How to Fix Cracking and Popping Sound ?

I'm having the same issue, random popping and crackling sounds when the memory is on high pressure, on a MBP 14-inch 2021. Absolutely egregious this hasn't been addressed by Apple having affected so many people. I hope for a future recall, a class-action suit, or something!

The fix for my noise problem! I'm on an M1 Mac Mini, Venture 13.2.1 with JBL 305P studio monitors (killer monitors BTW) connected via a UA Volt 176 interface / DAC. I had a faint but constant and annoying electronic/buzzy/pulsing sound in the left channel. I tried swopping speakers and it was still in the left so it isn't a speaker issue. I tried a few of the suggestions given here like quitting all apps, etc to no avail. Then I plugged headphones straight in to the Mini and there is no noise. Hmmm. So it's not the speaker but it's also likely not the computer sound as the noise isn't there in the headphones on either channel. Then it hits me. My Orbi wifi extender is standing about 18 inches away from the back of the left channel JBL. I unplug the Orbi and problem instantly gone! So relieved. I know this probably isn't the issue with most of you all but I hope this helps someone else. Depending on your situation, consider outside sources for potential noise generation.

Noise is gone with "Apple USB-C to headphone adapter". And is worse with Magsafe + headphone jack.

Same issue recently on a MacBook Pro (14inch, 2021), had another mbp since 2015 and it never cracked...

It happens with Spotify so I thought it was the app's problem at first, but apparently it probably wasn't. Here is a post from the community:

Crackling/Clipping Noise on Macbook [https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Mac/Crackling-Clipping-Noise-on-Macbook/td-p/5016088/page/4]

I didn't try every possible solution they mentioned since it seems in the end always failed, but when someone suggested it could be effected by memory pressure, it reminds me I used to have the memory cleanser with me (though I never know if it's helpful). So I turned it on and it seems reduce the frequency of cracking in a certain extent, but no not fixed, just to a bearable level (for now)

Adding my voice as well on my "old" macbook pro 15 late 2013 running now on big sur 11.7.7 Sound always played well until the latest os updates. there's no way to have the sound I had few weeks ago. I am sure it's a sw/driver problem because pluggin in some headphones via wire the play fine. I don't think speaker broke down because I use music at low volume but never the less even at low volume the noise is there all the time.

Venture 14.4 on MacMini M1 2020

I've had this for more than a year.

It first appeared while I was using Zoom. Since then I've kept removing the coreaudiod files, which worked for a hour or two.

I think Boom may be a culprit and just used the Boom Uninstaller, but it came back.

It happens regardless of which browser and I virtually never use Safari.

I think it is a memory pressure (?) issue, as I think the memory is always running high when the problem comes.

I'll try reinstalling the system and see what that does.

If anyone is finding this, the issue is related to memory usage being too high. As soon as your memory is in the orange on activity monitor then the sound cracks and as soon as you close applications to lower the memory the sound will come back and stop cracking.

Hope this helps.

They're never gonna fix this are they... I mean it has been over 3 years since I first experienced this issue and I'm on my second laptop and it's still happening.

Macbook Pro 2015. Everything has worked fine. Updated from 11.7.4 to 11.7.8 (yes I know I'm running older OS because it is al older computer) and the crackling problem now happens to me too.

First it was right speaker. Panning to left allowed me to work around it for web calls yesterday. Now it is both speakers.

Crackling is there even at very low volumes, so I don't think this is a blown speaker issue. If it is, it is very strange that both speaker **** out 1 day apart from each other.

• Reset SMC, PRAM. No difference.
• Killed coreaudiod, no difference.
• Restarted, no difference.
• Ran hardware diagnostics, all clear.

Cranked up the volume and reboot. Crackle is present on startup chime, so I am guessing this is an audio firmware issue rather than a coreaudio driver level issue.

So now I am trying to research exactly what firmware updates were applied between 11.7.4 and 11.7.8 and whether it is possible to downgrade the audio firmware if an update was applied.

Pretty sure clean installing to Mojave/Catalina or earlier Big Sur will not downgrade the firmware but I may try that too eventually. What a waste of time this expensive hardware is.

Super annoying as the laptop is useless for anything that requires audio now because of applying an update. THIS is why I tend to avoid apple OS updates as long as possible, security be damned. Too much waste of time to learn UI changes and have things broken preventing me from getting work done.

I know Apple is not too concerned with supporting older hardware, but I'm unlikely to continue buying their hardware with infuriating issues like this that apparently have been going on for a long time without resolution across a range of laptop models.

Apparently some good news after a few years in the making: some people are reporting this is finally fixed in macOS Sonoma. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/audio-stutters-with-usb-dacs-on-macbook-m1-pro.42001/page-15#post-1652819

@mnovaes Thanks for sharing this! Looks promising, I am crossing my fingers and knocking on wood that our ears can be at peace once this update rolls out :)

Hello, I have been tested MacOS Sonoma Public Beta in my MBP 14 M1 Pro (3 days). And I didn't hear any crackling or ******* on my speakers, although before the update I got them 100% once every 15-30 minutes. When I press memory to yellow zone I din't get any cracking again. I'm hoping this is the fix and when I upgrade to public I'll never hear this again. @mnovaes thank you for link, it's work <3

Cautiously optimistic...I've been running Sonoma for a couple of days, with the usual memory pressure, and haven't heard it cutting out yet.

Well I just updated to Sonoma on my MBP M1 Max and I still have the audio glitch with my RME UFX III via usb while listening to music through Apple Music. I’ll get the audio garble glitch randomly where playback kind of stutters and distorts. I reinstalled my UA Apollo x6 which connects via thunderbolt and no issues using it instead.

it is hard to believe that Apple does not accept the bug in their firmware or Hardware issue. I am facing this issue with my Macbook 2022 14-inch laptop from May 2022. I have been to the Apple store 3 times and they say it will be fixed in the next software upgrade but it hasn't. They do not take it for repair because they say it is a software issue, not a hardware issue. I had no option and had to deal with the crackling sound. I stopped watching movies/videos on my laptop just using it for work.