Periodic Popping Sound from Left Side of iMac

[Luroshard]

I've uploaded a video of what this particular noise sounds like for reference of anyone wanting to help/curious: https://youtu.be/4d1664fxXeM

I've had this iMac for many years (since 2009), the posts on this forum have been more than useful in these years and it's been a real legendary desktop. I plan to be buried with some part of it in my inevitable death.

This noise started happening yesterday after I unplugged my headphones.

Things I have figured out and is useful information regarding this problem:

1: Restarting the iMac does not fix this problem
1.5: Sleeping and Waking the iMac does not fix this problem
2: The sound is not present while having a pair of headphones plugged in
3: Plugging and unplugging headphones as to reset or fix the issue does not work
4: Cycling through outputs and back to the internal speakers does not fix it
5: The sound is prompted only when there is ANY form of audio being emitted through the speakers. When there is no form of audio being emitted, the sound is silent and ceases to make noise. This is similar to the default sound when you move a file to the trash, if you listen closely, the sound file is played even after the sound is gone, that's kinda how this popping stuff works.
6: The sound emitted from the speakers is much like normal, but the sound seems to change between two qualities HD and Low, low when the sound is silent and HD when the sound is present.
7: The sound is only coming out of the LEFT side, LEFT speaker of the iMac (why is this?)
8: Quitting coreaudio in activity monitor does not fix this problem.
9: Puppy dog eyes to my iMac's camera does not fix this problem.
10: For voice monitoring I run a software called "Loopback" and it's got it's own driver called "InstantOn", this is relatively new, much like the problem.

In the end, if this problem isn't solved I will have to always have headphones plugged into the computer to avoid the noise

Thank you for reading this and thank you for replying (all ifs but its nice to hope!).

 

[pigoo3]

Whenever troubleshooting an issue...the first thing you want to figure out is...is it a hardware or software issue. To do this initial step of troubleshooting...I would boot the computer from an external storage device with a fresh install of the OS on it.

- If the popping sound goes away...then the problem is very likely a software issue.
- If the popping sound remains...then it is very likely a hardware issue.

A quick way of testing could also be tried...which is booting into "Safe Mode". But booting from a different device with a fresh install of the OS I think is more difinitive.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

* Nick

 

[ferrarr]

If the problem and a new install happened "close enough" I would have to confirm by uninstalling software.

 

[cbrandy]

Clicking sound

I've uploaded a video of what this particular noise sounds like for reference of anyone wanting to help/curious: https://youtu.be/4d1664fxXeM

I've had this iMac for many years (since 2009), the posts on this forum have been more than useful in these years and it's been a real legendary desktop. I plan to be buried with some part of it in my inevitable death.

This noise started happening yesterday after I unplugged my headphones.

Things I have figured out and is useful information regarding this problem:

1: Restarting the iMac does not fix this problem
1.5: Sleeping and Waking the iMac does not fix this problem
2: The sound is not present while having a pair of headphones plugged in
3: Plugging and unplugging headphones as to reset or fix the issue does not work
4: Cycling through outputs and back to the internal speakers does not fix it
5: The sound is prompted only when there is ANY form of audio being emitted through the speakers. When there is no form of audio being emitted, the sound is silent and ceases to make noise. This is similar to the default sound when you move a file to the trash, if you listen closely, the sound file is played even after the sound is gone, that's kinda how this popping stuff works.
6: The sound emitted from the speakers is much like normal, but the sound seems to change between two qualities HD and Low, low when the sound is silent and HD when the sound is present.
7: The sound is only coming out of the LEFT side, LEFT speaker of the iMac (why is this?)
8: Quitting coreaudio in activity monitor does not fix this problem.
9: Puppy dog eyes to my iMac's camera does not fix this problem.
10: For voice monitoring I run a software called "Loopback" and it's got it's own driver called "InstantOn", this is relatively new, much like the problem.

In the end, if this problem isn't solved I will have to always have headphones plugged into the computer to avoid the noise

Thank you for reading this and thank you for replying (all ifs but its nice to hope!).

Greetings!

Were you able to solve this mistery? I own an early 2009 iMac and have exactly the same issue. Sound is fine on the output jack to hadphones or amplifier, bu as soon as I play a sound thru the speaker it starts clicking for about 15 seconds, when it stops.

Thanks in advance for any directions!

Regards,
Claudio

 

[chscag]

Your 2009 iMac should have two speakers located left and right under the display. Is the clicking sound coming from both speakers? Try using the balance control from "output" to determine if it's both speakers or just one.

 

[cbrandy]

Your 2009 iMac should have two speakers located left and right under the display. Is the clicking sound coming from both speakers? Try using the balance control from "output" to determine if it's both speakers or just one.

Thanks for your reply, Chscag!

I would say I hear it coming from the right, but as I move the balance slider as suggested, nothing changes; I must assume it happens in both channels.

Regards,
Claudio

 

[chscag]

From your description above, it appears that one or more of your speakers is defective. That can happen if music has been played very loudly thru your Mac or music with heavy bass response. Also considering that your iMac is going on 9 years old and depending on your local climate, dampness may have gotten to the speakers. Check with eBay to see if you can get a replacement set of speakers for your iMac, either that or use external speakers instead.

 

[cbrandy]

From your description above, it appears that one or more of your speakers is defective. That can happen if music has been played very loudly thru your Mac or music with heavy bass response. Also considering that your iMac is going on 9 years old and depending on your local climate, dampness may have gotten to the speakers. Check with eBay to see if you can get a replacement set of speakers for your iMac, either that or use external speakers instead.

We are suffering a extremely high humidity season here in Buenos Aires, so that can well be the cause. Extreme bass output (I write music and test it on software synths) might be another one. I'll try to find some replacement speakers or, if I'm not able to do so, listen through my bass guitar amp.

Thanks for your help, Chscag!