Mac Audio Output Stops Working Sometimes

Update May 2019:  Happened again but this time I had to toggle it a few times. I.e. start dictation then click done. After that took a few seconds for audio to come back.

This was driving me nuts. Turns out I was triggering the voice dictation by accident.

I have mine set to a double tap on the Command key to turn it on. But every once in a while it would turn on and I would miss the 'doink' sound effect cluing me in.

Look for this icon on your screen:

Click 'Done' and you're done and back to listening to classic 80s hair metal.

Pick up some batteries for that onboard CMOS battery you never change while you're here.