High Frequency Noise from Headphones Out Jack

I have isolated the following issue to audio that is monitored via the headphones output on the back of my iMac:
I've been encountering a very high-pitched (and at times a cycling through high frequencies) noise when working with headphones to monitor audio. It's not the headphones and the problem is not limited to any single application. The noise is sometimes barely audible, and it comes and goes - but repeatedly and often. Sometimes the frequency of the noise is so high that I can imagine that those with poor or compromised hearing wouldn't even notice it. But the highest frequencies are still detectable - kind of like a faint ringing in the ears or a ringing television set that has its volume turned all the way down.
I've done everything I can imagine to troubleshoot the problem including asking a Mac genius, but nobody seems to have encountered this before. The noise can be triggered off (not masked) by any other incoming audio, but eventually it reappears. I will be editing a file, the noise will appear, and I can literally silence it for the moment by pressing a volume key or playing back a portion of audio.
Anyone else experiencing this issue? Is there a fix? I do a lot of audio engineering and this problem is very distracting. I haven't purchased any outboard gear to monitor with yet, so I don't know if I will hear this noise through an external audio interface or not. Thankfully, this noise isn't being recorded to disk. It appears to be a little monster that is haunting only the playback.

OK, It is very easy to reproduce the problem, just follow this steps:
(1) Insert any headphones to iMac.
(2) Do NOT play any iTunes or any application with sound.
(3) Now, set volume with the volume control keys on your keyboard, set it to the MAX.
(4) You can keep pressing on the increase volume key and every time you hit the key you should hear a sound.
Just as when the sound stop, you will hear a high pitch. Keep repeat step 4 and wait a while, then occasionally you will hear a high pitch sound that will last to longer than 30 seconds. The high pitch will be even easier to reproduce if you alternate before decreasing volume and increase volume by 1 level, each time, wait and you will hear the high pitch too.
This high pitch sound can be heard on external speaker plug into the headphone jacks too.
BTW, I turned OFF WIFI, Bluetooth, removed all USB devices except keyboard and mouse, adjust monitor brightness, they have no effect on the high pitch, it is still there!
I am going to call the Apple Care tomorrow. Will keep you guys posted.
Message was edited by: chienlim

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