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

I recently incurred the exactly same issue (Macbook 15, late 2016 with touchbar, Mojave 10.14.3). It came after I heard a cracking sound after plugging in power cord couple of days ago. Is there nay real solutions?

I have observed this issue further on my MacbookPro 2018 running Mojave 10.14.3. I've been streaming a movie and listening directly on my MPB speaker. The sound was normal, not muffled. At some point i have triggered one of those system sound you get when you press a key on the keyboard that returns no action. Immediately the sound on the movie i was streaming became muffled, like the speaker could not support both type of sounds. I still think this is not necessarily a hardware issue, but that is just a guess.

Hope someone addresses this issue because i see it spreads on several Macbookpro generations and it becomes increasingly annoying.

Exactly the same problem for me too (2017 15" MacBook Pro). I rarely listen to audio using the laptop speakers but on one of the few occasions I did there was a disturbingly loud pop from the speakers which was concerning but I didn't think too much about. Then the next time I listened to audio through the speakers the sound became muffled for no apparent reason (not listening to anything loud, machine not at top volume) there seem to be various ways to reset this but these are only temporary measures before the sound becomes muffled again.

Another design fault with this machine to add to the list. I've had the keyboard issue, flickering screen, frequent shutdowns and now this.

I have the same problem as you, I have a MacBook Pro 15 "2017.

unfortunately I no longer have a guarantee and today in the apple store they asked me for 450 € to replace the top case, it is absurd that apple does not do something to fix this serious problem for free since many owners of this 2016/2017 model are afflicted by this problem of the speakers

I had my top case replaced under the keyboard program in July. This means entire keyboard, trackpad, battery and speakers get replaced. Seemed to fix it for a few weeks, then one day - bam, same thing again. Play any video or music at above about 50% volume and it starts OK but then cuts to muffled version (seems to be both speakers) after between a few seconds and a minute. Such a repeatebale issue and pages and pages of people here suffering it (as well as numerous similar threads on other forums and on YouTube). What's going on Apple?

I'm having this same exact problem! It happened out of nowhere for the first time. I was watching a video on youtube and suddenly the sound got muffled and I thought it was a problem with the video and it was not.

All the temp solutions here worked (plug the phone and change the sample rate) but as soon as i turn up the volume, the sound get muffled again. In my ignorance, i really don't think it is a hardware problem, and I hope we can have a software (firmware?) fix for this. I'm using a Macbook pro 2017 15" TBar

Same problem, happened again after Apple replaced top of the Macbook pro. Apple needs to address this problem, not just keep replacing the computer.

Has anyone still had issues after the Catalina update?

Seems like it might be fixed, but too early to tell!

The same problem on MacBook Pro 2018 2.9 GHZ 32gb ram bought end of September 2018. The sound muffling occurred at the end of December 2018. Its been like that ever since. The problem seems to be related to both speakers.

A lot of money and then this. As many of you said here servicing it is not really an option since is my work machine ( can't really afford to leave it in the service).

I have 2017 15" MacBook Pro. Same problem, speakers sound super muffled and terrible, after going over a certain volume. It's incredibly annoying, will take it to repair. Also my display lid makes a cracking noise when I open it and sometimes just randomly without even touching the laptop. Disappointed!

I have the same issue. Brand new MBP 13" and the problem started from day 1 on the left speaker. Have gotten the speakers replaced from Apple twice but the issue is still there. Apple says they can't do anything more than this. Help!

I have this same problem on my late-2016 MBP 15" with touch bar.

Just happened 2 days ago and the best part is that my warranty is expired...

I can't believed this, first there was the keyboard issue then now this...

When they told me that Apple was expensive... I didn't listen.

This laptop is not even 3 years old, I expect more when buying an Apple product.

I should have bought the Apple Care plus, stupid me...

I will call Apple tomorrow to see if they can help in any way and will keep you guys posted.

Hi Matt,

Can you tell us whether 2 years on you have managed to fix the issue?

I have exactly the same issue as you (MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2017), but it appeared to start when plugging in the power cable into one of the USB-C ports on the left side. I heard a crackle noise and I always assumed it somehow fried the speaker as it only happens to the left speaker.

I have an appointment for this Friday at the Apple Store, but any update from you would be great.

Thanks!

Hello, was anyone able to have Apple repair the muffled audio/sound issue on Macbook with no warranty?

I just bought a used 2017 MBP15 with a larger SSD because my other 2017 MBP 15 was running out of space and found the one I just bought has this muffed audio issue. I got it for a good price from Craigslist so really want to keep it if Apple would make a courtesy repair - out of warranty.