diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
index 77094f928b..189003875d 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
@@ -164,28 +164,29 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             ApproachCircle.Expire(true);
         }
 
+        protected override void UpdateStartTimeStateTransforms()
+        {
+            base.UpdateStartTimeStateTransforms();
+
+            ApproachCircle.FadeOut(50);
+        }
+
         protected override void UpdateHitStateTransforms(ArmedState state)
         {
             Debug.Assert(HitObject.HitWindows != null);
 
+            // todo: temporary / arbitrary, used for lifetime optimisation.
+            this.Delay(800).FadeOut();
+
             switch (state)
             {
                 case ArmedState.Idle:
-                    this.Delay(HitObject.TimePreempt).FadeOut(500);
                     HitArea.HitAction = null;
                     break;
 
                 case ArmedState.Miss:
-                    ApproachCircle.FadeOut(50);
                     this.FadeOut(100);
                     break;
-
-                case ArmedState.Hit:
-                    ApproachCircle.FadeOut(50);
-
-                    // todo: temporary / arbitrary
-                    this.Delay(800).FadeOut();
-                    break;
             }
 
             Expire();
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
index 3d614c2dbd..32a0a14dc0 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
         private Bindable<bool> isSpinning;
         private bool spinnerFrequencyModulate;
 
+        private const double fade_out_duration = 160;
+
         public DrawableSpinner()
             : this(null)
         {
@@ -131,12 +133,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             if (tracking.NewValue)
             {
                 if (!spinningSample.IsPlaying)
-                    spinningSample?.Play();
-                spinningSample?.VolumeTo(1, 300);
+                    spinningSample.Play();
+
+                spinningSample.VolumeTo(1, 300);
             }
             else
             {
-                spinningSample?.VolumeTo(0, 300).OnComplete(_ => spinningSample.Stop());
+                spinningSample.VolumeTo(0, fade_out_duration);
             }
         }
 
@@ -173,7 +176,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
         {
             base.UpdateHitStateTransforms(state);
 
-            this.FadeOut(160).Expire();
+            this.FadeOut(fade_out_duration).OnComplete(_ =>
+            {
+                // looping sample should be stopped here as it is safer than running in the OnComplete
+                // of the volume transition above.
+                spinningSample.Stop();
+            });
+
+            Expire();
 
             // skin change does a rewind of transforms, which will stop the spinning sound from playing if it's currently in playback.
             isSpinning?.TriggerChange();
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/MainCirclePiece.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/MainCirclePiece.cs
index fcbe4c1b28..46aeadc59b 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/MainCirclePiece.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/MainCirclePiece.cs
@@ -74,10 +74,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Skinning.Default
 
         private void updateState(DrawableHitObject drawableObject, ArmedState state)
         {
-            using (BeginAbsoluteSequence(drawableObject.HitStateUpdateTime, true))
-            {
+            using (BeginAbsoluteSequence(drawableObject.StateUpdateTime))
                 glow.FadeOut(400);
 
+            using (BeginAbsoluteSequence(drawableObject.HitStateUpdateTime))
+            {
                 switch (state)
                 {
                     case ArmedState.Hit: