Upgraded to Tahoe, USB SPDIF audio garbled / static

I've got a M1 MBpro and I'm using KLIM PUMA USB headset (through a dock & directly with USB-C). I'm getting the same static issue and the amount of time varies between 1,50 min and 48 min (I did a LOT of testing over the past 5 days since upgrading to Tahoe 26.0.1). I could switch the audio device as a temporary fix. I could also do "Sudo killall coreaudiod" in Terminal again as a temporary fix; but eventually the static would return. It didn't matter if I was using Chrome, Safari, Apple+ TV, VLC or playing a game with an app (e.g. Diablo 3/Battle.net launcher).

On a positive note the issue does not occur when I use an HDMI cable/audio output to TV/monitor, Apple AirPods, Apple Headphones or MBpro internal speakers.

JerkyChew wrote:

Mac Mini M4. I recently upgraded to MacOS Tahoe 26.0. I have a USB to SPDIF adapter plugged into a Sonos Beam which I am using for my primary audio output.

For your third party —if in doubt search the developers website or contact their: Support/Help/FAQ/Known issues/compatibility/updates…

Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

I see this on a M1 macbook pro with a USB headset. It occurs both with chrome/youtube and apple TV. After a few minutes the audio becomes staticy. If I stop the show and start it ago, the problem goes away for a few minutes. The issue also occurs with Tahoe 26.0.1

I'm having this too.

M2 MacBook Air, JBL Pebbles USB speakers connected to an OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock. I've used this setup for years, and there's no trouble with my Microsoft Surface.

It works fine at first, but as time goes on, the audio gets staticky and garbled, and is finally indecipherable in about 30 minutes. Disconnecting and reconnecting buys me another few minutes of listenable audio.

Some audio producers are having trouble with USB pro audio interfaces not even being recognized unless they are plugged in directly to the Mac (no hubs). I haven't tried that with the USB speakers, but I suspect it's related.

This absolutely must be fixed.

No drivers are necessary for USB audio devices, and this thread (and others) demonstrates that the problem occurs with a wide variety of devices.

It is not particularly helpful to refer people to the manufacturer of whatever USB device they happen to have when people using all sorts of plug and play USB devices are having a problem.

Every new OS version lately introduces new bugs, some of which are showstoppers like this one. Over a year later, all my computers on Sonoma have LAN connection drops, and I can't use Little Snitch anymore. The problem didn't go away; we just got used to it.

This is shameful.

[Edited by Moderator]