Apple Studio Display Owners Complain of High-Pitched Buzzing Sound Likely Caused By Electrical Interference

[MacRumors]

Some Apple Studio Display owners have taken to online forums to complain that their monitors make a high-pitched buzzing sound that appears to be emanating from the top of the screen or behind it, and may be being caused by electrical interference.

There are complaints on Twitter, Reddit and the Apple Support Community dating back to June, and more recently on the MacRumors forums, about the issue, which is variously described as an "electrical buzzing" and "constant ringing" that is "loud," "high-pitched," and "very annoying."

Several owners have found that the sound is not fan-related and only happens when a MacBook Pro or iPad is plugged into the Studio Display. Some have also noted that the noise can vary in intensity and pitch depending on the time of day, suggesting an electrical shielding issue may be the cause of the fault.

From Apple Support Community member Ryan Roberts:

"I'm experiencing a very annoying high-pitched buzzing sound with my Studio Display, I've spoken to others on Twitter who also have the problem and I've had Apple support on the case but nothing was resolved.

[...]

"It's not the fans, it's a distinct (and very annoying) sound that emanates from the rear area of the display, roughly where the power supply is positioned.

"I'm 90% certain the display is picking up interference from somewhere and amplifying it, maybe through the house power circuit but I can't be sure. Someone I spoke to believes the PSU is poorly shielded but I have no idea if that's true either."

Some users have suggested the Apple Studio Display picks up interference from electric car chargers. In the case of MacRumors reader Indominus, they tracked the source of the interference back to Lutron Caseta light dimmers that are installed in their house.

"Whenever the dimmer is turned on, the buzzing noise starts coming out from the ASD. The dimmers are not even on the same breaker as my ASD. The only thing I can think of is that the dimmers are creating electrical noise that is propagating to the electrical panel which then propagates to the ASD.

Now it's one thing that the dimmers are creating electrical noise. But it's another thing that only the ASD is reacting to this noise. I don't hear this electrical noise coming out of any other thing in my house. It appears to be an issue with the ASD power supply. Whether it's a problem with the specific display I have or the choice of components in the design of the ASD power supply, I do not know.

MacRumors reader uller6 relayed a similar experience:

"I had the same issue unfortunately. I spent a couple hours on the phone with Apple support/engineering, and we came to the exact same conclusion you did: the ASD is poorly shielded against dirty RF line noise, which is propagated through the power supply to the fan control circuit, producing an audible buzz. In my case running my air conditioning on a different circuit caused the ASD to buzz loudly. I ended up returning my display and have not purchased another."

Other users say they have tried electrical power filters to resolve the issue but to no avail, and some have received one or more replacement units from Apple that were similarly affected.

It's not clear how widespread the issue is, but Apple appears to be aware of the problem affecting some Studio Display owners, although a solution has not yet been found. It's worth noting that this is a separate Studio Display issue to the widespread speaker problem that Apple eventually fixed with a firmware update. Have you found the display to be over-sensitive to electrical interference? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple Studio Display Owners Complain of High-Pitched Buzzing Sound Likely Caused By Electrical Interference

 

[xxray]

This has to be one of the poorest value, most lackluster Apple products in recent years.

 

[klasma]

This has to be one of the poorest value, most lackluster Apple products in recent years.

At least it created a buzz.

Now where’s the buzzkill when you need one?


(Sorry, had to get the obvious puns out of the way.)

 

[MajorFubar]

Add to this all the people complaining about the audio freezing, which can't be fixed without physically unplugging it from the wall because there's no power button.

EDIT: Oh let's not forget the potato-cam...

This is what happens when you over-think a problem which only needed a simple solution.
More's the pity there aren't more comprehensive choices of 5K monitors.

 

[macintologist]

Mine doesn't have that problem.

 

[ikir]

No issue here, users start to get paranoid and attack now the Studio Display is the main target. It is all around a great solution, I love it and everyone of my costumers and clients who tried it, love it.

 

[ghanwani]

Buzzgate.

 

[ikir]

Add to this all the people complaining about the audio freezing, which can't be fixed without physically unplugging it from the wall because there's no power button.

This is what happens when you over-think a problem which only needed a simple solution.
More's the pity there aren't more comprehensive choices of 5K monitors.

It is fixed just with an software update…

 

[BootsWalking]

Can the high-pitched electrical whine still be heard over the whining coming from owners who paid $1600 for an $800 monitor?

 

[contacos]

This has to be one of the poorest value, most lackluster Apple products in recent years.

Also over-engineered like I might sound old but why does a display need to run a version of iOS and optimized for specific devices besides further tying people to a ecosystem? Just let me plug in a cable to any laptop and that’s it 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[akbarali.ch]

I so much wanted this display to be a good one, I wanted to replace my thunderbolt display. But this SD is crap, I'll eventually buy it once the used price comes down to the level it deserves. The current price is way too high

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Is it just me or is this product one of the most crappiest products Apple ever created. Lol.

 

[Kwikyy]

Add to this all the people complaining about the audio freezing, which can't be fixed without physically unplugging it from the wall because there's no power button.

This is what happens when you over-think a problem which only needed a simple solution.
More's the pity there aren't more comprehensive choices of 5K monitors.

Not even adding the camera quality which was "fixed"

 

[akbarali.ch]

Mine doesn't have that problem.

Either It's a different build or the condition required for it to buzz is not met. I hope it's former, good luck!

 

[antiprotest]

No issue here, users start to get paranoid and attack

Do you mean people imagine the noise and it's not really happening in any of the monitors?

 

[ghanwani]

Also over-engineered like I might sound old but why does a display need to run a version of iOS and optimized for specific devices besides further tying people to a ecosystem? Just let me plug in a cable to any laptop and that’s it 🤷🏼‍♂️

How to charge 5x over the competition then?

 

[Lucas Curious]

I don’t have any buzzing but once is a while, very rarely, I need to unplug it from Mac and replug due to mouse freezing or sound freeze on YouTube video.

 

[MajorFubar]

It is fixed just with an software update…

The problem right there is the acceptance that something as benign as a monitor needs a software update.
Like I said, this is what happens when you over-think a problem which only needed a simple solution.

 

[mikethemartian]

I so much wanted this display to be a good one, I wanted to replace my thunderbolt display. But this SD is crap, I'll eventually buy it once the used price comes down to the level it deserves. The current price is way too high

I’ve had my thunderbolt display for almost ten years and I have not had a single issue with it.

 

[dlewis23]

Can the high-pitched electrical whine still be heard over the whining coming from owners who paid $1600 for an $800 monitor?

Show me an $800 5K display?

 

[JPack]

It’s clearly Apple’s built-in reminder to upgrade to the mini LED version as we approach October.

 

[cardfan]

Is it just me or is this product one of the most crappiest products Apple ever created. Lol.

along with HomePod and AirPods Max? Lol

 

[mikethemartian]

It is fixed just with an software update…

Apple should put that on a T-shirt.

 

[falkon-engine]

Sucks to realize that you’re nothing more than a beta tester of an expensive device.

 

[currocj]

didn’t the original LG 5K have a shielding issue?