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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

F150Wahoo Author

Level 1

2 points

Jul 18, 2012 3:17 PM in response to JofArnold

Until we get a permanent fix from Apple, I've used the approach below to automate the workaround that JofArnold discovered.

Every 2 minutes, this process automatically switches from the Thunderbolt display's audio to the MacBook Air's built-in audio, and then immediately switches back to the Thunderbolt display's audio. This frees you from having to manually switch the audio output source in the System Preferences pane.

If you want to give it a shot, then ...

1. Download the switchaudio-osx utility. [A]

2. Unzip it.

3. In the terminal, cd into the directory where you unzipped the file. For example:

cd ~/Downloads

4. Run the following command:

while true; do ./SwitchAudioSource -s "Built-in Output"; ./SwitchAudioSource -s "Display Audio"; sleep 120; done

Note: In this command, "sleep 120" tells it to toggle the audio source every 120 seconds (i.e., two minutes). You can adjust that number to whatever frequency you desire.

I hope this helps.

[A] It's an open source tool from Devon Weller. It's been around for about 5 years. If you're worried about the safety/security of running this utility, you have a couple choices:

1) Read the code to make sure you trust it. Or,

2) Don't use it. ;-)

Jul 18, 2012 3:22 PM in response to RiggerIII

The update didn't fix the problem. Same issue with TD display.

Jul 20, 2012 6:09 AM in response to RiggerIII

This is getting silly. I am taking my 2012 macbook air to an apple store, walking over to the thunderbolt display...going to connect and stream music. Should have some blank faces from staff within 10 minutes or so.

Jul 20, 2012 2:57 PM in response to F150Wahoo

MBA 2012 i7 same in here, really annoying. Hope they release a fix soon. :/

My First Apple computer purchased with a Thunderbolt Display and I have to use my Philips Bluetooth Dock, since I can't stand pausing the audio and playing it anymore.

ibminh

Level 1

0 points

Jul 21, 2012 7:45 AM in response to F150Wahoo

I don't know if it's a placebo effect or not but after installing the update, the problems happen less frequent for me. I used it all day yesterday without audio problems. Normally it happens randomly couple times a day.

Jul 21, 2012 6:23 PM in response to ibminh

I installed that update for Thunderbolt Display before yesterday too, but got negative result.

That update just makes the symptom happened later. Originally, the music corruption happened after a few of minutes to 45 minutes arround. Currently, the corruption happened after 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours.

It may be caused by unproper analog/digital power ground layout implementation on Thunderbolt PCBA, or unproper tap setting at TX/RX on both MBA and Thunderbolt display. However, I got no audio issue within one hour while testing my MBA with two Thunderbolt displays in Apple's dealer two days ago!!!

No idea if I should return TB display, MBA, and a bunch of peripherals for Applecare coverage reason, and wait for their new hardware change.

If this issue could be fixed by FW, that is good news to me definitely, but no commitment from Apple so far.

Help me, Apple!!

Jul 21, 2012 6:53 PM in response to F150Wahoo

Same issue here.

My testing environment:

13" MacBook Air

Processor: 2 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
OS: Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4
256GB SSD

27" Apple Thunderbolt Display (MC914FE/A)

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

Pure default SW image from Apple, and just play music from iTunes' lib. which purchased from iTunes store!

No Thuderbolt Display FW update: issue happen after 1.5 minutes to 45 minutes

With Thuderbolt Display FW update: issue happen after 1.5 hours to 2 hours

Probability to happen: 100% on my MBA and my TB display, which purchased one week ago.

Jul 22, 2012 5:43 AM in response to F150Wahoo

I'm running into simular problems, but... I don't use a Thunderbolt display.

Received my MBA 13 inch (2012) 2 weeks ago. At random moments there's a static distorted sound coming from the speakers. Strange, because I'm not playing music or something else at that moment.

A restart or playing a sound fixes the problem temporarily.

Should I exchange this Air or wait for a software fix?

Jul 22, 2012 9:36 AM in response to F150Wahoo

Update!

I was running the test underneath same configuration with no static noise issue over 12 hours today.

Thus, I decided to replicate this test twice, but got this audio problem within 3 minutes for all.

It is realy frustrating thing, and l recalled those two "no issue" TB display I tested in Apple dealer store might not be tested fully.

Now, I have no idea the problem caused from my new MBA or/and TB display, and just know it is relative to hardware issue definitely.

Hope it could be work-arounded by FW.

Please have a resolution for root cause ASAP, Apple!

If no fix were available within a couple of days, I have to refund according to policy to protect myself.

If apple committed to exchange new one in case of hardware issue, I would be waiting for solution from Apple.

Jul 22, 2012 9:45 PM in response to F150Wahoo

Question: For those who are experiencing the issue, is Google Talk plug-in installed?

Jul 22, 2012 10:19 PM in response to JohnBradshaw

I purchased my systems one week ago, and haven't install any app and software.

It's pure default SW environment with Apple firmware updated.

After Apple fixed the problem, I would install app and other SW, in order to save time.

bh1969

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2012 12:41 AM in response to JohnBradshaw

Jul 23, 2012 11:31 AM in response to bh1969

No Google Talk pluging install here.

ibminh

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2012 8:28 PM in response to F150Wahoo

Ok so far the audio problem stops. I made Skype call today for 20 minutes and there is no problems at all. Normally it happens after 5 mins into the call. Listen to music, watch videos, youtube, so far so good no problem.

What I did was installed the update. I also have a fan blowing directly to my macbook air to keep it from overheat, I thought it might be the heat that messed up the thunderbolt signals, I dont know. So far so good.

Jul 24, 2012 9:35 AM in response to ibminh

Test Cases Summary I implemented before:

Without ThunderBolt Display FW updated-->

Test1: Failure after 1.5 minutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test2: Failure after 30 minutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test3: Failure after 2.5 minutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test4: No issue within 1 hours on my MBA2012 and Apple Dealer's TB display-1

Test5: No issue within 1 hours on my MBA2012 and Apple Dealer's TB display-2

Test6: Failure after 10 miutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

With ThunderBolt Display FW updated-->

Test7: Failure after 1.5 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test8: Failure after 2 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test9: No issue within 12 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test10: Failure after 3 minutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test11: Failure after 3 minutes on my MBA2012 and TB Display

After called Apple Support, cleared SMC and NVRAM

Test12: No issue within 4 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display

Test13: No issue within 4 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display

According to the above summary, I have no idea if Apple resolved this issue comprehensively or not??

Note: I only played two songs on iTunes underneath default Lion OSX without any app and software installed for all test cases. Also, applying same procedure for all cases.

Just for reference!

Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display