Q: Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display

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!

Same problem here. I find it starts ~12 minutes in when playing a Hulu+ video stream, and anywhere from 1-4 minutes in on VoIP calls. Can occasionally clear distortion by opening system preferences / sound and going to the Output tab; distortion starts again when I bring up the Input tab.

Macbook Air 13" (3 weeks old), Thunderbolt display (<1 week old), all updates applied. Occurs with or without a USB device plugged in to the display or the system.

Same here. 2012 MBA 11" running Lion. Bass signal degrades to static within a few minutes. I've been using the computer regularly for almost a month when this issue cropped up. However, I have NO USB connections in to the back of the monitor. Only 1 firewire 800 drive. Issue did not occur until I plugged a LaCie USB 3 drive directly in to my MBA. Very odd. Hopefully a firmware update will fix the issue.

Continue my experiment!

The combo of MBA mid-2012 and Thunderbolt frustrates me really.

Test14: No issue within 4 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display on Tuesday

Test15: No issue within 4 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display on Wednesday

Test16: Failure after 2.5 hours on my MBA2012 and TB Display on Thursday

I was disappointed with Apple Design Quality recently.

My macbook pro mid-2010 and mac-mini mid-2010 never disappoint me.

I can't find the thread again now, but I saw one forum thread was suggesting it was WIFI related. I turned off the wifi, and used the TB Ethernet and went 2-3 hours without the sound issue occuring before I went to bed (this is highly unusual for me, normally it only lasts half an hour if that). I've not had a chance to test it for a longer period yet, but perhaps this is worth trying on your own setups.

Steps> Set WiFi to OFF

I have just installed Mountain Lion but can't test as other people are in the office. Could someone with Mountain Lion installed report back? Hopefully this may have included a fix.

Cheers

Hey robgough, I think you are right. Tried deactivating the Wi-Fi and the issue got solved.

Anyone know if mountain lion actually solves the problem?  I'd rather not have to buy more adapters so I can turn the wifi off on my macbook air (which would basically defeat the purpose of the machine).  I still think its rather amazing that there has not been a more official response.

Can confirm. Deactivate WiFi and connect TB display via Ethernet (cable) to WIFI-station. Now sound works fine, no trouble so far (testing now for 1h+, with old set-up sound started to get distorted after 5 minutes). Thanks for the hint.

@Apple: Still hope you'll the fix the issue properly some day.

I'm not sure if I'm glad that it worked or not tbh, as it potentially points towards it being a hardware issue. Still, glad that I can at least mitigate the issue for a while. I still need to test with a "new user" account, as directed by apple support - but if that fails, I'll call them back up and update them.

I'll try and remain optimistic that it can be fixed in software.

Been streaming spotify for nearly 3 hours - no issue.

Deactivated WIFI and plugged in directly to thunderbolt display.

How crazy is that?

Hi,

I did test case 1~11 with WiFi off, and iPhone 4G AP connected.

I did test case 12~16 with WiFi off, and 1GbE connected to TB display.

With WiFi off, I still got failure.

I proposed you may consider test over 8 hours, 4 times of positive result, at least, for solution confirmation.

Could someone from Apple tell me which one I shall return for exchange(MBA or TB display)?

My trouble is that Apple dealer is not willing to accept I return both, becasue Apple controls dealer strictly in TWN.

My feeling to Apple's commitment is not good.

I'm still having the same issue now that I have installed Mountain Lion. The only difference is I can no longer toggle back and forth in the system preferences from the thunderbolt display the laptop display to get rid of it it stays. If it is a Wi-Fi issue that's too bad because that's my only means of connecting as I'm so far away from the main Internet connection.

I did submit in the log into Apple and still waiting for response from them too.

Amazingly enough, I can report that I have been streaming music (spotify) for more than 8 hours straight, and it is crystal clear.  All I did was turn off WiFi and plug ethernet cable into the back of the thunderbolt display.  The static is gone.  How SILLY IS THAT?!? UNBELIEVABLY SILLY.

If it is relative to Wifi, should I return MBA instead!?