2017 iMac internal microphone very low

[ThrowerGB]

So, I just to be clear: This is a kind of a long and crazy story. But the short version is: the Apple certified Technician (in San Antonio) was 3rd party. And he did say it was his fault. He broke the microphone. But it was covered. So, the next step was to take it to the Apple Store up in Austin. They tried to repair it, but then broke the camera somehow. So they had to repair the whole camera module and the microphone.

When I finally got the unit back, I was still not fully persuaded that the microphone was working correctly. But it was at least working a lot better than after the SSD was installed.

The San Antonio technician was cool about everything, but admitted that these microphones were tricky.

If the tape is two sided, and if it was blocking the mic, after cutting the tape there might be a little bit of it still attached to the component on the other side of of the tape from the mic.
Be careful after cutting the tape:

• There may be hard to see residue where the tape was over the mic and on the other side of where the tape was.
  • maybe use a magnifying glass.
• If you've cut the tape that's over the mic:
  • is the cutout exactly the same size and shape as the original part?
  • is the inside of the cutout on the original part somehow hardened so it reflects sound, whereas a hand cut piece of tape may not be and is absorbing sound waves.

 

[eaunver]

I have the same problem. The microphone hole is so small that any small debris or even a piece of residual glue could block it. I have tried very hard to make it work but have not been successful so far. What a terrible design...

 

[eaunver]

I could only find this part in AliExpress and they ship it from China. I ordered a new microphone/cable (821-01072-A) but they sent the wrong one (for 21.5" iMac). I checked the one for 21.5" iMac. There is a double sided tape over on the frame side with a tiny hole for the microphone. It seems that it needs to be tightly attached to the frame.

 

[Craig2047]

So, I just bought an iMac mid2017, when I purchased it, the main complaint with it was, the microphone was intermittent and most of the time not working! After pulling it apart to update the 128 M.2 Flash card to a 1TB Samsung 970 Evo and to put a 2TB SSD Sata in it. I can confirm definitely that the microphone is a couple of inches to the right of the apple logo in the track where the double-sided tape goes to adhere the screen. Mine was full of fluff (the machine that is) and I am hoping that was the problem with the mic. The catch here is not knowing that the microphone has been move and not releasing the tiny little cable and latch and hence destroying it when you remove the screen!!! Also what a poor design, one pin hole for the mic. under the screen and also maybe the two sided tape needs to be cut here when replacing the screen!.. As the mic. kind of worked when you tapped the screen and also if you screamed into it you could see movement in the mic. app !! Anyway I will have more info after I have successfully pulled it right down to get the motherboard out to upgrade the M.2. NVMe.

 

[Craig2047]

So, I just bought an iMac mid2017, when I purchased it, the main complaint with it was, the microphone was intermittent and most of the time not working! After pulling it apart to update the 128 M.2 Flash card to a 1TB Samsung 970 Evo and to put a 2TB SSD Sata in it. I can confirm definitely that the microphone is a couple of inches to the right of the apple logo in the track where the double-sided tape goes to adhere the screen. Mine was full of fluff and I am hoping that was the problem. The catch here is not knowing that the microphone has been move and not releasing the tiny little cable and latch and hence destroying it when you remove the screen!!!

I could only find this part in AliExpress and they ship it from China. I ordered a new microphone/cable (821-01072-A) but they sent the wrong one (for 21.5" iMac). I checked the one for 21.5" iMac. There is a double sided tape over on the frame side with a tiny hole for the microphone. It seems that it needs to be tightly attached to the fr

 

[Craig2047]

So, I just bought an iMac mid2017, when I purchased it, the main complaint with it was, the microphone was intermittent and most of the time not working! After pulling it apart to update the 128 M.2 Flash card to a 1TB Samsung 970 Evo and to put a 2TB SSD Sata in it. I can confirm definitely that the microphone is a couple of inches to the right of the apple logo in the track where the double-sided tape goes to adhere the screen. Mine was full of fluff and I am hoping that was the problem. The catch here is not knowing that the microphone has been move and not releasing the tiny little cable and latch and hence destroying it when you remove the screen!!!

Did you fix your problem? 5 months later ...Microphone Reattachement on 2017 iMac? Search for this in the forum there is an iFixit post from orvn that shows all​