Audio stops on Mac Studio display after a few seconds

I was on the phone with Apple Support for awhile, went to a Senior Advisor, and now some things are with Apple Engineering. I am waiting to hear back next week - but it is pretty odd now there are at least 3 cases popping up just today.

Does yours make two small "pops" before the audio drops? It happens across all apps and is completely repeatable if you switch audio output and then back to the Studio Display speakers.

I think you just need to unplug the studio display for about 10 seconds and then plug it back in to reboot the iOS in the Studio Display. I don't think the issue is on the Mac side at least for me, that seemed to be the root cause. I do not know of any option to initiate an iOS reboot on the Studio Display without disconnecting the power. If someone else knows that it might come in handy if the issue returns.

To follow up on part of your post: yes, switching to a different audio output (my Mac mini speakers, or my AirPods Max), and then back to Studio Display, the Display will output audio for a few seconds and then it cuts out again. Do the switch again and audio comes back for a few seconds. Completely repeatable.

Same exact problem for me today. MacBook Air M1 with macOS 12.4(21F79) and latest Studio Display firmware v15.5(Build 19F77).

Did the power down, unplug display from power socket, wait 10-15 seconds and power up. Saw the 3 horizontal dots on the Studio Display and now sound is working again and hasn't dropped out yet.

I've had this problem crop up every now and then ever since getting the Studio Display (I got at launch). Unplugging it for a little while fixes it.

You have to actually unplug it from the wall, since there's no power button. You can't just unplug it from the computer.

I was hoping the recent firmware updates would fix this, but they haven't, unfortunately.

Yes, I think it does make pops. When I initially test the mic, for example in Sound preferences (Input tab), the VU levels seem to be working. Then it stops, the slider control goes grey, and there is no sound input (or output). In Music app the music plays for a second or two then goes silent.

I thought the Studio Display is running iOS 15.4. That's the last I see in descriptions online (Daring Fireball, etc.). I see that my Studio Display is running 15.5 (build 19F77). Did Apple do an update behind our back? I am NOT running any beta macOS. I'm on macOS 12.4 (21F79).

Yes. My Mac Studio display on my Mac Mini M1started this sometime today. In Music App, with video on Safari, etc. Same behavior as others, I could switch to another audio output and then when switching back to studio display audio, it would play for a few seconds, make couple of pops and then no audio.

I shutdown and rebooted my Mac mini, not change.

Shutdown Mac mini and then unplugged studio display from power for about 10 seconds and then all back up. Fixed it.

Yep, my Studio Display just started doing this today as well. I'll try the shutdown, unplug for 10 seconds and restart fix. The couple of static pops after the sound dies tells me it's some kind of software issue since lots of other people are having the same issue.

Same here. Completely unplugged the power cord from my Studio Display and Studio - left unplugged for a couple hours actually. Replugged in and got the 3 dots across the Studio Display on plugging back in - and the Display speakers now work past a few seconds. I guess it remains to be seen if it remains once everything warms up again?

Agreed. Weird. I didn't do any updates or anything. It's just started doing it. Odd that it's the same for so many others. Glad that removing studio display for power for about 10 seconds or so fixed it, so far.

I have exact same problem, and just started in last few days, and as mentioned has a couple of pops then cuts out. I am connected to a Mac Studio. Also connected is a LG Ultrafine and its audio works perfectly no problems. I think  rolled out some type of firmware update to the Studio Display and that is the culprit, my view.

Same for me. Have been on firmware 15.5 for a while and this problem just started out of nowhere. I had to unplug for longer to fix it. Not sure what the magic time is but I unplugged for more than half an hour and it's fixed . . . so far. Interesting that even after audio for music, videos, websites, etc. had cut out the alert sounds still worked.

Just had this happen to me as well. Very concerning.

Mac Studio (Max) with Mac Studio Display. All updates are current.

Studio Display sound cut out (with popping sounds) on YouTube video after a couple of seconds of initial playback. I thought it was video/Youtube issue, so I switched to the internal Mac Studio speaker, and it was fine. Switched back to display speakers, and nothing. Opened iTunes, switched back to Studio Display speakers, and it played for a couple of seconds but then repeated popping and cutout. Switched to the internal Mac Studio speaker, and the sound was heard.

I shut down the system and then unplugged the monitor as mentioned. Waited 30 seconds, then plugged the monitor back in. After the three dots on the screen went off, I restarted the Mac Studio. All seems fine now, and playback is fine on both iTunes and YouTube. However, I hope there is a fix or an Apple confirmation that the "unplug" method is a permanent fix. Please advise...