2018 Macbook Pro 15`Inch Crackling Speakers

Hi , I know this has been posted already but i wanted to make another post because i feel like Apple needs to address this issue. For awhile i thought it was just me , well i was made too believe it was just me from Apple techs. I recently spent ALOT of money on the new 2018 MacBook Pro. I am DJ/Producer full-time and i use my laptop to prep sets and organise music. I use Rekordbox software and that is it! about 3 weeks ago i noticed while listening to music in itunes that my speakers just randomly started crackling and making a static sound. This doesnt occur all the time but happens normally about after working on the mac for 20-30 minutes. I went into apple to ask questions and i was told that it was either third party app or a dodgy time machine back up. I walked away still confused and decided to believe the guy. A week later and i was still having the same issues after updating all relevant updates/software. I went back into apple and spoke to them and pleaded that i had no clue what was going on. The were very helpful and gave me a new MacBook pro and took my old one. I decided to start this one from scratch without installing a time machine back up and after 2 days it started randomly crackling again so i put my time machine back back on and went into the apple shop again. Between visits i researched to see if ANYBODY else was having this same problem and turns out their are infact many many other people having the same issue. After resetting SMC settings and following online apple support trouble shooting tips that did not work i went back into APPLE and spoke to them and they told me there was nothing i could do until apple addressed the issue. So here i am with a $4000+ MacBook pro , faulty speakers and no clue what to do. I have always been an Apple fan but im starting to really not like them and for a premium product i would expect a premium response to an issue that is effecting me and many other people. if anybody else is having this issue , please let me know and let me know what steps you have taken to rectify this if you have. Im stuck , super lost and super confused on what i am supposed to be doing.

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Aug 17, 2018 12:31 AM

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Posted on Jan 9, 2019 9:23 PM

I've gone through the Security Update 2018-002 'receipts' from the install. It had a ton of bridgeOS files in the update so my money's on this one introducing the issue... If you have automatic updates from the app store turned on than it would have installed itself sometime around the last day of October or first few days of November... (If you got your machine before then... If you bought it after I'd guess there's a good chance it came pre-installed.)


If you want to verify if it's installed on your machine use the "Go to folder" option in Finder's "Go" menu.


Paste in: /var/log then look for the file install.log


Copy and paste the file to your desktop then open it with text edit. Use the search function in Text Edit, (CMD+F)

and paste Security Update 2018-002. 


If you don't have automatic updates on than you might see it more than once. Look for the line that says starting download of ... Security Update 2018-002.


So far the consensus on MacRumors and most forums is bridgeOS is the culprit. (This also explains why I can roll back and no longer have the issue...)


If you have a backup prior to the update being installed you might try adding a new partition or APFS container and restoring to that volume, then setting it as the startup drive and stress testing it... (Do not wipe your current volume. Seems a number of people have had issues removing their original volume then trying to clean install their OS...)


Anyway, would be curious if anyone else finds this works for them...

72 replies

Aug 26, 2018 10:29 AM in response to Coconut_diary

Can I ask.

Does anybody here that is experiencing this issue use the software Pioneer Rekordbox ?


I have found out that if I open rekordbox and leave it for 20/30 minutes without using it and then come back the laptop starts to crackle. That is one way I am able to recreate the issue.


The software is up to date as well. But I’ve also had this occur without rekordbox being open.

Aug 27, 2018 5:08 AM in response to MikedeWet

many colleagues of mine also have this cracking problem with their 2018 models, so far it seems the cracking sound can be solved by rebooting the system. this problem is believed to be so widespread, no patch or any sort of solution has been made by apple is totally unacceptable. it just feels ridiculous every time I'm forced to reboot the system while knowing I've paid 3k for that .

Aug 29, 2018 9:44 AM in response to MikedeWet

I'm copying this from another forum site and another poster. Please post feedback on whether this patch has solved the issue. Maybe I'll put in an order for a new Macbook Pro after all!


I had the same trouble too, cracking speakers, with my first replacement. Apple yesterday released an update 2 software for 10.13.6. I am testing the story with the new update. I open Pro Logic X, then I listen to iTunes, I change frequencies in the MIDI. EVERYTHING seems NORMAL now. I am testing this for the first day, I will continue listening while I write.

Perhaps Apple solved the problem with this new update. Cross fingers!

Luis in Madrid.

Aug 30, 2018 11:02 AM in response to stanleyfromwest dundee

Hey everyone!


So today i picked my 2nd replacement laptop as i really took it to Apple. I was in touch with senior advisors and basically today when i went into my local apple shop i was treated really well and they gave me my new laptop and even gave me a $250 refund to apologise for everything. I took it upon myself today to start my new laptop from scratch and right now i have not heard any crackling. I am slowly but surely adding all the applications i need and sorting everything out but touching wood cause i havent heard anything yet.


If anybody wanted my advice i would strongly recommend you keep super calm and collective and express your "un satisfying taste" towards your new laptop and just see what apple says. as i said before , not sure if this is the final fix yet but im hoping to **** it is cause this has been going on since the first release of the 2018 mac book pros.


Hope this helps <3

Oct 8, 2018 7:07 AM in response to MikedeWet

All those who have this issue have you'll got/ received any update or has the issue been fixed ?

I have contacted Apple and apparently they are still working on the solution !

Frankly this is one problem too many and they should have issued a public notice like the "Battery Issue"

I "CANCELLED" my MacBook Pro 13" Pre-Order when I heard of this !

I need a Macbook but not a defective one !

Oct 8, 2018 7:46 AM in response to MikedeWet

I have also spoken to Apple U.S. via "Chat" support.

I have also spoken with Apple Support via call in India.

The former has acknowledged that there is an issue and provided me with a temporary fix but the latter has absolutely no idea about the issue to which my response was "You'll should be aware of it"

Anyhow I was eagerly planning to purchase a MacBook Pro 2018 13" 512GB S.S.D. but now I have decided not to do so and have even cancelled my prebooked order for it !

The representative for Apple U.S. via chat indicated to me that the engineering team is working day and night but frankly it's too slow ! And I feel Apple should publicly acknowledge the issue !

They should also "FIX AND OVERHAUL" their Quality Control program !

TO THE OTHERS IN THE FORUM !

Earlier in the year multiple users of iPhone X experienced iPhone X Crackling or Distortion which I also had experienced and I reported it in Dec 2017 and the process of getting a replacement was repeatedly denied as they said my iPhone X passed diagnostics ! I then sent e-mails to Tim/Craig/Apple Executive Relations as well as the head of Apple India Operations since I purchased it there. And finally in March I obtained a replacement !

It was a painful process that NO APPLE USER SHOULD ENDURE!


This is a very long message but I felt necessary that everyone knows how Apple Q/C program and the quality of their devices have fallen !


I hope Apple gets their act together to fix this ! Steve Jobs would be very upset about all the issues !

Oct 10, 2018 4:07 AM in response to MikedeWet

Hey MikedeWet


I got my macbookpro 2018 also , same issues , mine had a massive surge static loud energy pop / speakers damage .

still get the double skipping , crackling and worse . i find it happens after the machine heats up .

I searched online - you can reset the p n r , then you can also try activity moniter and quit the coreaudio driver and reopen it , it temp fixes it , but eventually it kicks back in as soon as the cpu is hot or using many audio / heavy cpu use

eg , you tube , fb , logic pro , final cut etc . all at once it just cant handle it , i believe the audio driver / or hardware

sound card is a real problem or its a heating issue as the fans do not cool the computer down , apple i see have firmwares to update the general crackling driver problem , but i also think some are linked to heat and power issues

as well as firmware .. anyways i took my macbook in to technician and they area fully replacing mine so - hopefully on the new one it wont have this issue , but it may have the firm ware problem till it is realieasted i will keep u posted

take her in before u get the power surge and your speakers blow out .


It could also be something to do with radio interference due to a lack of shielding of the audio drivers, and the T2 chip. as the casing was removed on the new macbook pro's i believe it could also maybe be this - as interferance can cause radio signals to sound like that static and if its a loud frequence siginal it can suddenly destroy the speakers , needing to be replaces or repaired , in my case my computers custom built so apple is replacing it .

Oct 12, 2018 10:18 AM in response to MikedeWet

I've had similar issues as well and it was fixed in Mac OS Mojave but, recently I have been hearing crackling noises again except this time I thought it was from inside the casing and figured it was from the cpu but after plenty of thorough tests using cinebench and Geekbench software I pinpointed the problem to be that whenever something cpu intensive is being done the fans kick on and when the fans kick on they create crackling noice from through the speakers. I have the 2018 MacBook Pro intel i9 32gb ram version.

Oct 12, 2018 12:50 PM in response to Techprince

Thank you for that Techprince !

A few people have reported the issue to Apple, but a few is never enough! The more that people report issues the better !

Using the feedback option (The link I sent is a goo way of letting Apple know) but you can go a step further and contact Apple Support and keep asking them about the issue until someone acknowledges it !

Not everyone in Apple Support knows about it which is crazy to say the least !

But as I said Report and Apple will see it !

Nov 11, 2018 1:29 PM in response to MikedeWet

Hi there. I just bought 4 days ago, my MacBook Pro 2018 Touch Bar 15 inch, i7, 8th gen. First time with Apple. I'm in London.

Learning my way with the system and all related, I haven't yet installed any software.

I DO Have a crackling sound as well in the speakers. I recorded it for evidence with my phone.

I have to mention that I followed just the standard setup, and even done all the updates available in my AppStore.

First time, yesterday (3rd day having the laptop) just finding my way and playing around in Garage Band, it started the crackling sound. I thought, what a ... might be something I did with the sound while messing around with the instruments in the track. Ok; left it like that and closed down GarageBand not paying to much attention, as after that I went on music and Youtube to check if really is a speakers issue or not. For the moment not hearing an issue noise anymore, I carried on with my learning around.

Next day (today), I played some music from my external hard drive via iTunes and I am not sure how long after the first song, must have been at least 1 hour for sure, I had the crackling sounds, regular at every about 10 seconds or so, had recorded them on my phone.

Turned off the music, had a lunch break while I was thinking of what will I intend to do next: went on the forums, and for my surprise to find out many, many other users and many forums that complain with the same issue. A small relief, that is not my machine only.

I truly believe that is a software issue, or some incompatibility of settings between the components. Just my first opinion.

While I was looking on the net for this, I played some more songs, with no further issues. Indeed was not over 1 hour though, ....will keep on testing next day.

I will write or contact by phone Apple support as well.

I will try to look into how to change the audio sampling from 44 to 48Khz as others were suggesting (how do you do that??)

Further more, I will NOT update to Mojave until more of the users with the same issue, will confirm 100% that this solved their issue definitely.

I will not give it back for exchange because that will not solve the issue, (I have experience from previous situation with some other big brand product) that you are giving back something, and get a second one with the same or an extra issue. ...more, I have learned that even the big brands, they are not giving you for exchange on warranty a brand new machine, but a revised, refurbished one that was returned, they "fixed it", cleaned, repacked and here you go..

...no thanks.

Not having any other issue, I will wait a bit patiently for Apple's solution....and if others will confirm that Mojave solved their speakers crackling issue, than I'll go for the Mojave.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

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2018 Macbook Pro 15`Inch Crackling Speakers

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