coreaudiod spikes to 1000% CPU when notifications are received with sound on

I'm unable to duplicate your problem, i.e. pressing Esc while in Activity Monitor.

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

lt_gs wrote:

I'm on Ventura 13.4 and this has been happening for most of the life of this laptop. This issues seems to only occur when I have sound on.

If I have BT headphones on, or I simply have my speakers unmuted (without BT), and I received either a notification sound (from any/all apps) or create a system sound (eg. pressing escape from Activity Monitor such that it makes the system pop sound), my coreaudiod process CPU usage spikes locking the Mac up briefly. It quickly returns to normal after.

This makes the Mac very unusuable with sound on.

This spiking does not occur if I am playing audio (eg. spotify).

"BT headphones on"

no brand name, no reference...hard to speculate here— verify all update to these "BT headphones" software/drivers/updates(?) If in doubt refer to the developers website.

Compare your results without BT headphones and compare your results...

Try a different BT device and compare your results...

Further—

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

To trouble shoot:

—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 

—A SafeBoot How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Takes a bit longer to get to the login screen, does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, font cache, etc., third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.

Hey ya'll! I am just checking in here is someone found a solution to this. Been struggling with a very similar thing

lt_gs wrote:

The only thing I have from this category is Tailscale.

Here's some food for thought:

Unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint.  Read these two articles: Public VPN's are anything but private and Former Malware Distributor Kape Technologies Now Owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, Zenmate, and a Collection of VPN “Review” Websites. 

If it's a work requirement and the VPN run by the company will be very safe for connecting to their servers.

Some VPNs have been noted to affect system performance but I think your issue is not in the same category.