fried sound card - repair or add external?

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Level 1

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fried sound card - repair or add external?

After a nearbly lightning strike, my stereo receiver and iMac's sound card both seem to be toast. They were connected via a RCA cable > 1/8" plug to the Mac's headphone jack. Now, System Prefs >Sound shows "no output devices found", and About This Mac > System Report > Audio shows nothing.

I've run through the recommended fixes, and Diagnostic restart shows no error.

Is it worth my trying to have this repaired, or should I simply buy an external sound card/DAC? My insurance sounds like it will likely cover either option, though I'd rather not go to my nearest Apple Store (1 hr. drive) and have to leave the computer for who knows how long....

Thanks!

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.14

Posted on Mar 30, 2021 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

rkaufmann87

Level 10

143,742 points

Mar 30, 2021 8:39 AM in response to jotis

There is no separate sound card like old tower PC's in Mac. The sound portion is integrated onto the main logic board so if you want a repair done you would need to install a new main logic board which is quite expensive. Going forward ensure to keep your electronics on a VERY high quality surge protector and even better to turn them off and disconnect the power during lightening storms.

Depending on the age of the computer, you may want to consider replacing it.

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Answer 2

jotis Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2021 10:08 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks for the reply. I did have the computer plugged into a surge protector, but *not* the stereo, so... live and learn, I guess. Lightning isn't that common where I live, esp. this early in the year.

I doubt my insurance co. will be too happy with replacing the computer, so it sounds like adding an external DAC may be the way to go.

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Answer 3

jotis Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2021 10:52 AM in response to rkaufmann87

I'm not sure why it wouldn't work - the USB ports all seem to be fine, and that's where the DAC would plug in. That solution would bypass the Mac's "sound chip"(?) entirely, which seems to be the source of my problem.

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Answer 4

TheLittles

Level 10

195,413 points

Mar 30, 2021 11:07 AM in response to jotis

jotis Said:

"fried sound card - repair or add external?: After a nearbly lightning strike[...]"

-------

Lightning Strike:

Just curious - how close is "nearby"? The ground rumpled when it happened yesterday about 10 feet from the door at work. Luckily the UPS was on at the time of occurrence.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

143,742 points

Mar 30, 2021 10:33 AM in response to jotis

You can try an external DAC, however if the circuitry in the iMac was damaged then it won't work. However, you won't know until you try it.

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Answer 6

jotis Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2021 11:11 AM in response to TheLittles

I'm honestly not sure - close enough that there was no delay between flash & thunder, and it blew the breaker/transformer for my (short) road's power. I haven't seen where it physically struck.

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fried sound card - repair or add external?

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