27" Apple Studio Display - Distorted Choppy Sound

I've noticed scratchy sound that deteriorates to being unusable on the 27" Studio Display today. The issue I noticed was when I was on a Webex call. My Mac is a 2021 14" M1 Pro MacBook Pro. Initially, I thought it was Webex meeting's related, so I exited the meeting and re-joined it. After that, the sound went back to normal.

However, then it happened again during the same Webex meeting, and instead of exiting out of the meeting, I switched the sound output from the Studio Display to the internal M1 MacBook Pro's speakers, and the sound was perfect. So, I knew the issue was not with the Webex meeting but with the 27" Studio Display. However, I still thought the incompatibility was between the macOS Webex App and the Studio Display.

Later today, I was watching a video on the M1 MacBook Pro, using the 27" Studio Display for outputting the sound, and the sound started deteriorating again (just like it happened earlier today while on the Webex meeting via the macOS Webex app). So, at this point, I realized the issue had nothing to do with the Webex app. Again, I switched the sound output from the 27" Studio Display's speakers to the M1 MacBook Pro's internal speakers, and the sound was perfect. I then switched the sound back to the 27" Studio Display, and the sound was perfect too.

Switching the output audio away from the Studio Display's speakers and back to the Studio Display's speakers seems to fix the issue with choppy (distorted) audio for some time, but then the problem returns.

So, the issue is not just with FaceTime or Webex App. The issue is system-wide, and I think it occurs in software running on the A-series chip built in to the 27" Studio Display.

Studio Display

Posted on Apr 7, 2022 11:33 AM

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rozhasi Author

Level 1

43 points

Posted on May 11, 2022 7:36 AM

In my case, it's about once every 2 weeks. Waking the Display up from sleep doesn't affect it. I suspect some sort of a memory leak, as the issue repeats itself after a few weeks of continuous use, and the Display's processor reboot (unplug from power; wait 15 seconds; plug back into power) seems to fix it every time.

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24 replies

Jun 7, 2022 5:50 AM in response to tomac14

I have just started having this same problem with a new Studio Display, bought about a month ago. Whether it is listening to a radio app, Spotify, YouTube, etc. the sound keeps distorting and/or cutting out. So annoying having paid all this money to have good sound as well as resolution! Started happening when trying to have a working meeting using Google Meets, so I don't know if this could have set it off? Also the mic stopped working, and would not reconnect, is this related does anyone know? If this can't be fixed permanently, I will be tempted to send the monitor back...

Jul 7, 2022 5:07 PM in response to tobewiser

Choppy audio problem not fixed here. Running 15.5 display version on a Mac Ultra with 2 Studio Displays. Both started having choppy audio within the last 2 days after starting out fine as new for a couple of weeks. Have tried pulling the Thunderbolt cables from both and waiting a minute but problem still persists. Watching an mkv video using VLC, the audio becomes so bad I can't listen anymore. I made an aggregate device using Apple Midi Utility to link both Display's speakers to audio output and everything worked fine for a couple of weeks. Now totally choppy. Please Apple, fix the audio issue!

May 17, 2022 12:53 PM in response to rozhasi

Yesterday I upgraded to the latest Studio Display OS, 15.5. I hope the sound problem is permanently fixed. Has anyone upgraded and still experienced the same audio problem?

rozhasi Author

Level 1

43 points

Apr 9, 2022 11:19 AM in response to tomac14

You are not making me a compliment by stating that I’m smarter than Apple support or Apple geniuses at the stores. You do realize those are low-wage workers, don’t you? There is a reason they work for low wages.

rozhasi Author

Level 1

43 points

Apr 26, 2022 6:59 PM in response to tobewiser

You have the latest version of the software for the Studio Display, as of this writing.

May 4, 2022 9:31 AM in response to stmichaelprayforus

The issue seems to occur more frequently after my connected Mac Studio is waken from sleep. This is my personal observation. Anyone else has the same situation?

tomac14

Level 1

138 points

May 17, 2022 1:17 PM in response to tobewiser

I have not downloaded the new Studio Display firmware yet.

Let us know if the new firmware fixed the choppy sound problem for you.

I have only had the problem one time.

Thanks

May 22, 2022 12:19 PM in response to rozhasi

Genius..thank you for saving me the trouble of punching my Studio display!

Jul 14, 2022 5:09 PM in response to tobewiser

My Studio Display is running Version 15.5 (Build 19F77) and it just now stopped producing sound. Very Frustrating!

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27" Apple Studio Display - Distorted Choppy Sound