Is it true about some MacBook pro speakers being cosmetic and not drilled the whole way through?

[IndiaHawker]

I've just been reading an article from November 2016 about this - am I allowed to link to article on here or not? It's saying how the sound actually comes out of the side vents and the holes in the 'speakers' aren't even for airflow as they don't pass the whole way through. Unsure if this is true or not at all, or on my model - MacBook Pro 2017 with touchbar? Asking partly out of interest and partly because if I got a skin to protect the keyboard surround it'd be cool to be able to cover the speaker area without risking any damage or muffled sound.

Anyway let me know if I can link the article or not and if anyone knows more about this I'm really interested! Please and thanks

 

[fousfous]

It's for the 13" with touch bar!

 

[mikethebigo]

I've just been reading an article from November 2016 about this - am I allowed to link to article on here or not? It's saying how the sound actually comes out of the side vents and the holes in the 'speakers' aren't even for airflow as they don't pass the whole way through. Unsure if this is true or not at all, or on my model - MacBook Pro 2017 with touchbar? Asking partly out of interest and partly because if I got a skin to protect the keyboard surround it'd be cool to be able to cover the speaker area without risking any damage or muffled sound.

Anyway let me know if I can link the article or not and if anyone knows more about this I'm really interested! Please and thanks

It's not entirely that simple. A large part of the holes are cosmetic to make it look symmetric and consistent design wise with the larger MBP, but there are some areas where the holes are letting sound through. The sound does not exclusively come out of the side vents. It would just be ugly to only have the holes where the speakers actually are and nowhere else.

So it's a combo of function and design/looks.

 

[IndiaHawker]

Interesting, thank you! If there was anything self-adhesive over the holes that are functional, could the glue seep down into the device? Cheers

 

[chabig]

Computer discussion aside, you’re asking whether something liquid placed over a hole can seep down into the hole. I think the answer is obvious.

 

[Falhófnir]

To give you an idea:
See 'step 12' here (15"):
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Touch+Bar+Teardown/73395

'step 13' here (13"):
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Touch+Bar+Teardown/73480#s148011