You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

rjeffords Author

Level 1

30 points

macOS Sierra Update 10.12.4 Stuttering Audio

Yesterday I ran the 10.12.4 update in the morning. The install was pretty routine and upon completion, I noticed an immediate problem.

I use a Plantronics Audio .478 USB headset with my iMac. The audio to my headset constantly stuttered. I tested iTunes, YouTube, as well as Slack phone calls -- all audio had the same effect -- constant stuttering. I tried bypassing my USB hub and plugged it directly into my iMac, but the problem persisted. I reset my NVRAM, but the problem persisted.

Audio coming out of the internal speakers was find. I plugged in another headset to test and the problem did not persist. This lead me to believe that the my Plantronics headset was bad, so I replaced it with the same make and model (because I liked it). The problem persisted with the new Plantronics headset.

My last resort was to do a system restore back to 10.12.3. After that was complete, the audio no longer stuttered.

So what could possibly have been introduced in 10.12.4 to cause audio issues with this exact model headset?

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.4), null

Posted on Mar 30, 2017 7:34 AM

Top-ranking reply

BrianF

Level 1

44 points

Posted on Apr 5, 2017 8:11 PM

Using the solution form this thread: Re: Audio glitches with USB headset after upgrade to macOS Sierra 10.12.4 I tried a few different ways to make this work. Ultimately it was connecting my headset to an unpowered USB-3 hub.

Sabrent Premium 4 Port Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub, model HB-MAC3 purchased on Amazon, http://a.co/bXdeSWB ($14.99)

Other unpowered hubs may work. Other people report it working for them, but have not reported models.

2012 MacBook Pro, Retina Display, 10.12.4

Plantronics Audio 478 USB headset

Connect to unpowered USB-3 hub (Sabrent) works, whether plugged into wired keyboard, other powered USB-3 hub or directly into MBP.

Connect to Wired Apple USB keyboard (current aluminum model) did not work regardless of where attached.

Connect to old unpowered USB-2 hub did not work regardless of where attached.

Connect to unpowered USB-3 hub (AX88179 USB 3.0) did not work regardless of where attached.

Connect to powered USB-3 (unknown model) hub did not work regardless of where attached.

Hopefully a patch will be released soon.

View in context

67 replies

MM262

Level 1

9 points

May 15, 2017 7:20 PM in response to ferantivero

What was painful? The update or am I missing sarcasm. Honest question. Music production here with 20 years of experience and thousands in gear not working right now.