Audio stops on Mac Studio display after a few seconds

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).

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.

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.

I’m a little irked the Apple Senior advisor I was working with never got back to me on this. After I let them do a recording of the operations on my system, uploaded audio files to Apple Engineering, etc.

At the very least they could point to this workaround while they figure out what causes it.

Clearly Apple did some thing and screwed the pooch. There is enough evidence, by the frequency of people having the same problem, same fix, that they pushed out some bug in recent firmware for the Studio Display. They need to admit it and do a mea culpa!!

PS Especially on the heels of $50 million settlement on the butterfly keyboard debacle.

I am certainly more than happy I don’t have a hardware issue and have to schedule a repair. The “fix” is easy enough for now, even if it has to be repeated every 3-4 months.

In the grand scheme of things - this is not one worth sweating over. I just appreciate when people do what they say they are going to do after so much time spent on hold, going thru several layers of support, etc. Product wise, I am still very happy.

I have the exact same issue now with my Mac Studio and 2 - Studio Displays. They play for 2 seconds on the displays and then I hear a pop, pop and then sounds goes out. After multiple restarts I can get the sound to stick with the Mac Studio, but not the displays. I am running 12.5 and Firmware: 67.1 on the displays.

Any help would be appreciated..

Mine just started doing this also - wondering what is going on.

Same here. Cutting out in all apps: Sound preference pane, Music app, Zoom. Just started today.

Uplugging/plugging in again, restarting, shutdown/restart - none of these are a permanent fix for me. The sound still drops out after a few seconds.

Weird thing is - I didn't do any system software updates recently. What made all these happen today across so many systems?

Agreed, very weird. I suspected a silent firmware update but now I don’t think so. It looks like the iOS build on my Studio Display is the one that was updated in May.

Try it again Is working fine for hours now.

Yup, it does.