer, still no resolution in sight after all these months. Absolutely unacceptable hardware and even worse service from Apple.

Latest update...got the mac back from Apple repair after day 4 of 3-5 window. Repair ticket says the logic board and cable were replaced. Of course audio was working again but that has always been the case that we have been able to restore audio, then after a few days using some combination of headphones and closing the lid the audio stops working. Had this been out of warranty the repair would have cost almost $300

For me, making an apple script by the instructions found on another thread about sound issues on mavericks helped. I don't know why this helps but now I don't have to reboot my MBA to get the sound back again. 🙂

Seems like software issue atleast on my MBA and people with macbook pros are having similiar problems after updating to Mavericks but not before that. I hope the upcoming OS X update fixes these, atleast Apple has asked the devs to focus on sound issues. http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/05/07/apple-seeds-ninth-os-x-1093-mavericks- beta-safari-704-seed-1-to-developers-with-minor-tweaks

Here's the original post which helped me! Hope you'll find it useful!

MrChase

Re: No sound out after wake up in Mavericks

Mar 28, 2014 3:05 PM ( in response to Lorana Jinkerson)

I know this is a bit technical but it will make it easy until they fix this problem that may force me to sell my 2013 MBA and get a Lenovo X1 Carbon.

Open AppleScript Editor and past the fallowing in:

tell application "Terminal"

do shell script "kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext/" withadministrator privileges

do shell script "sudo -S kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext/"with administrator privileges

end tell

and then go to file Save, give it a name like Audio Fix and for the file type select Application.

When you run the new app it should ask you for your password and you can enter it in and you will have audio back

Good suggestion, but I know there are many people who wouldl feel nervous about writing software code - that's the very precise reason we bought Mac's in the first place - becasue they are supposedly known as bug-free machines..

In fact for me, doing a PRAM set usually fixes the problem for about 2 weeks or so (had to do one 2 days ago) . But having to do a PRAM reset every 3-4 weeks is just like Apple saying "now that Stevev Jobs has gone, expect things to deterioate!"... I mean, we're only asking for AUDIO function - how hard can that be?

That's true and I'm no better with coding than average user but luckily this script isn't a hard one. You can also just download and run the script made by Proggie: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98285/RestartAudio.app.zip . So far this is the only thing that has worked for me to get the sound working again without rebooting or PRAM etc. Of course the bug still occurs time to time and it's still unacceptable for a premium product. I hope the next OS X update fixes these issues.

Proggie

Re: No sound out after wake up in Mavericks

Mar 29, 2014 5:24 AM ( in response to sabron)

OK...try this and let me know if it works:https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98285/RestartAudio.app.zip

Had to zip it up or it wouldn't work when downloaded. So unzip first (should be able to just double-click), and then move the file to your Applications folder. The first time you launch it, you may get a message that it's from an unidentified developer or something like that. In that case right-click on the application and choose open, then click on the Open button. Then type in your admin password.

Here's a link to that thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5482053?start=240&tstart=0

Authorized Service Provider finally got around to replacing my speakers. First they said it would take them 7 BUSINESS DAYS to do it, then after I flipped out, somehow, they were magically able to do it in 1 day. Why isn't warranty service treated as a top priority with these guys?

Anyway, then they told me it's "not recommended" to use the speakers at full volume. That's like buying a BMW and being told it'll break down if you go over 40mph. What the ****? Doesn't Apple do testing anymore? Why would they set the maximum volume so high that it breaks the hardware? This is by far the WORST Apple computer I've ever had. They used to start breaking 5 or 6 years in - now I can't even get through 6 months!

@Joosia, this worked, except, one can simply enter these commands into the Terminal.

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext

sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext

When sudo prompts for a password, enter your Mac logon password

Anyway, those commands solved my problem. It would appear there's some issue with the AppleHDA kernel extension.

I was in the middle of playing something on amazon instant video with headphones, closed the laptop and... no sound when it woke up.

Thats true! I just found it more convenient having the AppleScript on dock so i can just run it whenever I need. :)

After updating to 10.9.3 it seems that the issue is gone but can't be sure yet since it occurs randomly.

Does anyone else have the problem on OS X 10.9.3?

It's been about 3 weeks and no recurrance of the audio problem since the replacement of the logic board and the audio cable.

Ah, yes, right 🙂

Just as a data point, I am on 10.9.2 and will upgrade shortly.

Note there is a difference between sleeping just the display (with services running in background) and sleeping the entire host:

http://www.amsys.co.uk/2014/blog/instantly-lock-os-x-screen-mavericks-10-9/

When I use the correct key combo to just sleep the display, the sound remains intact (using VLC at least).

I ran into this problem with my 13 inch early 2014 MacBook Air. I went into the sound system preferences and found a fix:

1. Go to System Preferences > Sound
2. Select Output (middle of the three tabs in Sound)
3. Highlight Internal Speakers and go to Balance towards the middle of the box and slide the slider

You should hear the sound again, and I validated through both the volume up/down keys and by playing songs in iTunes that the sound has returned.

Just dumb luck I suppose, but that resolved the problem for me.

Cheers,

Scott

This solved the problem for me, many thanks!