Yep. My Studio (now named "Whiny") is an Ultra.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Studio Owners Complain of Irritating High-Pitched Noise
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The same here (bought in Europe), after two days appeared mentioned high pitched annoying sound, and it is really hard to ignore, I have basic version with M1 Max. Is there any chance, that Apple will fix that via some kind of firmware update?
update: I did few tests with Macs Fan Control, changed RPM to 3500 for few seconds, and back to the 1100 RPM, and that annoying sounds disappeared for approx. 4 seconds, then again that sound, errrrrr.
update: I did few tests with Macs Fan Control, changed RPM to 3500 for few seconds, and back to the 1100 RPM, and that annoying sounds disappeared for approx. 4 seconds, then again that sound, errrrrr.
Last edited:
It is a hardware issue, so it is impossible to fix with a software update.
Alas, me too. M1 Max upgraded storage 2TB. Received in early April and unfortunately the ambient noise in my work area until a few weeks ago was enough to cover up the whine but it is there as I discovered recently. I am outside the return window but bought AppleCare+ and this certainly qualifies as a hardware defect so when/if Apple ever acknowledges the issue I expect to be made right, whether it be a new unit or swapping out the entire fan/heatsink apparatus. The stop gap is a third party fan control tool, at around 1250 rpm the whine is just about imperceptible to me.
I am in a simliar situation - sometimes the noise is acceptable with normal fan speeds, other times I reduce it - but reducing the speed also masks the whine less because there is less airflow noise. I was thinking about normal support, as I’m also out of the return period, but your comment about AppleCare+ makes me think that would be a good idea, I can still buy it I think.
The amount of cope people accept just to let that coil whine/PSU/fan whine slip. Hold Apple accountable. It's the same story like with the 2020 iMacs which never got fixed.
This. I will never accept a machine that has the slightest whine. It can hum as any fan will do that, but a whine is simply unacceptable. I wouldn’t accept it on a $300 machine, I will definitely not accept it on a $5000-8000 machine that is meant for studios!
I hear it from my M1 Max Mac Studio (with 1TB SSD, 64 GB RAM upgrades). Started roughly 4 weeks after delivery, and it comes and goes, I think. Seems to be about C7 on the piano, which is 2097 hz. (Will measure it when I have time.) Not acceptable. Can't un-hear it (I'm a musician). Presumably, creative pros are one of Apple's target audiences, so they should care about this. I put a $15 60mm Noctua fan in a 4-bay Thunderbolt drive enclosure, and it's quieter than the Mac Studio.
any update to solve this problem? The noise is not loud but quite noticable.
I tried to use mac fan control to slow down the fan speed. But the whine can not be reduced.
I tried to use mac fan control to slow down the fan speed. But the whine can not be reduced.
This thing is not only ugly on the outside it’s poorly designed internally
So glad I bought a mini instead , that things amazing 😎
So glad I bought a mini instead , that things amazing 😎
Zero problems with my M1 Studio - purchased the day of release at the Apple store. Just as quiet as my M1 mini. 
Second going back next week, won't take back the display though.
I'll tolerate whine when it's coming from a CRT or a 15 year old power supply that I bought second hand (then again my 2012 Mac Pro has no coil whine). Not from a new device manufactured this year. I have had multiple power bricks of the same type which have had whining problems. It's not an issue of some being defective but instead a design flaw in the product. We know Apple is using multiple PSU designs in the Mac Studio. It's likely that the people who hear the whine got one model of power supply while the people who don't got the other model.
I’m not completely convinced it’s the PSU causing the whine, slowing the fans to minimum definitely changes it for me. However it also comes and goes, which might make you think it’s load on the power supply.
I'm going to give it another month of returns piling up for Apple before I call it in on an AppleCare+ service ticket. I'm afraid if I took it in now, the techs at the Apple store would be completely clueless and don't have a silent environment in which to test it, and would claim there's nothing wrong with it. Surely the issue is on Apple's radar at least internally, not publicly yet. They need to investigate, get to the root cause, and disseminate the info out to the repair centers, and that takes time. It would help and light a fire if a popular Apple-centric YouTube channel did a tear down to get to the bottom of it, but I'm not prepared to donate mine for that
Hi. I am on my second unit. Still a whine. Mine is running at 1265rpm and its much quieter then 1325ish rpm. But still, i think its a design flaw. What a shame. I really like the machine. I put it under my desk….the ugly spot where my pc tower lives. Hopefully apple adresses it soon or later
I made a video showing the issue on Mac Studio Max.
what a disgrace of a product. It feels like the first batches of yellow iMacs that Apple never acknowledged.
I guess is our job as consumers to hold them accountable by not stopping to complain. At least thats what i do. Once per month
Where are you complaining and is it getting you anywhere?
I doubt they will fix the fans that we have. Hopefully they change production to fix it for future buyers.
A class action lawsuit might get us all $20 each for our troubles... and attorneys a few million for their "troubles."
Well, it will make them quadruple check maybe next hardware release. Also, i am not sure that its the fans. People found out that they have different versions of the power supply. Well, who knows. I will move mine in an extra compartment and then i will not hear it making the noise. But i will show them that i am not happy. And i will tell my friends an collegues. I know, that 100 units sold more or less are not bothering them,but if we can multiple it, i bet 10000 not sold units will bother them. Not financially.
It would be nice if Apple identified the issue and repaired everything in an Apple Store while we waited. That would be awesome, but I don't see it happening.
Mine is barely audible. Maybe because it's not so loud, or maybe it's from my partial hearing loss (flight paramedic -- jet turbines are pretty loud when you're young/stupid and don't wear hearing protection). I have it mounted underneath my desk currently which reduces the noise even further. I can hear it from a few feet away but again, it's barely noticeable. Just enough to drive me crazy when the AC or air filter fan isn't running.
The only thing that will hold them accountable is their accountants. You need to actually stop buying crap in order for them to stop making crap.