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Maybe a short story about my MBP:
I can definitely confirm that this sound issues do still exist, under MacOSX and under Windows (XP professional on my MBP).

What is eben worse: My right headphone channel seems to be "damaged" because every sound coming from this channel is strangly disorted, sounds metallic and just not normal!
The left channel is ok, however, there are still hissing and popping sounds on BOTH channels..

Unfortunately, this is my 3rd MBP replacement (all the others were damaged, I got a damaged display, a MBP with a broken magsafe adapter - not charging at all, etc.) and now Apple does not want to change another time :(

I really dont know that to do...
 
I can also confirm that the issue persists in Windows XP. The sound is always active there,however, so there is no initial and final pop. The static and the random R2D2 sound effects are still present.
 
The clicking and popping will be hardware related; no software update or OS will alter the issues people are describing, it sounds very much like a hardware issue.

It hopefully will be resolved in the upcoming redesign, otherwise I would be quite disappointed that their product still does not universally exude the quality and professionalism that it is so commonly synonymous with.
 
It hopefully will be resolved in the upcoming redesign
Well for those of us who just bought one, we sort of wanted a fix. Like the macbook discoloration issue, where Apple acknowledged it, stocked the parts and fixed it for free in-house. Once they get the problem isolated, if it's just a wire insulation issue, that should be no problem for them to fix within an hour.
 
Agreed, but this will probably be a logic board issue and I doubt very much Apple will touch the Santa Rosa Platform now, they'll revise it with Montevina hopefully.

Whether it can be fixed with a few wires is dubious, though it may indeed be something as simple as that, I'm not overly sure if I'm honest. I imagine however it's down to the Logic Board design. I'm buying one in a few weeks regardless, and I won't be using it's on-board sound card, but it would annoy me to buy a product, as you have done, under the impression the premium you paid would pay dividends in it's design, and find that this is not the case.
 
well that's me not buying a Mac laptop then ....was going to get one for audio use but not now !!!!!!!!!
I'm gutted tbh ... was sooo looking forward to getting a new machine too




I really dont know that to do...

if you are in the UK go see or call trading standards , job done ......failing that did you pay with credit card ... most credit card companys will cover you for shoddy goods.
 
If by 'Audio use' you mean make/produce music, you shouldn't be using the on-board sound card anyway :p
 
If by 'Audio use' you mean make/produce music, you shouldn't be using the on-board sound card anyway :p


well duh !! that's not the point though , is it :rolleyes: but tbh ... why ~should be ok really for the price !


what about a quick listen through the headphones?? .... no good for that then these macbooks eh
:(
 
Even if the issues to do with popping and clicking didn't exist, you would not produce music on an internal sound card, especially one in a laptop, as all the electrical components are far too close and cause a lot of interference. The SNR on an internal sound card will be about -60dB to about -80dB, which is terrible, whereas an external sound card will have between -100dB to -120dB for a good one, which is a lot better. The less background electrical noise you're forced to record, the better your recording will sound. :)
 
Even if the issues to do with popping and clicking didn't exist, you would not produce music on an internal sound card, especially one in a laptop, as all the electrical components are far too close and cause a lot of interference. The SNR on an internal sound card will be about -60dB to about -80dB, which is terrible, whereas an external sound card will have between -100dB to -120dB for a good one, which is a lot better. The less background electrical noise you're forced to record, the better your recording will sound. :)

obviously but .....

like I said ...why should we have to go buy external cards etc ?? it should be sorted from day one , for the price we pay for machines no ?
 
I decided to try ShhMBP, despite the warnings. I made a backup and ran the installer. After the install I can barely hear the beep/robot noises.

ShhMBP makes this $2k notebook tolerable for every day use. Phew.
 
why should we have to go buy external cards etc ?? it should be sorted from day one , for the price we pay for machines no ?


I have used my MBP headphone socket only once. I wouldn't listen to that sound card again any more than I'd listen to music on the MBP's inbuilt speakers. I'm not sure why anyone interested in music would do so, with so many USB interfaces available. Even the little $39 USB-connected iMic (which provides a normal headphone mini-jack to plug into) gives better sound. Spend $100 or more on a USB interface and you can get fantastic sound that far surpasses anything you'll hear via the inbuilt sound card.
 
I have used my MBP headphone socket only once. I wouldn't listen to that sound card again any more than I'd listen to music on the MBP's inbuilt speakers. I'm not sure why anyone interested in music would do so, with so many USB interfaces available. Even the little $39 USB-connected iMic (which provides a normal headphone mini-jack to plug into) gives better sound. Spend $100 or more on a USB interface and you can get fantastic sound that far surpasses anything you'll hear via the inbuilt sound card.

That's missing the point.

Traditionally the sound on Apple hardware has been acceptable for use on trains etc etc. This allows the travelling musician the ability to work roughly on tracks/ideas when mobile.

Many of the people in this thread have external audio interfaces (myself included) but I wouldn't want to whip that out on a train.

These laptops are high end laptops they should at least be fit for purpose. After all my black macbook does batter than my MBP.
 
Is this an issue when just listening to music or watching a DVD?
It's an issue whenever the speakers are "awake." It's best noticed when adjusting the volume and you have the volume adjust sounds enabled. But it is heard while listening to music. I thought I had bought a bad CD at first, but then i paused the song and the sounds continued. "Beep bloop, beep, beep"
 
Bah, my penryn 2.4 also have this issue when running Windows XP. OSX is fine tho :confused: I have tried several times re-installing Windows and the popping sounds just keep coming back. Wished I've found this thread earlier LOL
 
That's missing the point.

Traditionally the sound on Apple hardware has been acceptable for use on trains etc etc. This allows the travelling musician the ability to work roughly on tracks/ideas when mobile.

Many of the people in this thread have external audio interfaces (myself included) but I wouldn't want to whip that out on a train.

These laptops are high end laptops they should at least be fit for purpose. After all my black macbook does batter than my MBP.

at last someone gets my point ... thank you :)
 
I can't comment on how common this issue is... but it's definitely not universal.

I use a few different sets of headphones reglarly, ranging from the cheap ones that you get with an ipod to Shure E3's as well as running audio to a stereo when watching movies. I've never experiences anything thats being discussed here and I'm definitely the anal type who might notice a problem even if there wasn't one.

I'd be demanding a replacement asap.

15" SR MBP/ 2.4/ 4GB/ 160HD

I use the Shure E3's as well. My Penryn is only a few days old and I have heard no noises. I am blessed (or cursed!) with extremely sensitive hearing so I was quite concerned about this issue but took the plunge and purchased anyway. I guess I should be thankful but if the problem does surface I'll post about it. Honestly, my machine seems boringly perfect.
 
My MBP has the humming issues but for some strange reason they disappear immediately as soon as I touch the palmrest. Must be some sort of shielding issue, imo. Otherwise I think my MBP is one of the good ones; perfect screen and no case issues.
 
Me too - Hissing Sound - Brand New MBP 2.5 GHZ

Man I cannot believe that this issue is so prevalent. My hissing and popping sound is extremely noticeable and extremely annoying.

How do we get Apple to address this issue?

Murph
 
Don't know if this has been posted yet, but everyone needs to send in a bug report on the macbook pro. Here is the link: MacBook Pro Feedback There is strength in numbers, so if you have this "R2D2 syndrome" PLEASE submit a report. You don't have to be mean, but just let them know that there is a serious problem.
 
Yep, my Penryn 2.5 does it too. I only notice it with low impedance headphones though. For all of my serious audio work I use RME, MOTU and Echo instead.

FWIW, I have never had a good experience with any built-in sound on any computer. Whether they were Creative Labs, Realtek, or some other cheap garbage, the sound quality and drivers were lousy. Until consumers demand better quality en masse, we will continue to be limited to this.
 
I have been following this issue for a while and it seems to be a well known issue....I just hate how Apple boasts "great sound quality" on the MacBookPro site....although they only show the speakers.
 
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