Apple Studio Display Models Troubleshooting Sound Issues
Troubleshooting speaker or microphone issues
Identify issues
No sound or distorted sound from display speakers
Display speaker output can’t be selected
Display microphone isn’t working
Display microphone input can’t be selected
Microphone sound is garbled
Ticking or buzzing sounds recorded using the display’s microphone
Try quick troubleshooting steps
Inspect the display for liquid damage. Contact with liquid can short internal circuits and cause the display to stop working.
Ensure that the microphone and speaker openings aren’t covered by tape, sticky notes, or other obstructions. Carefully remove any obstructions.
Note: Studio Display has two speakers and three microphones. Refer to the user guide to identify their locations.
Move the display to a different location. Then check whether any noise is eliminated. Plug the power cord into a different electrical outlet. Then check whether any noise is eliminated.
Note: Noise may be related to interference from other electrical devices operating near the display or plugged into the same power outlet.
Refer to steps and support resources in Troubleshooting Quick Checks to verify display power and clean the display.
Run manual and diagnostic tests
If your issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these manual and diagnostic tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:
Run the Display Resource Inspector (DRI) diagnostic suite.
Note: This diagnostic test suite checks for the presence of the USB interfaces and cameras, and tests the functionality of the speakers, microphones, and camera.
On the computer, go to System Settings > Sound. Verify the following in the Output and Input tabs:
Output tab:
Display Speakers is available and selected
Output volume isn’t muted or set to zero
Input tab:
Display Microphone is available and selected
Input volume slider isn’t set to zero
Go to System Settings > Sound > Input tab and verify that the input level indicator moves when you speak into the Studio Display microphone.
Play a sound and verify that you can hear sound through both Studio Display speakers.
Use the computer to record a sound file using the Studio Display microphone. Then play the sound to verify that the sound isn’t distorted.
Listen to the recording for any ticking or buzzing sounds. If you can hear ticking or buzzing sounds coming from the speakers, you may need to replace the power supply.
Open and inspect the display
If your issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the display's repair manual to open and inspect the display. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.
Danger
Avoid touching any exposed power supply areas when AC power is applied.
Follow repair manual procedures to open the display.
Inspect internal parts and the enclosure for indications of physical or liquid damage, contamination, or burned or darkened areas. Inspect all relevant internal flex cables and connectors for damage or tampering, such as a film or foreign material blocking a connector.
Locate the display and speaker flex cable connectors on the logic board. Disconnect and inspect the flex cables and connectors for any signs of pinched wires or connector damage before reseating them. Inspect the logic board for connector damage.
Reseat all flex cables and retest for the original issue.
If the issue is resolved or inspection reveals no issues, complete the reassembly. If diagnostic results or inspection identified a faulty part, continue to the next section. If the issue persists without identifying a specific part, continue to the next section for logic board replacement.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the display's issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.
Replace the part
If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the following parts for each relevant issue:
If the power supply board is causing ticking or buzzing sounds, replace the power supply.
If the issue is isolated to speakers or rear microphones, replace the housing, which contains the speakers and rear microphones.
If the issue is isolated to the display microphone, replace the display, which contains the front microphone.
If no specific faulty part was identified above, replace the logic board.
Repair completion
If the display or logic board was replaced, refer to the repair manual for instructions to run System Configuration to configure the replacement display or logic board.
Post-repair verification
Run the following diagnostic suite after the repair:
Display Resource Inspector (DRI) (to test overall functionality)
After the repair is completed, verify that sound can be played through both display speakers and that sound is clear and free of distortion. Verify that the display microphone is available, selected, and functional, and that the input level indicator moves when speaking into the microphone. Then record a sample sound file and play it back to verify that it's free of distortion.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the display’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.