Audio not working on 27" display, Mac Mini

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Audio not working on 27" display, Mac Mini

I received my new display last week - was working great, including the sound. Now, I can't get any audio output out of the display at all. (Switching to the built-in internal speaker works fine, so I know it's not a general issue.) I installed the relevant software update soon after plugging in the display.

This seems like a software issue to me because some other things are weird. When the audio output is set to Display Audio, changing the volume up and down is very slow instead of instant. It actually takes a few seconds to register the up or down volume keypress. If I drag the volume slider in system preferences > Audio, I even see the wheel icon spinning for a while. Although no volume setting results in any sound output.

I restarted the computer and unplugged / replugged both the mini display port and the USB connection. Any ideas?

(The display part works fine, BTW!)

Thanks - ATM

Mac Mini (not the latest one but one generation previous), Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 4, 2010 8:41 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 4, 2010 10:36 AM in response to atmcclain

I am having the same problem. Has anyone else run into this and come up with a solution?

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Answer 2

reichea

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10 points

Oct 4, 2010 11:33 AM in response to atmcclain

Try this - it has worked for my sound issues with my new 27" ACD:

Delete the com.apple.soundpref.plist from the MAIN LIBRARY>PREFERENCES - (not the users library PREFERENCE folder).

Again, in the same MAIN LIBRARY>PREFERENCES folder, go into the AUDIO folder and delete com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist and com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist

Reselect the sound device you want as your default in the Sound Preference Pane.

Restart your computer.

None of this will harm your system, but hopefully it will solve your problem. 🙂

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Answer 3

atmcclain Author

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Oct 4, 2010 12:29 PM in response to reichea

Hi Reichea:

Thanks for the suggestion. I did not have the first file anywhere on my system (that I could find - not in the Mail Library > Preferences folder). I did have the second two files within the audio subfolder. I deleted those and restarted, but unfortunately it did not resolve my problem.

A bit more detail - the display's microphone also appears NOT to work. The built-in iSight and USB hub are OK, however.

Thanks - ATM

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Answer 4

reichea

Level 1

10 points

Oct 4, 2010 1:38 PM in response to atmcclain

Sorry to hear that. Do you have an Apple Store near you? I would take it there and have them test it, or maybe even take your whole system in and let them make it work for you.

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Answer 5

atmcclain Author

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Oct 4, 2010 2:48 PM in response to reichea

The sound isn't crucial for me now, so I'm going to wait a few days and see if any news pops up. I wouldn't be surprised to see a software update on this soon (if I'm right that it's some weird bug and not something I'm just missing).

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Answer 6

fox7

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2010 3:02 PM in response to atmcclain

The following, restored audio for my new 27" display:

- shut down your mac
- unplug the power cord from the display
...wait 20 seconds...
- plug in the power cord for the display
- start up your mac

-> audio should be restored to your 27" display

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Answer 7

pdxgoat

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Oct 4, 2010 3:27 PM in response to fox7

fox7's technique worked for me.

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Answer 8

atmcclain Author

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Oct 4, 2010 4:51 PM in response to atmcclain

Great! This worked for me too. Thanks very much - I suppose it needed some kind of 'hard reset.'

Marked as answered - unless of course the problem comes back...

Appreciate it greatly - Anselm

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Answer 9

Mictons

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2010 4:50 AM in response to atmcclain

I have been experiencing the same problem, I can unplug the monitor power to get the sound to return but after a day or two I check and it is gone again, I have been fighting this problem for a couple of weeks and am going to make a trip to the Apple Store to see if I can get a permanent fix.

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Answer 10

pdxgoat

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Oct 5, 2010 8:32 AM in response to Mictons

Yep, unplugging was only a temporary solution for me also. Seems like we need a software update from Apple.

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Answer 11

Oct 5, 2010 8:13 PM in response to atmcclain

I'm having similar problems. Display audio, microphone and iSight camera all have issues. Tried to reset the audio preferences but I'm still having issues days later. Wondering if I should exchange it or wait for a software fix?

Message was edited by: basictheory

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Answer 12

Oct 6, 2010 12:22 AM in response to basictheory

+1 on needing a software update. I downloaded the software update released on September 22 (described at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1107) but I'm not seeing the new "LED Cinema" listing in my sound preference pane as seen below:

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Answer 13

atmcclain Author

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Oct 6, 2010 9:14 AM in response to Daniel Genser

Hi Daniel:

I'm not positive about this, but I believe the "LED Cinema" option will only display if your Mac outputs audio through the mini display port. I believe only the newest generations of Macs do this, where as my (one generation old) Mac Mini does not.

Do you have "Display Audio | USB" as an option? That should be equivalent - it's just that the display is using the USB connection to run audio instead of the display port. The issue in this thread is that sometimes that fails and the display needs to be un/re-plugged to get it working again. Maybe they didn't test the USB audio option as thoroughly as the display port option.

I, too, found that screenshot on the support page confusing, BTW.

Best - ATM

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Answer 14

Oct 6, 2010 12:47 PM in response to atmcclain

+1

I'm having the exact same issues as the OP. I can get it to come back temporarily by using the "down volume" key on the keyboard, but switching around in apps makes the sound drop out.

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Answer 15

Mictons

Level 1

8 points

Oct 7, 2010 6:28 AM in response to atmcclain

I just got off the phone with support and they had me load the 27" software update Again! And told me to call back if it continues. If you are having this issue please call Apple so it will get some visibility. I told him there are threads going in this forum and on the MacRumors website with the same issue but they need to hear from us. He gave me a case number to call back on because I told him I will be calling every time it happens.

Dont know about you guys but I expect the sound to work all the time on a $1000.00 monitor!

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