Unibody Headphone Jack Problems
iFixIt has an article about an issue with the headphone jacks in the new MacBook and MacBook Pro Unibody models.
The connection can be very delicate, with the slightest movement of the headphone or speaker cable disconnecting and reconnecting the speakers.
The Test
iFixIt tested with high, middle and low-end headphones ranging in price from $15 to $445, and used 4 different laptops: MacBook Pro 15″ Unibody; MacBook Unibody; MacBook Pro 17″ (non-Unibody); and MacBook Air.
The test was simple. Plug the headphones in fully, then slowly pull the plug out until the sound came out of the external speakers, repeated several times until each headphone could be properly characterized.
Both Unibody laptops had problems with the headphones losing signal before they should have. iFixIt concludes that the problem is most likely the internal design of the headphone jack.
… a slight (1mm) displacement of the plug would re-engage the external speakers and cut audio to the headphones, regardless of which headphones were used.
The Fix
There is no apparent internal fix for the problem, but purchasing an iPhone jack adapter seems to make the headphone jack fit correctly. Annoying, but inexpensive.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Meh, this is so annoying, im laying in bed with my MacBook Pro Unibody 13″ everyday and with a long sound cable from my stereo amplifier. Everytime i move the laptop the sound disapear from the stereo speakers, and come noising out the in-built speakers :/
It does´nt look like the mini jack plug can go all the way in, but maybe there could be made a driver update that makes it more steady, so that the sound dont switch before the jack is pulled all the way out?