My output sound selection keeps changing

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My output sound selection keeps changing

I have a new 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro. I'm running Monterey 12.3

I've got three possible sound output choices:

MacBook Pro speakers
LED Cinema Display speakers
Apogee Quartet audio interface.

I'm really wanting to use the Quartet, but this problem affects even the LED Cinema speakers. Here's what's happening:

If I pick either the LED Cinema or the Quartet as my output sound choice (in the System Preferences dialog), everything works fine for a minute or so. Then my selected output choice disappears from the System Preferences dialog and I temporarily hear through the laptop speakers for a second or two. Then it switches back. This continually cycles and is most irritating.

How do I fix it?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.3

Posted on Mar 30, 2022 6:54 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mark Stockwell Author

Level 1

67 points

Mar 30, 2022 7:38 PM in response to Mark Stockwell

Well, it seems I may have the problem figured out.

Both the quartet audio interface and the Apple LED Cinema Display output to one of the old USB cables. But my MacBook Pro only wants USB C or Thunderbolt. So, I ran the USB devices through a oldish Belkin USB hub that output to USB C.

And this worked for my previous intel-based MacBook Pro.

So, after typing this in, I went and randomly moved the USB cable from the Belkin to a more pricey CalDigit hub.

Everything seems to work now.

It seems the USB hub (Belkin) is no longer compatible with the M1 Powerbooks.

The moral of the story seems to be that you need to check on hub compatibility when you move to newer hardware!

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My output sound selection keeps changing

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