Studio Display speaker issues acknowledged by Apple support, no fix available yet
According to an internal Apple notice seen by MacRumors, the firm is aware of the audio issues that users have been having while utilizing its $1,599 Studio Display, but it does not yet have a permanent solution for the problem. Instead, rather than recommending a permanent fix, the memo suggests that affected consumers unplug the Studio Display from the wall, remove any accessories connected to it, and then reconnect everything before turning it on again after a 10-second wait.
In March, Apple introduced the Studio Display. The display is also designed to connect many of the other equipment on a typical desk and includes built-in speakers, microphones, and a webcam. However, MacRumors claims that users have been complaining about problems on Apple's support pages, Twitter feeds, and MacRumors forums. Sound dropsouts, distortion, and choppy playback have all been reported.
After just a few seconds, the Studio Display's audio cuts out in one video posted by Twitter user Simon B. Støvring, according to Parker Ortolani, who claims he's been battling for days to get the speakers on his Studio Display to function. Mario Guzmán claims that audio from his two Studio Displays will eventually become choppy before cutting out entirely unless you restart them frequently.
The good news is that Apple's statement implies that these issues aren't due to hardware problems with the Studio Display, which suggests a future software update may fix them. The bad news is that there's no telling when or if this more permanent remedy will be available.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that Apple's pricey monitor has suffered from a software issue. The Studio Display's webcam was unappealing when we initially reviewed it. In excellent light, it was terrible; in low light, it was awful. Apple eventually released a software update to address the problems, however while certain elements of the webcam's performance were enhanced, its quality continues to fall short against many standalone webcams on the market.