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Serpento Author

Level 1

2 points

27" Cinema Display Sound Issues

My apologies for posting about an issue that has already been covered but I think it is important to highlight what seems to be a pervasive issue with this otherwise awesome display.

Like others, mine worked b-e-a-utifully out of the box. A few days into it however, the sound stopped. I have tried the "unplugging for 15 seconds" trick and it is a temporary fix. I also tried, at the suggestion of Apple Supports, restarting the computer and holding down the command, option, "r" and "p" keys simultaneously until you hear two beeps. That is also a temporary fix.

I want to echo the advise to call Apple Support every time this happens to ensure this issue gets the attention it deserves.

Apart from this very annoying issue, this is one sweet display. I watched Avatar on it the first night just to test it out. I only intended to watch a few minutes but ended up watching the whole thing. Terrific! Of course that was when the sound worked.

Mac Pro Intel, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 11, 2010 12:10 PM

386 replies

erikmh

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2010 1:53 PM in response to Serpento

I spoke with Apple customer service last week. The rep was very friendly, and was even willing to read over this discussion thread while I was on the phone with him. Neither he nor his supervisor had previously heard about the problem.

When he found out that I was "still" on 10.6.4, however, he said to call him back if the problem recurred after I upgraded. I'll upgrade soon, of course, but it's clear from the other posts here that the OS version isn't germane.

Anyway, I've mentioned this problem in reviews of the display at Amazon and at Small Dog, as well as in the "Apple Displays" section at Macintouch. Amazon dropped my link to this thread, but the other two have posted it.

To my mind, it's pretty clearly a USB thing -- with the best-case scenario being a firmware patch for the monitor. The worst case, of course, would be that it's really a hardware problem -- meaning either a recall or an "ignoring" on Apple's part. Let's keep our fingers crossed....

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,631 points

Nov 30, 2010 7:55 PM in response to C Barclay

Yes, it does come back.

But interestingly, in my case the problems happened just after reading the BBC News website with a crash report.

MrPles

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2010 10:34 AM in response to Serpento

All: AI is reporting the issue now ( http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/12/01/usersexperience_sound_issues_with_apples_27_inch_cinemadisplay.html)
please give it some traffic and leave a comment, so its getting some more attention.

MrPles

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2010 11:41 AM in response to Serpento

now also at macnn: http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/12/01/problems.uniform.between.mac.windows/

sorry for double post, but couldn't edit my previous post.

etoledo

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2010 6:38 PM in response to Serpento

I am having the same issues with sound. It will work after I unplug the monitor and plug it back in. I am currently connected to a macbook air via usb and mini display port.

Dec 1, 2010 8:00 PM in response to MrPles

Great to see AI reporting. I guess our emails to them helped. I also hope MacRumors can post. They also get a lot of visitors.

Dec 2, 2010 1:11 AM in response to MrPles

Interesting..I am using the mini dv connection - and the usb - on an 8 core Intel Mac Pro purchased March 2010 - but had no idea about the download for the display - so haven't installed it. I lost sound and had the same issues as others - dumped the audio plist in the main library/audio folder - and have been fine for a good three weeks now.

vsw62

Level 1

30 points

Dec 2, 2010 2:07 AM in response to Richard Pain

Which plist files do you mean? I do not have any plist files in /Library/Audio

Do you mean the Audio plist files in /Library/Preferences?

Regards

Dec 2, 2010 9:41 AM in response to Serpento

I have experienced this sound issue on 2010 Mac Mini Server, Mac Mini and MacBookPro 15 in, all running 10.6.5 and ACD Update 1.0.

Dec 3, 2010 12:37 AM in response to n47_eBee

question for you:
just saw your post here looking at the problems with sound, i just got my ACD 27"
today im waiting for my 5970 ati card to arrive, i have a 5870 now not using it on this system,on the 5970 if i go mini display out from 5970 to acd mini display port cable on the acd of course.....how good will my picture be can i go max?
or should i go dvi out to minidisplay into monitor will that be better?
thanks for the help, the cables are a little confussing im getting use to it as i go.

Dec 3, 2010 1:17 AM in response to vsw62

vsw62

Quite right - I followed the advice by sw33t on page 8 of this thread on 11 November 2010 at 09.21 - as below:

"This tip from another thread seems to have fixed my problem. It's been a few days now and everything is working fine.
Delete the com.apple.soundpref.plist from the MAIN LIBRARY>PREFERENCES - (not the users library).

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 (I am on 10.5 so I don't have this, if you don't, just omit)

Restart (logging out doesn't work)"

oliver22

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2010 9:31 AM in response to etoledo

After the second day of use from new, and sleeping overnight, there was no sound. After finding this discussion thread, and unplugging both the power and the display connector, the sound is back again. My fear is this is going to be a regular occurrence. Had I been aware of the extent of this problem before purchasing my display I likely wouldn't have do so, but now I have it it is too nice to want to send it back. Hopefully a solution will be forthcoming. My aluminium MacBook is an early 2009 version operating via the USB connection with the Cinema Display; seemingly 2010 MacBook Pros don't have the problem but it is a bit OTT to have to buy a new laptop to have a reliable Cinema Display.

Sven G

Level 1

45 points

Dec 3, 2010 10:35 AM in response to Serpento

BTW, they talk about the problem also on MacFixIt and Macity (an Italian website):

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20024314-263.html?tag=mncol;title

http://www.macitynet.it/macity/articolo/Apple-LED-Cinema-Display-27-bug-audio/aA 47744

Currently, I have a 24" Cinema Display (which works perfectly), and certainly will wait until this problem has been solved before I buy also a new 27" model.

Hopefully, with all these discussions and articles on the web, Apple will fix the problem as soon as possible...

Dec 3, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Sven G

Ditto. I also have a 24" that works perfectly and I want to purchase a 27", but not before this is resolved. Jobs?

Dec 3, 2010 11:35 AM in response to Serpento

I too have the same problem, I run all the procedures that Apple asks me to do but after a while the volume of the cinema display does not respond in the right way. Help!

27" Cinema Display Sound Issues