My Ongoing Battle with a Buzzing Apple Studio Display: A Call for Resolution

Two years into using my Apple Studio Display, I've encountered a persistent high-pitched buzzing noise that has significantly impacted my work as a software engineer. Here's a chronological account of my attempts to resolve this issue and where things currently stand:


  1. Initial Contact with Apple Support: Upon noticing the buzzing sound, I immediately reached out to Apple Support. After a series of diagnostic steps over the phone, I was advised that the device might be unsafe to use and was promptly scheduled for an in-store appointment.
  2. First Store Visit: The technicians at the Apple Store confirmed the presence of static electricity noises emanating from the display when connected to my laptop. Their recommended solution was to replace the power supply and enclosure.
  3. Picking Up the Repaired Display: A week later, I returned to the store. Due to the bustling environment, I couldn't discern any residual buzzing sound, and the technician assured me the issue was resolved. However, upon setting up the display at home, I noticed the buzzing sound persisted, albeit at a lower volume.
  4. Further Communication with Apple Support: I reached out again via email, resulting in another appointment at the Genius Bar.
  5. Second Store Visit: I requested the diagnostics be conducted in a quieter area to mimic my home environment more closely. The technicians, after re-evaluation, reported no detectable issue.


I'm currently waiting for further updates and have been left to ponder whether this issue is a defect specific to my unit or a more widespread problem. The buzzing noise, described by a technician as typical electronic sound, is particularly disruptive to my focus and has even caused headaches.


Environmental Factors: It's worth noting that the issue became noticeable after I moved the display from an open space to a quieter, more enclosed setting, positioned near a wall. This has led me to wonder if the sound was always present but only became perceptible due to the change in my work environment.


Reflections and Next Steps: I am seeking a definitive resolution and hope that this is an addressable defect rather than an inherent flaw shared by all units. Despite my love for Apple's ecosystem, the thought of switching brands has crossed my mind, though it's a last resort I hope to avoid.


Seeking Community Insight: Has anyone else experienced similar issues with their Apple Studio Display? How was it resolved? I am eager to hear your thoughts and whether this is an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern.


Thank you for following my journey. I look forward to updating you all with hopefully a resolution soon.

Studio Display

Posted on Feb 13, 2024 8:23 AM

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15 replies

Feb 13, 2024 12:52 PM in response to hcsitas

Ah, got it! That makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate the clarification. Actually, involving others to independently verify the issue has already happened to some extent. My wife, daughter, and a friend have all spent time with the display in different settings and have confirmed they hear the annoying sound too. So, we're on the same page about the sound being a real issue, not just something I'm noticing on my own.


Moreover, I’ve conducted my own investigation online and discovered hundreds of similar complaints from different users experiencing the same issue with their displays. This indicates that the problem might be more widespread than initially thought, raising questions about the true extent of this issue across various units.


Based on your advice, I’m planning to further validate these findings by loaning out my display for independent testing in a completely different environment—without my presence. This should provide an unbiased confirmation of the issue. I’ll make sure to update here with the results of this experiment. Thanks for guiding me towards this comprehensive approach!

Mar 14, 2024 4:53 AM in response to hcsitas

I had two different Studio displays in the past which didn't make any noise. Recently bought another one and this one mad a lot of weird noises. After reading about this issue I knew it must be related to electrostatic waves / frequencies. Trying out some of the suggestions, it actually became worse, but after unplugging my Ethernet<->USB-C Cable (which has been much longer than necessary and rolled up) both from the wall and the Display, the noise disappeared. I use a CAT8 Ethernet Cable with a separate usb-c adapter now and there doesn't seem to be any noise anymore. Also unplugged Logi Bolt and using Bluetooth instead.

Feb 13, 2024 11:45 AM in response to hcsitas

Oh, definitely! I went down that road too, thinking it might be something about where the display was positioned. So, I tried moving it around my house to different spots, and I even took it over to a friend's place to see if anything changed. Nothing did, the buzzing just followed along.


At first, I wondered if it was something to do with the grounding in the electrical setup at my place. So, I had some electricians come over to check out all the cords and our distribution board, just to make sure everything was up to snuff. They gave everything a thorough look and told me that from their end, all systems were go—no issues with the grounding or anything else electrically related in my home.


So, yeah, after all that, it seems like the mystery buzz is a bit more about the display itself than anything else around it. It's been quite the adventure trying to figure this out!

Feb 13, 2024 12:03 PM in response to soloweb

Do you have any electronic implants/hearing aids/similar? Have you connected the display to another Mac? Are you able to take yourself out of this problem by loaning the display to a friend/relative for a few days or weeks? IMO at this point, without independent verification it's not possible to say with certainty it’s the display yet.

Feb 13, 2024 12:20 PM in response to hcsitas

Nope, I don’t use any electronic hearing devices or have any implants that could be picking up the noise. Actually, your idea of loaning a similar display to test in my environment is something I’ve been considering as well! It seems like a great next step to really nail down whether the issue is with my specific unit or something else at play.


I’m planning to go ahead with this approach and will definitely share my findings here. Fingers crossed we get to the bottom of this soon, and I appreciate the suggestion! It’s all about figuring this out one step at a time.

Feb 14, 2024 12:52 PM in response to soloweb

Today, I made a point to visit a store showcasing the Studio Display, timing my visit right before closing to minimize background noise. I hoped to discern if the buzzing sound I've been experiencing was present in their display units as well. Remarkably, I detected a similar buzz from the display in the store, mirroring the noise from my own unit post-repair.


Motivated by this discovery, I plan to extend my investigation to at least five more stores to determine the prevalence of this issue. At this juncture, I must express my disappointment in how a product like the Studio Display could be released with such an intrusive sound. For now, I'll withhold further comments until my research is more comprehensive.


To lend credence to my observations, I've included a video capturing the buzzing sound. In a quiet setting, the noise is unmistakably noticeable and quite bothersome.

Feb 17, 2024 9:41 AM in response to soloweb

I have the same issue. I ordered a Studio Display about a year ago and on the first day, I discovered a high-pitched noise. I returned the display and ordered a new one. Unfortunately, the new one had the same issue. In my case, the noise is not noticable when I sit in front of the display, but I can clearly hear it from the side or the back. My wife hears the same noise. I've tried a direct connection to the socket and some fancy extenders/filters, nothing helped. Recently, we moved to a new flat, and unfortunately, the noise moved with us. Also, I noticed that the displays at the Apple Store have the same issue. So, it seems to be a product-related issue.

Feb 17, 2024 12:45 PM in response to karpitsky

I recently got a new none Apple 27-inch monitor and noticed it makes a soft buzzing noise. It's not as loud as the noise from another fancy monitor I had before, but I can still hear it, which bothers me a bit. This made me think that maybe the part inside these monitors that gives them power might be the same or very similar.


I also noticed that some computers in the apple stores don't make this noise at all; they're completely quiet, for example iMacs. It's really interesting, and I wonder why that is.


I'm thinking about maybe trying to figure out why this is happening by looking inside the monitors myself. But before I do that, does anyone have any ideas? Why do you think some monitors are quiet and others buzz? I'd really like to know what you think!

Feb 20, 2024 3:25 AM in response to soloweb

Hey everyone, I recently got my Studio Display back from the Genius Bar after my second visit. They spent a week investigating the static electricity buzzing sound I reported. Different technicians looked into it but couldn't confirm the issue. I even tried to check it myself in the store by connecting it to a MacBook Pro, but the store's noise and music made it impossible to hear anything.


Once I got home and tested it in a quieter setting, the buzzing sound was still there. Interestingly, I noticed that the sound sometimes goes away if I keep my head still for a while, but it comes back when I move my head left or right. It seems like our brains might be trying to tune out the annoying noise over time.


As it stands, I'm really frustrated 😔. It seems the Apple Technicians did their best, but the issue might be beyond what regional specialists can handle. It looks like Apple itself needs to address and resolve this problem.

Mar 15, 2024 4:30 AM in response to Olexandr Ignatov

I live in a multi apartment building that had some Ethernet ports installed into the walls right next to the power outlets. The network cable was plugged into the wall and around 4 meters of it were rolled up right under the desk plate (it has a net for cable management) - straight underneath the Studio Display. Apparently this cable has been emitting so many EF waves that my Studio Displays condensators have been emitting weird noises. After I changed the cable (much shorter CAT8 with separate usb-c adapter) the noise went away completely (also did some other things with the cables and dongles to minimize EF waves just to make sure but this seemed to be the trigger). This Ethernet wall outlet is a bit funny, my previous iMac would always lose connection with the built in Ethernet adapter (integrated in the power adapter) but it worked flawlessly with a usb-c to Ethernet adapter plugged into the back. Good luck with finding your trigger(s)!

Apr 10, 2024 1:38 PM in response to soloweb

Hi,

I picked up my display today after thinking about it for ages. Connected it up and immediately heard the noise. I am very sensitive to high tones and it drove me crazy after 30 minutes of testing.

The sound occurred exactly when I connected the M1 Max MBP 14". I then remembered that AlDente has something to do with the power supply. Immediately after removing the Helper, the display became completely quiet and as it should be.

Maybe that will help you.

My Ongoing Battle with a Buzzing Apple Studio Display: A Call for Resolution

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