2018 Macbook Pro 15`Inch Crackling Speakers

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.

I have the same issue. But only with headphones, I have 4 different pair that are crackling after a short usage. That youtube video made everything worse, As soon as I clicked on it everything was skipping and crackling and I thought I was going to go deaf. I'm really sad that APPLE has decided to make such beer quality products at champagne prices. I had my MacBook Pro replaced for an overheating issue and I was happy with my new laptop, but this crackklin isn't good for my hearing and where I work, I have to leave headphones in. Anyway, sorry I don't have a fix for you. But I figured you should warn people that that youtube video exacerbates the problem. I don't know if you've experienced this either, but occasionally I won't get full range of audio and volume from the computer and if I restart it, the loudness comes back. Seems like a definite hardware or software issue, So annoying. Good luck everybody!

I have exactly the sam problem. I have a brandnew MacBook Pro 15 (5665.- Euro) and nobody find a solution. Apple just changed my mainboard because they thought that it is maybe the audiocard on the board but nothing changed. The problem occurs after hearing music with iTunes after some while (sometimes half an hour, sometimes several hours). The problem disappears after restarting iTunes but comes back again. Because I work as a DJ too I am very bugged out because I sold my old MacBook Pro 15 fro 2011 and have no idea what to do now. I tried several things (new setup, throwing away midi drivers.....) but nothing seem to work. Help needed!!!!

It means erasing the entire operating system and then installing Mojave. It might be successful with just upgrading to Mojave but in my case, I erased it all and then installed Mojave. How it is all done? That’s something you have to google up and follow instructions. Didn’t have problems since

Hello, I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro 2017 15" with touch bar.

First my SSD died (after one year) and when I they repaired it (new motherboard) my left speaker is making crackling sounds...

I don't want to replace my motherboard again - and it costs a lot of money - almost 1000 Euro!!

I'm still on High Sierra but can tell you what caused the issue for me... Either Security Update 2018-002, Security Update 2018-003, or a combination of both. (I installed them at the same time.)

Before I installed these I had no distortion for 3 months, machine used daily... 15 mins after installing the updates the problem showed up and wouldn''t go away.

I've since gotten around the issue by restoring a clone I made before installing the updates... While I had the issue I had crackling happening daily, since cloning back I haven't had the issue for over a week.

Anyway I suspect that these updates are either installed with Mojave, or installed when you restore using Recovery... If you have auto-update from the app store turned on then you almost certainly do have them installed...

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...

I've been having the same issues when I'm using my computer by itself. (2018 MBP i9, 32gb ram, 1tb hdd) No bluetooth devices or usb plugged in. BUT!

When I'm working from my studio I have it plugged into a external usb audio box and it NEVER HAPPENS.

Link for the box I'm using is below. This isn't a fix for the problem when you're trying to use the laptops speakers but does lead me to believe that if you use a external audio interface you may not experience any issues.

https://www.amazon.com/Peavey-3001370-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B004A4PSEU/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peavey+usb&qid=1547740596&sr=8-1

(2018 MBP i9, 32gb ram, 1tb hdd, High Sierra 10.13.6) The Apollo Twin also shows no issues with external speakers. Just tried it for the last couple hours.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=universal+audio+apollo+twin&crid=12I5WRRNTG6P0&sprefix=universal+audio+apollo%2Caps%2C145&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

I'm now in contact with the apple support. It seems that they have no idea jet. Apple wants to find the reason for this software issue and they told me to do some terminal stuff and I send the system diagnosis to apple today. Let see if something happens.

The last safety update 10.13.6 which I did yesterday don`t changed anything. The sound problems are horrible.

I've already been through this. I spent a month going back and forth with engineering about this. No resolution yet...

Speaking from the experience of wasting a month expecting Apple to do anything, I'd recommend anyone who wants this addressed to call Apple support ASAP, then ask for Customer Relations. Once you get Customer Relations on the phone tell them you want to file a complaint.

They'll ask for your case number. They may ask you to sumarize the issue, why you're filing a complaint, etc. When you're done giving them the summary be sure to tell them you want to submit files to support your case, then send stuff in like video or screen captures you've recorded of the issue happening.

I've been following a ton of these threads, the only thing that's going to get them to look at the issue sooner than later is to file complaints... Logging the issue with support clearly hasn't been working.

No, the apple support has no idea. The only suggestion is to keep my MPB 2018 up to date?1? No solution. My feeling is that they let their customers standing in the rain. Months and months are passing by. The MBP for more than 5500.- Euros is useless

for me.

If you really want to have an impact DON'T BUY APPLE Period... Buying an older machine is still giving their investors, board members, and brand name validation... That's the hard reality of this situation... At this point the only real solution is to bail on Apple all together.

In the short term the best you can do is file a complaint as it at least forces the Customer Relations department to register that something has gone seriously wrong at Apple, to the point where customers are willing to jump ship.

Buying second hand still benefits Apple because the moment you register the machine to your Apple ID it still notifies their database that you're still hooked in to Apple.

Today I found some german articles about that problem which say that the reason is the new T2 Safety Chip.

If you have a MBP 2016 you won't have these problems because only the MBP's 2017 and 2018 have this chip.

I Started a Youtube Channel Documenting Issues Related to this.

The Intention Is To:

• Create public awareness about audio issues related to T2 Macs.

• Create a 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.