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F150Wahoo Author

Level 1

2 points

Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display

I'm experiencing an audio problem when I connect my 2012 MacBook Air to my 27" Thunderbolt Display. When playing audio of any form (e.g., iTunes, Skype, streaming music via Chrome), the audio starts out sounding fine. After about 1 minute and 40 seconds, you start to hear static mixed in with the audio. After about 3 minutes, the audio is completely overcome with static; the original audio is totally indecipherbable.

I only experience this problem when playing audio through the Thunderbolt Display's speakers using my 2012 MacBook Air.

The problem does not occur when playing audio through the 2012 MacBook Air's speakers.

The problem does not occur when playing audio through the Thunderbolt display with a previous-generation (mid-2011) MacBook Air.

I have installed all currently-available software updates.

Is anyone aware of a solution to this issue? Any help you can offer is much appreciated.

----

13" MacBook Air Specs

Model ID: MacBookAir5,2
Processor: 2 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
OS: Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4

27" Apple Thunderbolt Display (MC914LL/A)

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 23, 2012 10:08 AM

234 replies

Jul 3, 2012 9:47 PM in response to F150Wahoo

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....

Jul 4, 2012 1:19 AM in response to F150Wahoo

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.

Jul 6, 2012 7:17 PM in response to sc0ttdav3y

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.

Jul 6, 2012 10:04 PM in response to rolandofromperu

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?

robgough

Level 1

0 points

Jul 7, 2012 2:58 PM in response to F150Wahoo

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.

Jul 7, 2012 3:20 PM in response to robgough

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.

Jul 7, 2012 5:45 PM in response to F150Wahoo

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.

Jul 7, 2012 5:48 PM in response to sc0ttdav3y

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.

Jul 8, 2012 9:58 AM in response to nickduncs84

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.

Jul 8, 2012 10:04 AM in response to JofArnold

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:

Jul 8, 2012 10:08 AM in response to rolandofromperu

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 🙂

Jul 8, 2012 10:09 AM in response to rolandofromperu

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?

Jul 8, 2012 10:22 AM in response to Community User

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.

Jul 8, 2012 10:24 AM in response to Community User

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.

Jul 8, 2012 11:06 AM in response to F150Wahoo

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

Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display