My MacBook Pro 2018 version speakers are crackling.

I have contacted the senior adviser that was handling my case and asked for him to call me as I want a full refund or new replacement laptop. He mentioned to me on the phone previously that if I wanted to go down that route we could look at that as I am not satisfied with the product.

I’ll let you all know what he says but I agree. Everyone should take this to social media cause the solution of “waiting for Mojove” is not good enough.

Have bought new MBP 2018 15" with touch bar.

One week later discovered that I have terrible noise while playing iTunes music, typically after 30-40 minutes of playing.

I've brought MBP to official service center and they didn't find any hardware problems.

Official answer is "in OS 10.13 high sierra there's a lot of software problems which have no hardware roots and probably will be solved with new software releases".

That means - we know that you have troubles, we can do nothing with that.

After recovering from backup still have these issues.

Probably I will return this new laptop to apple.com/ru where I have bought it.

My old MBP-2013 works well at the same software configuration - no problems at all.

Hello

As I have mentioned multiple times, stating once or twice in Apple Support Communities is fine but Apple Support doesn't know about the severity of this issue.

This is to all users not only those in this thread: If you are concerned/ have a Macbook Pro 2018 (experiencing this problem)/ are concerned

PLEASE CONTACT: Official Apple Support and speak with a Senior Advisor, tell them all you can let them know about what the symptoms you are facing and request follow-ups.

Read Further:

I will provide a bit of information indirectly relevant to this situation but which may assist all Apple users as I haven't seen on any forum or 3rd party website provide what I am about to provide.

As an Engineer after speaking with Apple on another issue "iPhone X Speaker Crackling" (Since I had an iPhone X which exhibited the problem) I provided video as well as system logs to them.

I submitted the report December 2017 as soon as I got my device. I took too long frankly to get a concrete response from them but after persistence I finally managed.

So they said that the "Form Factor"/"Design" in the case of the iPhone X was to blame whilst playing certain audio samples.

It is primarily observed in the case of playing certain but not all "Piano" content. This was due to how the audio processing was done.

Those who work on audio management and editing will understand that there is "Sampling" / "Mixing" and the software need to decide how to manage the highs and lows of various frequencies and accordingly push them to the receiver/speaker.

There was no easy way to address this problem according to Apple other than to impede the listening experience of the user forever.

Because this was a "Design" flaw at the engineering stage it would essentially mean that Apple would have to recall all iPhone X's (Not XS) and this would not only be costly but this issue was observed distinctly only by a few people like me because we are audiophiles (An audiophile is a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction)

However this has resulted in Apple fixing the issue in the next Generation iPhone's which are the 2018 iPhone's

iPhone XS | iPhone XS Max | iPhone XR

So my conclusion would be that this is a design flaw and the same symptoms are a stark resemblance to what the MacBook Pro 2018 is experiencing.

Hope this helps Everyone.

eriq666 wrote:

I have the same or similar problem. After about 50-60 minutes of audio playback or usage in iTunes, YouTube, and Logic Pro, etc., the computer starts to make a low distorted tone every 5-8 seconds. This nasty "bonk" tone oscillates a bit, but it sounds absolutely terrible. It sounds like it may be some kind of internal clocking issue, but I have no idea and neither did the guys just now at the APPLE STORE. Putting the computer to sleep or restarting alleviates the problem, but it then returns on schedule. Apple Store suggested reinstalling OS, but I don't see how that will help. In the meantime they are ordering me a replacement computer, but were unable to run diagnostics on the new 2018 machines and are waiting on information and direction from corporate. I hope that corporate is listening and taking measures to fix this issue. I don't see how a replacement machine will fix the issue now that I've finally found a forum where hundreds of other customers are also having the same problem.

Did you ever get this resolved? I'm experiencing the same on iMac Pro also with Logic Pro X, Quicktime, You tube etc.... ongoing support ticket with Apple but no answers or fixes.

takashiyoshida wrote:

Hi csross1,

Thank you for the tip. Strangely enough, when I opened Audio MIDI Setup, my MacBook Pro Speakers and MacBook Pro Microphones already had the same sampling format, at 44,100 Hz. When both were the same, the speaker emits crackling noise on my MacBook Pro after about one hour of music playback (i.e. iTunes or Internet radio played from Safari).

When I connect a pair of earphones, I do not hear any crackling noise from the earphones. Upon checking the Audio MIDI Setup, I also noted that my External Headphones sampling rate was automatically set to 48,000 Hz.

Since I have not heard any crackling noise from my earphones, I tried the following.

1. Disconnect the earphones
2. I restarted my MacBook Pro and verified the sampling format of MacBook Pro Microphones and MacBook Pro Speakers are set to 44,100 Hz in Audio MIDI Setup
3. Play some music from iTunes for about one hour or more
4. After verifying that the speakers emit the crackling noise, I set the MacBook Pro Speakers sampling format to 48,000 Hz
5. Continue playback from iTunes

After more than two hours, I have not heard any crackling noise from my MacBook Pro speakers. For now, I'm still wondering if it is worthwhile for me to take the MacBook Pro for the Apple Authorized Service Provider to have a look.

I will try this, thank you. I see your post was August 13th. Today is November 25th. Did it completely resolve your problem, or did the issue return?

Same here. Spend 4.5k € on a MBP 15'' and have those crackling sounds after about 30/45 minutes of any audio playback. Running 10.13.6 and won't upgrade to Mojave since it's buggy as well.

Got my topcase replaced by a service partner - no remedy. Apple Support employee told me they are aware of the problem and that hardware replacement won't help and that apple's engineering team works on a software fix.

Here's a video of the issue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFi2TkSSf_o&feature=youtu.be

#cracklinggate

I'm having the same issue. Speakers randomly crackle. I've noticed it seems to do it also when two applications are playing sound at the same time. For instance, if I'm playing music and then I get the "ding" from an incoming message, it will crackle.

I talked to Apple Support today about this problem on my new MBP 15". I was running High Sierra and getting this defect every 10-15 seconds in GarageBand. Literally a machine fart. The person at Support offered to replace the machine (no possible way!), then to tell me how to reinstall the OS (she had to be kidding!), and then I asked her if she knew about this bug. I told her everybody's got it, that the bug is already world famous. She hemmed and hawed a little and went to ask someone else. She came back and said that Apple says Mojave fixes it. I was skeptical but installed Mojave, which was totally straightforward and works just fine. I've run GarageBand a few times already, played my music, and so far no gas! So if you have this bug and you're on High Sierra, give Mojave a try if your machine supports it.

I Started a Youtube Channel Documenting Issues Related to this.

The Goal Is To:

• Create public awareness about audio issues.

• Create a public record of T2-related audio glitches.

• Provide a video hub for people to take their issues to Social Media.

If you have a youtube link or want to upload video of your issue and have me add it to the playlist:

Reply to this post and paste a link, or paste a link in the MacRumors thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-2018-speakers-crackling.2128234

Doesn't matter what model as long as its a T2/T1-related audio issue:

• 2018 Macbook Pro

• 2018 Mac Mini

• 2018 Macbook Air

• 2016 Touchbar Macbook Pro

• Imac Pro

Channel Link:

Mac T2 Chip Audio Glitches

Main Playlist:

2018 Touchbar MacBook / T2-Related Audio Glitches


Feel free to blast the channel link or playlist to any relevant forums or social media channels.

(I'm not taking ad revenue on this channel. It's strictly as a public resource intended for Apple to deal with the issue ASAP.)

Thanks for this tip - it seems to have helped with the issue everyone is describing. I had the issue too and so far after setting the higher sampling rate, I've not experienced the issue. Nice one!

Just got my macbook pro 15 core i7 yesterday.

Today I had the same issue, just one time for now and stopped after i restarted iTunes, any update on this?

Hey Andrew, how did you switch from 44,1kHz to 48 kHz ? I don't know to do it. Thank you for your help.

the setting tool located in:

Programs > Tools > MIDI Settings

You should change output setting only there

So you returned your Mac and got a full refund ? My second MacBook pro right now is having the same issues and im considering whether or not i must return it for a new one ?

Ok that is interesting, if it happened before you ever used any other program it makes me think even more it might be hardware related?