Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display

Yep same problem here. Audio works fine for 5-15 minutes, then gradually starts distorting until it's almost entirely static. Looks like I'll need to fork out for those external speakers after all....

UPDATE: I had this problem with my new MBA 13" and TD, and my display was recently replaced under AppleCare. I still had my original packaging, so I shipped it back and they shipped me a new one - took about 2 days.

So far no problems, and I've been going for about 4 hours now. I'll report back if I get further problems after a week or so.

Did you replace your MBA or your TD? Because this issue sounds mostly like a Thunderbolt problem on the MacBook Air rather than the display since it hasn't change in a year and it's less probably to get a bad lot.

I'm taking both to the authorized technician this tuesday, we'll see. I'm a bit mad because I got both this week and it was supposed to be the perfect working environment.

I am on my second 2012 MacBook Air and I am on my second Thunderbolt Display. Static does not go away. After playing any audio through display speakers, after 5-7 mins, pure static. Could I possibly be that unlucky? Software issue apple? Is this not happening to everyone?

Same issue here.

MBA 11" 2012 2.0Ghz i7, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD and the Thunderbolt display.

I've no USB devices attached, only Apple Wireless Keyboard and Trackpad (all via Bluetooth).

I've put in my GF's 13" MBP from last year, and that runs sound without any problems - which leads me to believe it's some kind of issue with the MBA, rather than the display itself.

I'm looking forward for an Apple response, whether they can fix this issue with a firmware update or something. Because as Marco noted, he got both his Thunderbolt Display and MacBook Air replaced twice!

If any Apple spokesman is reading this, please have a reply for us as soon as possible.

Update on my situation. I had a 13" MBA and a TD, and after speaking with AppleCare the other day, they replaced the TD for me.

Unfortunately, the problem remains. As noted by others, it seems to happen only when I have USB devices plugged into the TD.

I'll be speaking again with AppleCare and I'll point them to this thread.

Hey Scott, apparently this isn't a TD issue but MBA. Though Marco got his MacBook Air replaced and the problem remains. Probably Apple is in serious trouble on getting this problem fixed by hardware, I HOPE they can fix it with a software update.

Same problem. Additionally without the static I'd said the sound is pretty terrible to be honest :/ Don't know how it should sound, but it's really booming and unclear.

I'm currently testing it with 3 2012 macbook airs to see if it's specific to a single device.

Three 2012 MacBook Airs!? And every of them with the same issue? That's insane! I'm taking my 11-inch 2012 MacBook Air to the Apple Authorized Technician on Tuesday, I hope they can fix this issue soon. D:

I haven't tested them all yet. I'm testing with the second one of three corrently. It's hard to reproduce.

I have three because that's what my company happens to have 🙂

An token update from Apple would really help here. Is anyone on the other side of the line? Looks like no testing took place before launching the new Macbook Airs.... Apple?

I do hope they can fix it with a Firmware update or something like that. And the issue seems to come from the TB controller INSIDE the MBA. Because the Thunderbolt Display is 1 year old, very hard to get a defective model.

In fairness to apple, it's extremely hard to repeat. For example, my first macbook air went just 5 minutes before making the noise. It was easy to repeat until I swapped it for another MBA and swapped it back and now it's really hard to reproduce, Haven't repeated the noise on the third air also.

I recorded the sound earlier. Is this what you have? https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2633837/audio-issues/Thunderbolt-audio.m4a

• 00:00 Start TD audio, start recording
• 08:11 Audio starts to degrade
• 09:20 Audio is truly terrible from this point onwards
• 11:05 Seriously bad - basically inaudible
• 11:27 I switch to the MBA audio then back again to TD audio. Audio is instantly ok and ok for the rest of the recording