Popping Sound, MBP 2016

ATTENTION:

Do not make this experiment with your MBP, if yoy don't want recover your system!

In my case I haven't working audio devices when I placed back AppleHDA back to the preferenses folder and I had system recovery for sound return.

Just dropped off my MBP at the Apple Store for the 5th time. They've been in contact with somebody from engineering who now believe it's the keyboard key shims that are responsible for the popping noise. Here is the work confirmation email I received after dropping it off:

Problem Description/Diagnosis

Issue: RTA responded with next course of actionSteps to Reproduce: Verified RTA Response vs. TP1550 in GSXCosmetic Condition: Note upon checkinProposed Resolution: Observe issue and identify which keys are presenting issue. After identifying keys, remove keys and install shim (923-01752) as outlined in TP1550 and replace keycaps (923-00548) as well. Estimated Turn Around Time: We'll call you within 48 hoursMac OS Version: 10.12.xHard Drive Size: NAMemory Size: NAiLife Version: Unknown

Hi John,

I am quite intrigued by your hypothesis. I am an engineer myself and like these kinds of thing. I have no idea about the tonal voice etc.

I read about your test, and I tried to replicate on the Macbook pro-2016 model. So, here it goes.

1. I created an additional partition on my hard drive to test your theory.

2. I downloaded El Captain and during the installation new Macbook Pro 2016 model didn't allow me to install the El Captain and after some searches on the net, I realised I couldn't install the older version of Mac OS (earlier to OS Sierra) on the New MacBook.

2. so, I decided to install another version of OS Sierra on the spare hard drive space and remove the "AppleHDA.kext". So, the audio drive disabled and cant listen to any music or sound from the system, checked.

3. But, popping continues to happen with the Mac Book Pro. I played few 8K videos on the Utube on different windows and the laptop popped few times.

Conclusion:

It might be the case with the older MacBook Pro, but in the new onces, to me, it seems like a mechanical issue with the pop.

Nowdays, when I hear the pop noise. I feel the intense vibration on the body as if a thing moved under tension hit hard some metal surface. Sometimes, it feels like someone hit the laptop from underneath with a metal.

I don't think such a sensation can be felt if the noise is coming from the speaker? To confirm this, I tried playing recorded popping sound from Utube at max volume to check whether I can feel the similar level of intense vibration and that was not the case.

Also, while working, when I lift and place my hands back again on the body while typing it make the popping noise and I feel the vibration. It's a kind of Bizzare feeling.

Hi,

I thought it to be the speakers too as the tone of the pop is sometimes like that of a speaker when you tap it with your finger (a resonance to it). Somebody posted a link to the ifixit teardown, it shows there really isn't many options for the source of the sound. I apologise for posting about my screen knocking when tipped, it is unrelated to the popping issue , so I shouldn't have mentioned it on this thread.

Here is a link for something I found for the popping with sierra on previous gen MacBook pro's, I have not been game to try it on my current model as I am far from proficient with computers.

https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/stop-the-popping-in-sierra.202355/

All the best.

Yup definitely not key related. Got my machine back from Apple yesterday. They replaced every key shim but no luck. I think they're just grasping at straws at this point. Will speak with customer relations again today and request a refund as this was the second repair attempt (first one was a top case replacement) as well as my 5th time leaving my machine with them. It's been "in for repairs" for nearly the same amount of time as I've owned it and I've wasted at least a tank of gas going back and forth. Really disappointed with Apple's policy in regards to issues like this.

I'm super annoyed by this, it happens a lot. But i've had the machine since January. I'm in Canada... do i have any chance for a refund? I'd just buy the newer one and see if it still has the issue... anyone know if the new one just released has this?

The result of escalatiom: no repair, no refund! Apple will not refund me because it was not the second repair. Apple doesn’t want to repair, because they know it is useless. Apple doesn’t want to send me a replacement MacBook, as it was not the second repair.

Apple is not offering a second repair. So they told me I will have to wait some years till they have fixed it. I decided to give up. I will buy a new machine. Yes. Indeed. I am sponsoring Apple 700 EUR more because I am too ill to procede. :(

Hi everyone.

Wanted to share my experience.

I have a MacBook Pro 15, 2016 with touch bar and I had a popping sound. I could find the source of this sound. It was from the display under the logo. I could reproduce it just slightly pushing on that area. I went to Apple Store Rosenstraße in Munich, and they took it for repair. The touch part was the ability to reproduce the issue so that they could see it. It took them 4 days to order a new display and make a replacement.

Hi Dennis,

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I think we all are stuck with this situation with Apple. I am quite suprised, not many people have reported this with the current Mac Book Pro 2016 models? I believe since launch, at least or more than millions of units must have been sold, and only a tiny portions of customers have reported the issue? That's very strange!

So what about the consumer policy in Netherlands? Can you get the refund or replacement through them?

I'm in the same situation in Switzerland. Apple just won't acknowledge this popping sound as a defect. They refuse to repair and also refund - since there was no repair. This is ridiculous. I also sent them a complaint, but they only repeated this same thing.

Any idea how to proceed? I'm out of ideas here... and I don't want to spend any more money there if they get away with **** like this 😟

Apple likes to think that I can not get a refund or replacement. Which is not true. Consumer law protects consumers against these kind of practices. I have just taken legal actions. 30 minutes ago, I have sent an official letter in which I request to dissolve the purchase agreement.

Here is why:

Dutch law states that all consumers have the right to receive a product without malfunctions. Also, Dutch consumers have the right for repair or replacement within a 'reasonable term'. Since Apple is unable to tell us how long it will take until they have addressed the issue, the consumer has absolutely no outlook. This means it is not 'a reasonable timeframe', which means Apple is not following the law. Therefore, I have chosen to dissolve our payment agreement. It is an official way to ask for money back.

Finally after 5 trips to the Apple Store and 2 repair attempts, they've agreed to give me a refund in the form of store credit. The senior customer relations rep that's been helping me throughout this process told me that because this seems to be a "perception issue" (because they couldn't repliacte the sound in-store?) and not a hardware failure, that there was nothing he could do other than try to convince the Apple Store manager to issue me a refund.

Tl;dr: they're giving me a refund because they feel bad about the experience I've had and not because of the issue itself.

If the technicians at your local Apple Store are able to replicate the sound, then you might have an easier time. Just give Apple customer relations a call and see what they can do for you. Good luck everyone.

They can replicate the sound! Even I can! I did so in the Apple Store. They said my issue is valid. But the problem is I bought it online. The store wants to refund, but it should be done by Apple Online. And they do NOT want to do anything!

Conclusion: Always buy in store. Buying online from Apple is a bad idea!

Also to address your comment about buying directly from the Apple Store. The only downside is they carry only certain variants. If I want to stick with the base processor but upgrade to the 4gb graphics card, then my only option is to order online. Otherwise I'd totally just buy in store.

Yes and yes. And the answer stays: NO. Customer Relations says: “No. Wait a million years till we found the issue”

The Store manager says: “I want to help you and refund you. But unfortunately Apple Online is forbidding me to do so. So sorry but it’s better to sue Apple.”