Q: Audio Problem with 2012 MacBook Air and Thunderbolt Display

It's Aug 11, 2012, I've completely updated my 13" MacBook Air, latest edition, and my 27" Thunderbolt Monitor. 

Music plays for about an hour, and then becomes garbled.  The only way to ungarble the sound is to disconnect Thunderbolt from my computer, then plug it in again. 

It's inconvenient. 

Please fix.

Same issue here on a 2012 MBP 15" (no retina) when using a USB device (Focusrite Saffire 6).  Sometimes there's no sound at all, sometimes it's crackle. Sometimes I can have sound when starting up Logic Pro, then suddenly no sound when switching to iTunes. Sometimes it's the other way arround. The ext soundcard still works fine with my old Core 2 Duo MBP, so it's definitely not the problem. Drivers also up to date on the new MBP.

Problem appears regardless of being connected to the TBD or not. Everything worked fine for the first 2-3 weeks after buying the machine, then the problems suddenly started. Upgrading to Mountain Lion did not have any effect - problem still existing.

A temp fix I discovered is to reselect the output sample rate for the USB device in Audio MIDI Setup (switching from 44100 Hz to 48000 Hz, and then back. Usually works for a short time, then the problem appears again.

Today I also experienced a new issue when playing in iTunes: started playing a song (normal output), then hit space to pause. Hit space again to play, then no output. Strange...

Downloaded the beta update (10.8.1) for developers and, gentlemen, I have good news. It fixes the issue, completely.

So there's a fix already, we just need to wait for the final release but I can tell this works.

I can confirm this. Issue appears solved. Just finished watching two consecutive movies streaming over wifi in 1080p on my MBA 2012 / ML 10.8.1. attached to a Samsung via Thunderbolt->HDMI  No static or distortion. :-)

Well, how about system performance impact after updated it.

If ML 10.8.1 did fix this problem, please release formal one instead of beta, Apple.

I am not your testing guy.

Anyway, it is happy to hear the defect be solved comprehensively, without performance traded-off.

Beta update fix not much good for those of us who can't get it yet. I've been through 2 Macbook Air's and 2 TB Displays and still not working. I guess I'll have to wait for official release of ML update. Until then I'll have to continue with terrible speaker crackle.

Poor show Apple. Why were things not tested properly in the first place!?

You're complaining that a fix is in test, and at the same time complaining that their testing isn't good enough. Surely you can't have it both ways?

For me, I would like to have seen more communication that they were looking into it ... but I'm glad that there's a fix out, and I'll look forward to it being released.

In the meantime, if you can - turn off your WiFi and use the Ethernet built into the monitor. That should stop the crackling until the fix is released.

Hello,

I agree it's little to do while waiting for a Fix other than being patience but I'd also like to add that - at least for my case - there is no workaround in not using WiFi and using the ethernet port instead: the cracking appears the same while using Wired Etehrnet and WiFi off

That's worrying, as this potential fix specifically mentions WiFi and Thunderbolt Displays ... this may not fix your issue

Similar defect symptom be found on my MBA 13" with thunderbolt ethernet(not connected to/through TB's ethernet).

I got craking sound out of MBA's speaker while having conversation with our staff over Microsoft Lync in my company.

Could it be solved by software or firmware updated??

Hey,

I know this might initially appear very slightly off topic, but there's a parallel discussion going on here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4149309?start=0&tstart=0 that appears to be very similar to this one.

The main difference is most of us in the other discussion are not using TBD - instead the problem seems to be particularly affecting high spec machines, 2011 i7 iMac's, MBPs etc. It's not just sound (but system, cursor jumping, slow down etc), but the similarity to the choppy sound followed by static is too close to be coincidence to my mind.

All of this has happened immediately after ML install.

AAAAnd Update 10.8.1 is out and fixes the issue!

Installed 10.8.1 - DOES appear to fix the TBD Display Audio, HOWEVER I still have the same problem with my breakout audio box (Mbox 2 Mini). Audio works fine for maybe five minutes, then the distortion starts, then you switch sources and switch back to breakout box, and it works again for a few minutes.

That is with the Mbox plugged directly into the MBA (in clamshell). Going to try plugging it into one of the TBD's USB ports and see if I have the same problem.

Stay tuned ...

Hello,

just a short message to let you know the problems are still there after upgrading to 10.8.1 ... Even using Ethernet and WiFi OFF the problem is there just the same (using the latest MBA + THB)

I can confirm that today, 8-31-12, I am still having the sound garbling issue that gets so bad that it just sounds like static. I cannot believe I switched to Mac, paid $2000 for the best setup and now have ridiculous issues. I have updated everything, Cleared SMC and PRam multiple times. I'm restarting 4 times a day. Very unhappy.