Volume triggered Muffled Speakers - 2016 MBP 15” Fault (w/ Video Demonstration)

2017 15" macbook pro with touch bar. Started experiencing this issue about 6 months ago (I have two posts in this thread already about it).

I finally took the laptop into the Apple store for repair, and they replaced the top case assembly, as others have reported, plus the logic board itself. By my understanding, this means they replaced everything on the computer except for the chassis and the display. If I hadn't purchased the extended AppleCare when I bought the laptop, it would not be worth the expense to repair.

I reported to Apple Bug Reporter and Apple answered me:

--

Apple Developer Relations

March 28 2018, 11:09 PM

Engineering has provided the following information regarding this issue: This is likely a hardware issue.

Please visit an Apple Store for servicing the issue.

--

It's very sad to see Apple not worry about its consumers. It's a expensive machine with a chronically problem.

Apple should do the repair without charging for it.

Hello everyone!

I'm here because I had the same problem with my 2017 MB Pro 15" with TouchBar

The computer is almost brand new (bought in September 2018), but some weeks ago it started to do strange things with the left speaker (the volume and the quality were not so high, and after reaching 70/80% the sound from the left was very poor, and distorted/muffled). Since I was still in the first year of warranty I took it to the nearest R-Store.

They repaired it for free because was recognized as a "Repair Program" for this particular Mac.

In particular, they also recognized problems with the keyboard and with the depolarized display (and the display was almost perfect when I brought at the Store). Also the keyboard was fine.

At the end they made me wait almost 3 weeks, because at the Store they hadn't the parts. They replaced me the entire display, the upper case (not just the internal, but the ENTIRE case) including keyboard, new speakers and new battery. So they left me just the original motherboard, including processor, gpu, ram, and ssd (without wiping anything, I just left them the password to test the pc after the repair). I actually feel very lucky that I didn't pay a single Euro for that. I guess, if they replaced this without warranty, I would have paid almost 1k... and at that point it would have been very frustrating to pay for a product that hasn't neither a year of life.

Hope my experience could be good for others with same problem!

I sent mine in for warranty repair and they replaced the main board and both speaker controls(? - Something on each side that connects to the speakers.) The tech wrote that some keys weren't working on my keyboard so they would replace the mainboard. If he hadn't done that, they would have just replaced the speakers. The muffled sound has not returned. I do not believe it is software related. I tried every software fix I could think of. Old OS, New OS, Beta OS, 3rd party apps and controllers, different settings. etc... I think there was a bad batch of hardware that Apple won't acknowledge and error with.

It took two Genius Bar appts at Apple Store for them to figure out what needs to be done to fix the speaker muffled sound issue. The first time, folks at Apple just ran full diagnostics and couldn't find anything wrong although I told him exactly what it was doing. Next appt, I did factory restore on it right before bringing it to Apple store and played one of Apple videos on Youtube and in a few seconds, the sound became muffled. They recognized that and came back with a $450 estimate for entire upper case replacement - a bummer. Like what they did before for retina screen coating peeling issue I had on my old Retina Macbook Pro, I hope Apple will stand behind their products and fix this at no charge! Other than this issue, the Macbook Pro works great but I cannot always use my Airpods for audio.

I've also had this exact problem on my MacBook Pro 15" 2016. The service technician I talked to about it said that he had replaced the "top case assembly" on a few machines and that it had resolved the issue.

I've also had problems with my (internal) keyboard repeating letters when typing, which I also mentioned, and then the same technician told me that Apple has a service program that allows for a free repair (or replacement) within four years after purchase, of the keyboard, which essentially is the full top case assembly.

If my machine should be eligible for a replacement. Which it was.

So now I'm waiting to get my top case replaced for free, and hopefully not only the repeating key issue will be gone, but also the annoying muffled sound. Crossing fingers.

Hi everyone.

I have MacBook Pro 15 inch 2016 - with same issue muffled speakers that trigged by volume control.

Just came back from apple store appointment - the guy went through test of my Mac and confirmed that the issue is speakers it self and will need the whole bottom housing replaced which includes new keyboard, new battery and etc.

Over all he said it’ll cost me £408 just because my Mac is out warranty !!! That’s ridiculous I have paid over £2k just Two years ago and my Mac is in very good condition and by no means this issue is caused by regular use ! I’ve got a 8 year old thinkpad that still works 100 %

Apple needs to address this issue and offer free repair - we spend a lot of money on Apple tech.

Im not happy with a apple lately.

Hey,

I had this exact same problem with a 2017 15" MBP. The repairer ended up replacing the top assembly including keyboard and speakers and its fixed the issue.

Good luck with yours!

I sent my laptop into Apple for repair and it is fixed. They replaced the top case, speakers, and i/o cables.

Went to apple store. They need to take the machine for 3-5 days. I can't do that right now since this is my work machine. BUT - w/apple care+ I can have them ship me a box, and send me my machine when i'm ready with a loaner at work.

The tech agreed that there is some hardware problem. He said because of the redesign of the macbook pro, there will be problems.

Another poster had the logic board replaced, not the top panel. If that is really the root cause, for example the audio chip, then you’re in for 1500 or something.

Show them this thread, clearly this is becoming an issue that points to some design flaw.

Mine (MBP 15", 2016) was recently repaired under warranty (European 2nd year warranty aka "Gewährleistung"). The service protocol states that top case, battery, keyboard, trackpad and speakers were replaced.

I had this problem for over a month or so, came out of nowhere, drove me crazy.

i've tried everything, at the end, with power of deduction

my diagnosis is DISCORD, i do not have any idea or explanation but it seems like

discord causing this problem somehow.

Setting audio subsystem to experimental somehow resolved my problems.

since discord is an electron framework app, i'm going to suggest you to check

any electron based application in use, (discord, slack, etc.)

Same problem with my mid 2017 MBP 15" with touchbar.

At some point the sound from both speakers is muffled.

Temporary fix is to enter 'sudo killall coreaudiod' in Terminal.

I think it is an issue with the audio IC(s). Restarting coreaudiod somehow restarts/re-initializes the ICs, until they crash again by too high volume. You can see those ICs here.