Audio dropouts across all video playback

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Audio dropouts across all video playback

I've noticed this problem with video playback for the last few days, and it seems to be getting worse. It's the audio which drops out for a second while the video seems to play on fine.

I noticed this first on YouTube in Firefox (which I use a lot), then I saw it in Safari, then I noticed these drop outs from BitChute videos. I then tried an MP4 from my hard disk, paying straight with QuickTime and experienced the same drop outs - this did not use to happen.

It seems to play OK for the first few seconds before it happens. Could it be a buffering issue? Even if I pause the video and the YT bar shows grey (having buffered the vid?) versus black, it still has this problem. A new virus, maybe?

I ran a couple virus checkers and one found 1 infection - but the problem remains. I doubt Mark Paterson and I are the only ones having this issue.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: HTML5 video playback issues on Mac Studio M2 Ultra with Tahoe 26.0.1

Mac Studio

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 10:20 AM

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Answer 1

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WalterK123 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 29, 2025 3:54 PM in response to WalterK123

I think I've found my problem. Yes, MY problem.

I had another set of computer speakers I was able to dig up so I switched to these and adjusted the volume way up. No drop outs. (Yet. Probably fixed, tho.)

I guess my old computer speakers (Logitech, fwiw) 'wore out' and can't take higher volume anymore. (How does that happen?)

Anyway, I'm back to usual listening volume. I hope someone finds this helpful.

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Answer 2

WalterK123 Author

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Oct 28, 2025 1:31 PM in response to WalterK123

By chance, I discovered that when the audio is blanking out during video playback, I can lower the sound output to 50% or 25% or so in QT and in YT/Firefox and the sound plays normally. That's a weird problem! This is on my 21.5" 2019 iMac, now running 15.7.1.

Apple, can you investigate?

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2025 3:27 AM in response to WalterK123

WalterK123 wrote:

By chance, I discovered that when the audio is blanking out during video playback, I can lower the sound output to 50% or 25% or so in QT and in YT/Firefox and the sound plays normally. That's a weird problem! This is on my 21.5" 2019 iMac, now running 15.7.1.