Mac OS X 10.4.10 brings 'popping' sounds
updated 11:10 am EDT, Mon June 25, 2007
OS X update brings popping
Apple's latest system update, which brings Macs running Mac OS X Tiger to version 10.4.10, appears to either uncover or cause a strange 'popping' sound in some of the company's desktop and portable systems. Afflicted users who experience pops at various intervals as well as just prior to sounds playing have flocked to Apple's own support forums seeking answers to the annoying issue, which has thus far affected Intel-based Mac minis as well as Intel-based iMacs and Apple's Intel-based laptops. Several users even report problems with older G5 systems, although these reports are far less frequent.
Experienced forum posters surmise that the popping, which is usually noticeable when affected Macs are connected to external speaker systems, could be caused by sound sleep behavior. One workaround discovered by forum-goers is to leave iTunes running at minimum volume in the background, thus preventing the Mac from putting its audio to sleep.
Ahhhh....
06/25, 11:46am reply
I thought I was going insane. Initially I thought my HD was dying (MacBook), then found if I muted my system, the clicking stopped.
This is a bit annoying, but at least I'm not alone.
growlf
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Yep-same here
06/25, 12:05pm reply
The Mac is indeed putting the sound to sleep. This causes a popping sound on external speakers when the sound turns off and a popping sound when the sound comes on just before the Mac makes legitimate sound through the speakers.
MacDan2004
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2004
sleeping sound chip
06/25, 12:06pm reply
It sounds like it's agressively sleeping the sound chip. This would happen a lot on older Mac laptops. It would pop when it is woken up - i.e. when a sound plays.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
Ahhhh...sleep
06/25, 12:39pm reply
It does seem like a sleep issue, and Apple has all but admitted that already.
Im just glad the dominant issue for this upgrade is something like this, and not a major security goof like we often see on other well-known OSes.
robttwo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2005
Re: ahhh...sleep
06/25, 02:49pm reply
Im just glad the dominant issue for this upgrade is something like this, and not a major security goof like we often see on other well-known OSes.
Like what goods on other well-known OSes?
You mean like OS X.3, where installing that new version killed people's firewire drives? Or the iTunes update that deleted every file on the disk? Yeah, you're right, that's too old. Must be something else.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
At least that's all it is
06/26, 04:22am reply
I just changed my speakers, and was convinced that this was a 'feature' of the new speakers. I'm actually glad to hear that it's just a software issue. This is actually a regression - Macs used to have this problem way back in 10.2 or 10.3 days.
Hope they fix it soon...
Gee4orce
Mac Elite
Joined: Dec 2000
Possible solution ...
06/26, 10:30am reply
My brother had this problem with his intel Mini and it was solved by opening the audio devices pref. pane and selecting the external output. I did not have this problem on my intel mini but I am using the optical out. I would be curious if someone could switch from the analog out to an optical out and see if there was still a problem. My bet is the answer would be no, but it would be interesting to know the answer.
Beansmaster
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
Even in Leopard
11/13, 03:39pm reply
I just bought a white MacBook with Leopard and indeed it has those annoying popping sounds when connected to external speakers.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Leopard clicks
08/17, 07:32pm reply
Same clicking here, and I find it quite annoying. Would it be possible to adjust the delay time before sound goes to sleep state? It's 30-60 seconds now, could be around 10 minutes or something.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999