diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/AudioDevices.cpp b/interface/src/scripting/AudioDevices.cpp
index 688b4df8cd..31b3e9ecee 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/AudioDevices.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/AudioDevices.cpp
@@ -287,18 +287,19 @@ void AudioDeviceList::onDevicesChanged(QAudio::Mode mode, const QList<HifiAudioD
     bool desktopIsSelected = false;
     
     checkHmdDefaultsChange(mode);
-    if (!_backupSelectedDesktopDeviceName.isEmpty() && !_backupSelectedHMDDeviceName.isEmpty()) {
-        foreach(const HifiAudioDeviceInfo& deviceInfo, devices) {
-            for (bool isHMD : {false, true}) {
-                auto& backupSelectedDeviceName = isHMD ? _backupSelectedHMDDeviceName : _backupSelectedDesktopDeviceName;
-                if (deviceInfo.deviceName() == backupSelectedDeviceName) {
-                    if (isHMD && deviceInfo.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::desktop) {
-                        _selectedHMDDevice= deviceInfo;
-                        backupSelectedDeviceName.clear();
-                    } else if (!isHMD && deviceInfo.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::hmd) {
-                        _selectedDesktopDevice = deviceInfo;
-                        backupSelectedDeviceName.clear();
-                    }
+    HifiAudioDeviceInfo oldHmdDevice = HifiAudioDeviceInfo(_selectedHMDDevice);
+    HifiAudioDeviceInfo oldDesktopDevice = HifiAudioDeviceInfo(_selectedDesktopDevice);
+
+    foreach(const HifiAudioDeviceInfo& deviceInfo, devices) {
+        for (bool isHMD : {false, true}) {
+            auto& backupSelectedDeviceName = isHMD ? _backupSelectedHMDDeviceName : _backupSelectedDesktopDeviceName;
+            if (deviceInfo.deviceName() == backupSelectedDeviceName) {
+                if (isHMD && deviceInfo.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::desktop) {
+                    _selectedHMDDevice = deviceInfo;
+                    backupSelectedDeviceName.clear();
+                } else if (!isHMD && deviceInfo.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::hmd) {
+                    _selectedDesktopDevice = deviceInfo;
+                    backupSelectedDeviceName.clear();
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -345,17 +346,12 @@ void AudioDeviceList::onDevicesChanged(QAudio::Mode mode, const QList<HifiAudioD
         for (bool isHMD : {false, true}) {
             HifiAudioDeviceInfo& selectedDevice = isHMD ? _selectedHMDDevice : _selectedDesktopDevice;
             bool& isSelected = isHMD ? device.selectedHMD : device.selectedDesktop;
+            isSelected = !selectedDevice.getDevice().isNull() && (device.info == selectedDevice);
 
-            if (!selectedDevice.getDevice().isNull()) {
-                isSelected = (device.info == selectedDevice);
-            }
-            else {
-                //no selected device for context. fallback to saved
-                QString& savedDeviceName = isHMD ? _hmdSavedDeviceName : _desktopSavedDeviceName;
-
-                if (device.info.deviceName() == savedDeviceName) {
-                    if ((isHMD && device.info.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::desktop) ||
-                        (!isHMD && device.info.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::hmd)) {
+            if (!isSelected) {
+                if (selectedDevice.isDefault() && device.info.isDefault()) {
+                    if ((isHMD && device.info.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::desktop) || (!isHMD && device.info.getDeviceType() != HifiAudioDeviceInfo::hmd)) {
+                        selectedDevice = device.info;
                         isSelected = true;
                     }
                 }
@@ -367,19 +363,6 @@ void AudioDeviceList::onDevicesChanged(QAudio::Mode mode, const QList<HifiAudioD
                 } else {
                     desktopIsSelected = isSelected;
                 }
-
-                // check if this device *is not* in old devices list - it means it was just re-plugged so needs to be selected explicitly
-                bool isNewDevice = true;
-                for (auto& oldDevice : _devices) {
-                    if (oldDevice->info.deviceName() == device.info.deviceName()) {
-                        isNewDevice = false;
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-
-                if (isNewDevice) {
-                    emit selectedDevicePlugged(device.info, isHMD);
-                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -403,6 +386,15 @@ void AudioDeviceList::onDevicesChanged(QAudio::Mode mode, const QList<HifiAudioD
 
     _devices.swap(newDevices);
     endResetModel();
+    
+    if (_selectedHMDDevice.isDefault() && _selectedHMDDevice != oldHmdDevice) {
+        emit selectedDevicePlugged(_selectedHMDDevice,true);
+    }
+
+    if (_selectedDesktopDevice.isDefault() && _selectedDesktopDevice != oldDesktopDevice) {
+        emit selectedDevicePlugged(_selectedDesktopDevice, false);
+    }
+    
 }
 
 bool AudioInputDeviceList::peakValuesAvailable() {
@@ -443,19 +435,6 @@ AudioDevices::AudioDevices(bool& contextIsHMD) : _contextIsHMD(contextIsHMD) {
     
     checkHmdDefaultsChange(QAudio::AudioInput);
     checkHmdDefaultsChange(QAudio::AudioOutput);
-
-    _inputs.onDeviceChanged(client->getActiveAudioDevice(QAudio::AudioInput), contextIsHMD);
-    _outputs.onDeviceChanged(client->getActiveAudioDevice(QAudio::AudioOutput), contextIsHMD);
-
-    // connections are made after client is initialized, so we must also fetch the devices
-    const QList<HifiAudioDeviceInfo>& devicesInput = client->getAudioDevices(QAudio::AudioInput);
-    const QList<HifiAudioDeviceInfo>& devicesOutput = client->getAudioDevices(QAudio::AudioOutput);
-
-    if (devicesInput.size() > 0 && devicesOutput.size() > 0) {
-        //setup devices
-        _inputs.onDevicesChanged(QAudio::AudioInput, devicesInput);
-        _outputs.onDevicesChanged(QAudio::AudioOutput, devicesOutput);
-    }
 }
 
 AudioDevices::~AudioDevices() {}
@@ -526,29 +505,12 @@ void AudioDevices::onDevicesChanged(QAudio::Mode mode, const QList<HifiAudioDevi
     static std::once_flag once;
     std::call_once(once, [&] {
         //readout settings
-        auto client = DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>().data();
-
         _inputs._hmdSavedDeviceName = getTargetDevice(true, QAudio::AudioInput);
         _inputs._desktopSavedDeviceName = getTargetDevice(false, QAudio::AudioInput);
 
-        //fallback to default device
-        if (_inputs._desktopSavedDeviceName.isEmpty()) {
-            _inputs._desktopSavedDeviceName = client->getActiveAudioDevice(QAudio::AudioInput).deviceName();
-        }
-        //fallback to desktop device
-        if (_inputs._hmdSavedDeviceName.isEmpty()) {
-            _inputs._hmdSavedDeviceName = _inputs._desktopSavedDeviceName;
-        }
-
         _outputs._hmdSavedDeviceName = getTargetDevice(true, QAudio::AudioOutput);
         _outputs._desktopSavedDeviceName = getTargetDevice(false, QAudio::AudioOutput);
 
-        if (_outputs._desktopSavedDeviceName.isEmpty()) {
-            _outputs._desktopSavedDeviceName = client->getActiveAudioDevice(QAudio::AudioOutput).deviceName();
-        }
-        if (_outputs._hmdSavedDeviceName.isEmpty()) {
-            _outputs._hmdSavedDeviceName = _outputs._desktopSavedDeviceName;
-        }
         onContextChanged(QString());
     });
 
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
index d6faea4396..61e0a37161 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
@@ -153,9 +153,6 @@ void AudioClient::checkDevices() {
     auto inputDevices = getAvailableDevices(QAudio::AudioInput, hmdInputName);
     auto outputDevices = getAvailableDevices(QAudio::AudioOutput, hmdOutputName);
    
-    checkDefaultChanges(inputDevices);
-    checkDefaultChanges(outputDevices);
-
     Lock lock(_deviceMutex);
     if (inputDevices != _inputDevices) {
         _inputDevices.swap(inputDevices);
@@ -168,14 +165,6 @@ void AudioClient::checkDevices() {
     }
 }
 
-void AudioClient::checkDefaultChanges(QList<HifiAudioDeviceInfo>& devices) {
-    foreach(auto device, devices) {
-        if (device.isDefault()) {
-            QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "changeDefault", Q_ARG(HifiAudioDeviceInfo, device), Q_ARG(QAudio::Mode, device.getMode()));
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 HifiAudioDeviceInfo AudioClient::getActiveAudioDevice(QAudio::Mode mode) const {
     Lock lock(_deviceMutex);
 
@@ -996,13 +985,6 @@ void AudioClient::selectAudioFormat(const QString& selectedCodecName) {
 
 }
 
-void AudioClient::changeDefault(HifiAudioDeviceInfo newDefault, QAudio::Mode mode) {
-    HifiAudioDeviceInfo currentDevice = mode == QAudio::AudioInput ? _inputDeviceInfo : _outputDeviceInfo;
-    if (currentDevice.isDefault() && currentDevice.getDeviceType() == newDefault.getDeviceType()  && currentDevice.getDevice() != newDefault.getDevice()) {
-        switchAudioDevice(mode, newDefault);
-    }
-}
-
 bool AudioClient::switchAudioDevice(QAudio::Mode mode, const HifiAudioDeviceInfo& deviceInfo) {
     auto device = deviceInfo;
     if (deviceInfo.getDevice().isNull()) {
@@ -1883,11 +1865,8 @@ bool AudioClient::switchInputToAudioDevice(const HifiAudioDeviceInfo inputDevice
         qCDebug(audioclient) << "The audio input device" << inputDeviceInfo.deviceName() << ":" << inputDeviceInfo.getDevice().deviceName() << "is available.";
       
         //do not update UI that we're changing devices if default or same device
-        bool doEmit = _inputDeviceInfo.deviceName() != inputDeviceInfo.deviceName();
         _inputDeviceInfo = inputDeviceInfo;
-        if (doEmit) {
-            emit deviceChanged(QAudio::AudioInput, _inputDeviceInfo);
-        }
+        emit deviceChanged(QAudio::AudioInput, _inputDeviceInfo);
 
         if (adjustedFormatForAudioDevice(_inputDeviceInfo.getDevice(), _desiredInputFormat, _inputFormat)) {
             qCDebug(audioclient) << "The format to be used for audio input is" << _inputFormat;
@@ -2125,11 +2104,8 @@ bool AudioClient::switchOutputToAudioDevice(const HifiAudioDeviceInfo outputDevi
         qCDebug(audioclient) << "The audio output device" << outputDeviceInfo.deviceName() << ":" << outputDeviceInfo.getDevice().deviceName() << "is available.";
         
         //do not update UI that we're changing devices if default or same device
-        bool doEmit = _outputDeviceInfo.deviceName() != outputDeviceInfo.deviceName();
         _outputDeviceInfo = outputDeviceInfo;
-        if (doEmit) {
-            emit deviceChanged(QAudio::AudioOutput, _outputDeviceInfo);
-        }
+        emit deviceChanged(QAudio::AudioOutput, _outputDeviceInfo);
 
         if (adjustedFormatForAudioDevice(_outputDeviceInfo.getDevice(), _desiredOutputFormat, _outputFormat)) {
             qCDebug(audioclient) << "The format to be used for audio output is" << _outputFormat;
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.h b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.h
index dafa81081c..e31b4789ce 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.h
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.h
@@ -237,8 +237,6 @@ public slots:
     int setOutputBufferSize(int numFrames, bool persist = true);
 
     bool shouldLoopbackInjectors() override { return _shouldEchoToServer; }
-    Q_INVOKABLE void changeDefault(HifiAudioDeviceInfo newDefault, QAudio::Mode mode);
-    void checkDefaultChanges(QList<HifiAudioDeviceInfo>& devices);
 
     // calling with a null QAudioDevice will use the system default
     bool switchAudioDevice(QAudio::Mode mode, const HifiAudioDeviceInfo& deviceInfo = HifiAudioDeviceInfo());
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.cpp b/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.cpp
index 73d0670fa6..2a4c9065f4 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ HifiAudioDeviceInfo& HifiAudioDeviceInfo::operator=(const HifiAudioDeviceInfo& o
     _mode = other.getMode();
     _isDefault = other.isDefault();
     _deviceType = other.getDeviceType();
+    _debugName = other.getDevice().deviceName();
     return *this;
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.h b/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.h
index 5bc7125574..ddf5493241 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.h
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/HifiAudioDeviceInfo.h
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ public:
         _mode = deviceInfo.getMode();
         _isDefault = deviceInfo.isDefault();
         _deviceType = deviceInfo.getDeviceType();
+        _debugName = deviceInfo.getDevice().deviceName();
     }
 
     HifiAudioDeviceInfo(QAudioDeviceInfo deviceInfo, bool isDefault, QAudio::Mode mode, DeviceType devType=both) :
         _audioDeviceInfo(deviceInfo),
         _isDefault(isDefault),
         _mode(mode),
-        _deviceType(devType){
+        _deviceType(devType),
+        _debugName(deviceInfo.deviceName()) {
     }
     
     void setMode(QAudio::Mode mode) { _mode = mode; }
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ private:
     bool _isDefault { false };
     QAudio::Mode _mode { QAudio::AudioInput };
     DeviceType _deviceType{ both };
+    QString _debugName;
 
 public:
     static const QString DEFAULT_DEVICE_NAME;