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Use Internal Speakers While Headphones Plugged In

Hi All,

*Here's my setup:* I've got an iMac, an iPod dock, and a set of speakers. I use an AV switch to choose which input (computer or iPod) is played through the speakers.
*Here's my problem:* If I'm listening to the iPod, all sound from the computer is ignored. So, any sounds from the Mac (notifications, UI feedback, etc) aren't played.
*Here's what I'd like to do:* Be able to choose whether the iMac's internal speakers play even though there's something in the output jack. I've tried MIDI Setup, sound prefs, and SoundSource; but none of them let me turn on the internal speakers while there's something plugged in.

Any ideas?

+Thanks in advance!+

MacBook 2.4 ghz 4GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.6.4), MB June 2008, Nano 3G + 5G, AEBS 2008, Logitech 5.1, LaCie 2Big + Rugged, CS4 DP

Posted on Oct 10, 2010 1:41 PM

Reply
60 replies

Sep 21, 2013 10:30 AM in response to wildej

Try this:



1) Audio Hijack Pro software by RogueAmoeba, with the SoundFlower plugin.
2) Griffin iMic.
Once you've installed both the hardware and software, do the following:
1) In Hijack Pro, create a session with source type: audio device, and SoundFlower 2Ch as the input, and iMic as the output.
2) Create a second session again with source type: audio device, and SoundFlower 2Ch as the input, but change the output to "Built-in Output."
3) Click the "Hijack" button for both sessions, so Hijack Pro is hijacking audio from Soundflower and routing it to both outputs simultaneously.
4) In System Preferences/Sound, change sound output to "SoundFlower 2Ch".

Oct 12, 2013 2:42 AM in response to Sankar manoj

I agree!


iTonimerlot



Specific that I must not simultaneously use the output jack and the speakers of the iMac, but rather the one or the other, and for convenience I do not want every time having to remove the jack (access uncomfortable in my case).
I also tried to install Windows XP (dual boot without Boot Camp), and by doing so you can switch the output to cross the driver, it follows that the limitation is not hardware.
I also tried various utilities, such as Soundflower, but without the desired result.
If anyone has tested something working it please tell me.
I apologize for my GooglEnglish.

-------------

Nella mia lingua (In my language)

Specifico che io non devo usare contemporaneamente l'uscita jack e le casse dell'iMac, ma bensì o l'una o l'altra; e per praticità non voglio ogni volta dover staccare il jack (di scomodo accesso nel mio caso).

Ho anche provato ad installare Windows XP (in dual boot senza Boot Camp), e così facendo è possibile commutare l'uscita attraversi il driver, ne consegue che la limitazione non è hardware.

Ho anche provato varie utility, tipo Soundflower, ma senza il risultato sperato.

Se qualcuno ha testato qualcosa di funzionante lo prego di dirmelo.

Mar 28, 2014 12:34 AM in response to nate12345

I have the same problem, my headphone plug broke off inside the jack and my MBP thinks the jack is in use, at least under OS X. I installed Linux for a try and the internal sound output works like a charme, so it can´t be any harware related issue. Still can´t find a workarround under OS X so I´ll be carrying my bloutooth speakers along for now.

Sep 21, 2014 10:37 AM in response to nate12345

I don't know if this question is still relevant, but I think I managed to at least select another output device like hdmi output. (no internal speakers though)


First thing, go to Applications>Utilities>Audio MIDI Setup app


In the bottom left corner of the window, click the "+" button and choose "Create Aggregate Device". It will create another device in the list.

With this new device selected, in the right panel it shows a list of audio devices to use. Check the audio device that is not the built-in device. In my case, I checked the HDMI output related to my display speakers.

Close this window.


With the headphones plugged into the jack, open a video or music etc. The audio will be played through the headphones, as default.

BUT now you can go in System Preferences>Sound>Output and choose the AGGREGATE DEVICE, and you should be able to make the sound play through it 🙂


If you want a shortcut so you don't need to open the preferences every time to change the output, you can check the option "show volume in menu bar", to display the icon. Press and hold the "alt" key and click the sound icon in the menu bar, it will display a list of output devices, instead of the volume bar, and you will be able to choose it!


Hope it helps!

Jul 15, 2015 12:24 PM in response to nate12345

I have some cheap speakers plugged in to my tower, and I use headphones until I need to play things for other people. This is a website that I found a while ago and this totally works: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/48534/is-it-possible-to-play-sound-thro ugh-both-the-headphone-jack-and-my-internal-spe


Once you do it though, you can't use the keyboard keys to adjust volume for your headphones, you'll have to change it in whatever app/browser you're using, etc. A small price to pay, in my opinion. It's made my job a lot easier than handing people my headphones, or blasting the volume from them for others to hear. Best of all, it doesn't cost anything.

Dec 24, 2015 5:39 PM in response to Sarvaten

Yes that is right, the audio plays from internal speakers even if the headphones are conected on Windows via Bootcamp! That means that i am for 100% sure that the problem must be in MAC OSX and nowhere else. Please, let me someone know how to fix this uncomfortable behavior on my mac with Most Advanced OS on the world. PLEASE


May the Apple Support be with you

Aug 27, 2016 1:18 PM in response to nate12345

Some people said it is a hardware switch that turns off the internal speaker or the internal speaker shares the same output with headphone and cannot be used when it is shorted while the headphone is plugged in. This is not true, because on the same computer you can install Windows and get both internal speaker and the headphone working at the sametime. So this must be an OSX feature and can be disabled somehow. Just no one knows how.

Aug 27, 2016 2:31 PM in response to Aero Windwalker

Aero Windwalker wrote:


Some people said it is a hardware switch that turns off the internal speaker or the internal speaker shares the same output with headphone and cannot be used when it is shorted while the headphone is plugged in. This is not true, because on the same computer you can install Windows and get both internal speaker and the headphone working at the sametime. So this must be an OSX feature and can be disabled somehow. Just no one knows how.

As i wrote before:

Yes that is right, the audio plays from internal speakers even if the headphones are conected on Windows via Bootcamp! That means that i am for 100% sure that the problem must be in MAC OSX and nowhere else. Please, let me someone know how to fix this uncomfortable behavior on my mac with Most Advanced OS on the world. PLEASE

Use Internal Speakers While Headphones Plugged In

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