diff --git a/getstream/video/rtc/audio_track.py b/getstream/video/rtc/audio_track.py
index c191ad18..975e07c5 100644
--- a/getstream/video/rtc/audio_track.py
+++ b/getstream/video/rtc/audio_track.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async def write(self, pcm: PcmData):
                 )
 
                 # Drop from the beginning of the buffer to keep latest data
-                self._buffer = self._buffer[bytes_to_drop:]
+                del self._buffer[:bytes_to_drop]
 
             buffer_duration_ms = (
                 len(self._buffer)
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ async def recv(self) -> Frame:
             if len(self._buffer) >= self._bytes_per_frame:
                 # We have enough data
                 audio_bytes = bytes(self._buffer[: self._bytes_per_frame])
-                self._buffer = self._buffer[self._bytes_per_frame :]
+                del self._buffer[: self._bytes_per_frame]
             elif len(self._buffer) > 0:
                 # We have some data but not enough - pad with silence
                 audio_bytes = bytes(self._buffer)
diff --git a/tests/test_audio_stream_track.py b/tests/test_audio_stream_track.py
index ec4384bc..a418b3be 100644
--- a/tests/test_audio_stream_track.py
+++ b/tests/test_audio_stream_track.py
@@ -302,6 +302,71 @@ async def _continuous_reader(self, track):
             frames_received += 1
             assert frame.samples == 960
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_recv_does_not_reallocate_buffer(self):
+        """Test that recv consumes data in-place without creating a new buffer object."""
+        track = AudioStreamTrack(sample_rate=48000, channels=1, format="s16")
+
+        # Write 40ms of data (enough for 2 frames)
+        samples = np.zeros(1920, dtype=np.int16)
+        pcm = PcmData(
+            samples=samples,
+            sample_rate=48000,
+            format=AudioFormat.S16,
+            channels=1,
+        )
+        await track.write(pcm)
+
+        buffer_ref = track._buffer  # save reference before recv
+
+        # Receive a frame (consumes 20ms from buffer)
+        await track.recv()
+
+        assert track._buffer is buffer_ref, (
+            "recv should modify buffer in-place, not create a new one"
+        )
+        assert len(track._buffer) == 960 * 2, (
+            "should have 20ms of data remaining (960 samples * 2 bytes)"
+        )
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_buffer_overflow_does_not_reallocate(self):
+        """Test that buffer overflow trims in-place without creating a new buffer object."""
+        track = AudioStreamTrack(
+            sample_rate=48000, channels=1, format="s16", audio_buffer_size_ms=100
+        )
+
+        # Write 50ms of data first to get a buffer reference
+        samples_50ms = np.zeros(2400, dtype=np.int16)
+        pcm = PcmData(
+            samples=samples_50ms,
+            sample_rate=48000,
+            format=AudioFormat.S16,
+            channels=1,
+        )
+        await track.write(pcm)
+        buffer_ref = track._buffer  # save reference before overflow
+
+        # Write 200ms of data (exceeds 100ms limit, triggers overflow trim)
+        samples_200ms = np.zeros(9600, dtype=np.int16)
+        pcm_large = PcmData(
+            samples=samples_200ms,
+            sample_rate=48000,
+            format=AudioFormat.S16,
+            channels=1,
+        )
+        await track.write(pcm_large)
+
+        assert track._buffer is buffer_ref, (
+            "overflow trim should modify buffer in-place, not create a new one"
+        )
+        max_buffer_seconds = 100 / 1000
+        bytes_per_sample = 2
+        expected_max_bytes = int(max_buffer_seconds * 48000) * bytes_per_sample
+        assert len(track._buffer) == expected_max_bytes, (
+            "buffer should be trimmed to configured max size"
+        )
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_media_stream_error(self):
         """Test that MediaStreamError is raised when track is not live."""