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

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!

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 ran into this issue on my 2016 MBP 15" with touch bar.

I reset NVRAM and SMC and this fixed the issue today. I'm hoping it stays fixed... I'll attempt to put an update on my post here after a few months to say whether it was a permanent fix for me or not.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Hello everyone from Russia! A year ago, I bought a macbook pro 15 with a touchbar. And today, as with many people, a small crackling sound was heard in the left column when the power was connected. Then everything is like everyone else. Some software solutions partially solve the problem, but in general, everything becomes backwards. But I want to say that here in Russia where there is no democracy and freedom of speech, we will not be able to influence APPLE. Therefore, I ask you my American colleagues to get them to make a return program! I work with video and when I come to clients I have to show video with sound, do I have to carry speakers with me? How do you imagine this Tim?

I am also having this problem with the Macbook Pro 2017 15". I tried changing the midi format hz but it's only a temporary fix. I am amazed how many people out here are having this problem. It this falling on deaf ears? I don't know how I can keep justifying spending this kind of money on these machines and having problems that aren't addressed. Apple, what can we do about 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

Guys, just to reply this issue. Unfortunately this issue is only fixed by replacing the entire MacBook Pro body (the case itself, not its inner electronic components). It appears that Apple does not consider this is issue as an issue that is supposed to make this replacement for free with the Mac having its warranty expired, but what happened to me is that I sent my Mac to check this issue, but the guys from the official Apple store told me that my battery was kind of stewed, and this was enough for Apple to replace my case for free which fixed the problem.

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 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?