10.6.4 USB Pro Speakers (G4 Cube) don't work on Macbook Pro

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Level 1

1 points

10.6.4 USB Pro Speakers (G4 Cube) don't work on Macbook Pro

I updated to 10.6.4 and my USB Pro Speakers (G4 Cube) don't work but they worked with 10.6.3. These speakers match this Macbook Pro beautifully and I'd like to get them working again.

System Preferences shows USB as an Output Source in Sound Preferences and I can turn the volume up and down but nothing comes out.

I created a new account, same issue. I even deleted com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist hoping that would fix it and nothing.

They still work as verified by my roommates machine that's running 10.6.3 :/

help?

MacBookPro5,1, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jun 18, 2010 1:23 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

MacMan118

Level 1

4 points

Mar 31, 2017 2:06 PM in response to MichelPM

Hello MichelPM!

I understand what you mean, there's a bit of a confusion with these types of speakers.

Basically Apple had 2 types of Pro Speakers, one was for the iMac G4 & the other ones were for the G4 Cube (I've attached pictures to show the difference).

The Apple G4 Cube came with the USB Pro Speakers. They are extremely hard to find because they weren't sold separately, however if you ever see a pair definitely get them! An easy way to tell them apart from the iMac G4 speakers is that they have a black circle around the chrome speaker, and are linked to a small black Apple box that outputs to USB.

Here's the tutorial on how to connect the G4 Cube Speakers easily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_t4vF1LEDw

The iMac G4 speakers use a strange round connector that will only work with an iMac G4 or Powermac G4. However, you can buy an adaptor, but it isn't cheap (link below).

iMac G4 Pro Speaker Adaptor: https://www.amazon.com/Griffin-iFire-Amplifier-Adapter-iPod/dp/B00013MRT8

Hopefully this helps!

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2017 3:50 PM in response to mgnagy

THERE IS A WAY!

I realize it might be late for some people, but I created a video explaining how to get the Apple G4 USB Cube Speakers to work with brand new Macbooks/Macs without dismantlingthem or buying expensive adaptors. Check the link before you go anywhere else!

I hope this helps you!

How To Use Pro Speakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_t4vF1LEDw

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Answer 3

MichelPM

Level 10

80,998 points

Mar 31, 2017 1:51 PM in response to MacMan118

Have no idea how you are getting those G4 speakers to work.

The G4 speakers had a proprietary Apple audio connector on them.

How did you convert that pin connection to USB to use with USB on newer Macs?

I saw some Apple connection box in your video.

Apple G4 desktop owners never got this special MacBook/PowerBook G4 speaker power/converter box.

These speakers worked with Apple iMacs, Cubes and G4 tower models without that extra piece of kit.

Just plugged into the back of the desktop Macs using a special Apple proprietary connection.

So, without that special Apple laptop connection box Mac users who bought these speakers to use with their Apple G4 Cube/iMac/Tower still can't convert these speakers without that special Macbook power/converter box.

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Answer 4

Jun 19, 2010 2:49 PM in response to mgnagy

(re-posting)
No Speakers after updating to 10.6.4

Using Macs daily since '85. After updating, no sound from the Apple USB Pro speakers I have since 1999. (Said to be Harman K. inside.)
The Intel-Mini 2009 generates the sound; it comes out from:
1) internal tiny speaker, 2) USB headset, 3) coaxial audio out socket.
The Apple Usb speakers "appear" in System Preferences>Sound and in System Profiler.app (and disappear when unplugged.) No warning msg whatsoever.

No avail with PRAM resetting (boing-boing)-- Safemode start-- Thrown away two Pref Panes having to do with "sound"-- The mythical permissions repaired-- Starting from other User-- moving USB plug-- maintenance scripts-- internal disk checked-- disk directory rebuilt (DiskW…) no error found but still no sound from speakers. Boot chime comes from the Mini's internal speaker.
-----
Workaround:
Starting up from external Firewire disk (previous System 10.6.3) puts everything back to normal! -- Then re-starting on the internal "startup disk" with 10.6.4 the speakers continue to work perfectly!
RE-start only, because if I shut the Mini off, when booting again on 10.6.4… no speakers again. -- Can we rule out the hardware? 🙂

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Answer 5

mgnagy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jun 19, 2010 4:50 PM in response to -MiniMax-

Annoying huh?

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Answer 6

trickbox

Level 1

4 points

Jun 20, 2010 2:35 AM in response to mgnagy

Same here with USB Pro Speakers in Mac Pro. Headphones work through when plugged into the headphone socket of the speakers!

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Answer 7

Jun 20, 2010 6:21 AM in response to mgnagy

Interesting. This is the exact same situation that I have with my MacPro when I updated to 10.6.4. BTW, I am using 10.6.4 server on the mac. The problem exists on the server OS as well.

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Answer 8

mhartt

Level 1

4 points

Jun 21, 2010 5:50 AM in response to mgnagy

Same problem here with 2008 Mac Pro running 10.6.4 and Apple USB Pro (Cube) speakers. They stopped working after the update. I tried most of the same things as others, but no success.

Too bad. I really like both the function and style of these speaker. I don't see any practical reason why they should have been desupported. Hopefully it's just a hiccup and someone will find a solution.

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Answer 9

Jun 21, 2010 6:02 AM in response to mhartt

You all should definitely report this problem officially to Apple via Apple's online feedback page. You can find that page here http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 10

mhartt

Level 1

4 points

Jun 21, 2010 6:46 AM in response to mgnagy

I continue to work on this and still have no solution, but I have discovered one interesting curiosity. The Apple Pro USB speakers have a little plastic junction box in the wiring between the speakers and the USB connector. This is where the headphone jack is located. If I plug ear buds into that connection then the audio works fine for the headphones. It just won't output beyond that to the external speakers. Weird.

So I'm convinced that the speaker failure is a software bug and not by design to discontinue support for these speakers.

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Answer 11

Jun 23, 2010 5:43 PM in response to mhartt

I saw in another discussion where someone fixed the issue doing a workaround. Their Username is minimax and I had a prob. with the
10.6.4 update and the Apple Pro speakers. I did this workaround and it worked. Thanks minimax 🙂

Workaround:
Starting up from external Firewire disk (previous System 10.6.3) puts everything back to normal! -- Then re-starting on the internal "startup disk" with 10.6.4 the speakers continue to work perfectly!
RE-start only, because if I shut the Mini off, when booting again on 10.6.4… no speakers again. -- Can we rule out the hardware? 🙂

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Answer 12

loatswil

Level 1

14 points

Jun 25, 2010 8:28 AM in response to mgnagy

Same deal here with USB M7963 speakers on Macbook Pro.

I thought they were working initially (after the 10.6.4 upgrade). I thought they stopped working when the monitor was switched off (using the USB on the monitor). I restarted and now I have no sound from USB.

Since then I have done all the regular maintenance with no luck. The speakers work fine on my old dual G5 running 10.5.

Any ideas?

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Answer 13

mgnagy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 1, 2010 12:12 PM in response to loatswil

So are most USB speakers not working with 10.6.4 or what?

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Answer 14

John0

Level 1

9 points

Jul 13, 2010 7:04 PM in response to mgnagy

Add Logitech portable USB speakers and headset to the list!

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Answer 15

DMBmelch

Level 1

8 points

Jul 14, 2010 10:40 AM in response to mgnagy

Same problem here. Been using these speakers everyday for years, and 10.6.4 seems to have "broken" the audio output on them.

Please fix this soon Apple!

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