Does anyone else have a 13” MacBook Pro 2020 Headphone jack popping issue?

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I've had my new 13” MacBook Pro 2020 (base model, 16GB), for about a week and I've loved it so far, however I've realised that there is an issue when listening to audio through headphones. Whenever the audio stops, starts, or is scrubbed through, there is an audible clicking or popping that sounds a bit like when you plug headphones into an audio jack.

I'm not getting the same noise through the speakers as far as I can tell, and when I listen via a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter it is absent on the headphones too. So it seems restricted to the headphone port. Following Apple support advice I've tried different headphones, resetting the NVRAM and SMC, but the problem persists. Is anyone else experiencing this? Is this something that could be fixed in a software update? I really don't want to have to return it, but I only have one day left on the remorse period...

It appears to be a power management issue. If any other audio is playing, even when the volume is at zero, then the popping does not occur. So it appears OSX is turning the audio jack on and off as soon as audio starts and stops, causing the popping. So a quick fix is to have an ambient audio source playing with the volume at zero. I'm personally using Noizio off the App Store as it sits unobtrusively in the menu bar, but I'm pretty sure anything would work. I really hope apple fix this as it has taken the edge off of an otherwise fantastic product...

Apparently there is a similar issue with Realtek HD Audio drivers on Dell PCs too (although there you have to wait 10-20 seconds before the jack will shut off). They recommend replacing the drivers, but obviously it's not quite as easy to replace core audio on a Mac! https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Noteb...hone-before-play-any-sound/m-p/5403287#M71920

 

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It would be great to get a confirmation that other people are/are not experiencing it. I’ve now organised a return, but I’d be happy to cancel it if it is a software issue. Does anyone with the 2016-9 13” have a similar issue?

 

[UBS28]

No issues here. So get it replaced.

 

[uller6]

I just got my 8th generation 2020 machine. I can't replicate the issue with a few different pairs of headphones. No popping or any other audio artifacts. The sound is fantastic through both the speakers and the headphone jack.

 

[tommy1600301]

Hi, I have the same issue on my 2020 13' Macbook Pro as well. (4port, 16gb ram, 512gb). There's a popping sound in my earpiece.

 

[advert2020]

Yeah I ended up getting a replacement and it had the same issue. The Apple tech I spoke to said it is a known issue with this model and all of the ones they had in my two local apple stores did too (I used different headphones each time). I wonder if some people just aren't used to listening carefully to audio/don't realise that the noise shouldn't be there and think it is normal. Once it is playing it is fine, but on play/pause there is a clear pop. Noizio works as a fix but it shouldn't be this way. I ended up getting apple care incase it gets worse...

 

[StraightHit]

Yeah I ended up getting a replacement and it had the same issue. The Apple tech I spoke to said it is a known issue with this model and all of the ones they had in my two local apple stores did too (I used different headphones each time). I wonder if some people just aren't used to listening carefully to audio/don't realise that the noise shouldn't be there and think it is normal. Once it is playing it is fine, but on play/pause there is a clear pop. Noizio works as a fix but it shouldn't be this way. I ended up getting apple care incase it gets worse...

I hear it to mine from monitor speakers plugged into USB ports