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I am using headphones at work that I also use at home. The difference is that my computer at home is an MBP 2015. The headphones work fine there. They are basic 4 pin phone earbuds, with volume and play/pause.

But even at max input volume the audio is barely audible unless the output volume is at max. I tapped a pen against the mic pickup and it's only audible at >50% volume (which is actually loud for listening to music or video, I usually keep my volume at 20%).

Work computer is a 2016 MBP, the one with the touchbar. Home computer is 2015 MBP, no touchbar.

These headphones pick up audio fine when plugged into a 2015 MBP and an Android phone. It's safe to say the headphones are not the issue.

What is the difference here and how do I fix it?

audio settings

jcollum
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  • You're using an external microphone - are you certain it's functioning properly? Can you try another? – Allan Mar 08 '18 at 23:55
  • I’m unclear about a few points. Please clearly identify the model of computer you use at work and which you use at home. You have MBP 2017 in the title, yet you bold face 2015 in the body of your question. Please indicate what works on the 2017 and how it differs from the 2015. – IconDaemon Mar 09 '18 at 00:18
  • @IconDaemon it seems pretty clear. Please re-read the first two sentences. Work model is a 2016 15 inch MBP. Edited title, since 2017 was a guess. – jcollum Mar 09 '18 at 16:06
  • @Allan just did a voice recording with those headphones on my Android phone and they are working fine – jcollum Mar 09 '18 at 16:08
  • If you are convinced that your headphones are fine (see this post: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/259681/119271) then it's possibly your input jack. In that case, you need a better interface. See this post: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/259681/119271 – Allan Mar 09 '18 at 16:16
  • Why would they work fine on a 2015 MBP and stop working fine on a 2016 MBP? Was there some change to the chipset or something? – jcollum Mar 09 '18 at 16:17
  • Apple used an entirely different TRRS config - they swapped Mic and Gnd pins - for their products (like Apple has never done things differently than everyone else). It's not out of the realm of possibility they changed the pin outs of their socket to conform to the rest of the industry. I don't have access to schematics to verify, but it's not hard to test with a different mic. – Allan Mar 09 '18 at 16:22
  • Just noticed...the first link I gave you was incorrect. This is the correct one: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/239472/control-macs-volume-with-headphones/239564#239564 – Allan Mar 09 '18 at 16:23
  • I have a feeling this may be due to some damage near that area. The machine apparently got wanged on that corner, the display has lines because of it. Waiting on a replacement. I doubt it's a TRRS connector issue -- these headphones actually record audio, it's just very quiet. If Mic was going to Gnd I'd think there would be no audio at all. – jcollum Mar 09 '18 at 16:23
  • Given that you said the Mac got damaged near that area, it's quite possible there's a bad connection. The link I gave with the USB interface will be your best fix. – Allan Mar 09 '18 at 16:32
  • Try using a different microphone on both computers. If the problem persists, then something is up with your home mac. – Unassuming Guy Mar 09 '18 at 21:59

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