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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

Smudge

Level 1

131 points

Oct 18, 2011 2:00 PM in response to Fausto Fernos1

In the Sound Preference Pane, in the Output tab, do you still have the "LED Cinema Display via DisplayPort" option? If so, set it to that. That one usually sticks around, at least it does for me.

The "Display Audio via USB" option is what usually disappears after a sleep/wake since it is the internal USB hub that is having an issue. If the USB chain (therefore the internal stuff like audio, camera, brightness controls and any externally connected devices) doesn't respond after waking, that is where you simply need to disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to your computer. This will bring it all back.

I do have to say though that I haven't had the USB chain sleep issue for a while. I mostly had this issue with a 2010 MBP but I'm now on a 2011 MBP running 10.7.2 and I can sleep/wake and everything is still there. Perhaps it has been fixed in an OS update or with the new MBP as I haven't done a display firmware update since Jan/Feb.

Also, after doing the firmware update, completely disconnect the display from all devices and unplug the power for a few minutes. This will give it a full reboot. If you don't disconnect the power, it is still in a lower power standby mode and it is possible the firmware hasn't taken full effect yet.

Oct 18, 2011 10:28 PM in response to Smudge

Will try turning everything off and disconecting the display for a few minutes. Right now either option via the audio preference settings is dead. Even the system knows it's broken!

flamman

Level 1

4 points

Nov 7, 2011 1:35 AM in response to flamman

(Late follow-up to my own post).

The firmware upgrade for the 27" Cinema Display released some time ago solved my audio problems. The screen works perfect now!

Oct 3, 2012 9:08 AM in response to theBigD23

Apple has released a software update for the Cinema Display that fixes the issues:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1107

Sep 21, 2013 1:21 PM in response to Serpento

I know this is an old thread, but in case someone gets directed here by a Google Search I thought I'd post this.

I have the v1.1 update installed but STILL have the losing sound problem. The Cinema Display is connected to a Mac Mini bought in the spring of 2013.

If you go into sound preferences and choose "Display Audio" instead of "LED Cinema Display" the sound returns. So, this has been my fix for a problem, IMO, Apple has NOT fixed.

BTW, you can access sound preference options by holding down the Option key and clicking on the sound level icon on the menu bar at the top of your screen. Saves some time.

Sep 22, 2013 10:04 AM in response to Mr. Luigi

Mr. Luigi,

I have a Mid-2011 Mac mini that I'm using with my LED Cinema Display and am now experiencing the loss of sound issue after applying the OS X 10.8.5 update that was released on 08/12/13.

I do not have the option of choosing "Display Audio", only "Internal Speakers" and "LED Cinema Display".

Obviously, the internal speakers work if I choose that option, but they're not very usable.

My only remedy to get the audio to play back through the Cinema Display is to restart the computer.

I think I'm going to try to revert back to 10.8.4 using one of my backups to see if that solves the issue.

Thank you for your last post, though. It was helpful.

Sep 22, 2013 2:50 PM in response to Andrew Padgett

Hi Andrew!

I am running OS X 10.8.5 too. I googled your problem of not having "Display Audio" as an option and found this...

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/89685/activating-the-apple-thunderbold- display-speakers-when-macbook-pro-is-docked

It is not a lot, but there are two suggestions in the small discussion thread:

1. Restart your Mac Mini and THEN see if sound preferences shows "Display Audio" as an option. If so, chose it before it goes away again!

2. If you have any devices connected via AirPlay choose that device in sound output preferences. It may refrresh your list of Output device options and present "Display Audio" again.

Until I came across the "fix" of choosing "Display Audio" instead of "LED Cinema Display" my only consistent option was to restart my Mac Mini, as you have discovered. But, that would only last for a while and I was back to the same old problem of no sound from the Cinema Display's speakers. Another option that sometimes worked was to unplug the Cinema Display from power and disconnect the USB cable carrying sound to the Cinema Display...wait a minute or two...then reconnect everything. If restarting your Mini does not result in returning the sound option of "Display Audio" you might want to try the second option I just mentioned...disconnect power and the USB sound cable to the Cinema Display. Maybe that will get "Display Audio" to appear as an option..

One last thought...and this is a long shot. You could try going into your Application Folder and select Utilities-->Disk Utillity. Once you are into Disk Utility click on the name of your Hard Drive (unless you have changed it, it will be called "MacIntosh HD.") Then click on "Repair Disk Permissions" and let it go through the process. If that doesn't help, you might also want to click on "Verify Disk" to make sure there are no problems with your hard drive. If there are, you will get instructions that might repair the problem.

Sep 23, 2013 5:48 PM in response to Serpento

Started happening to me right after the latest OS update last week. Audio to cinema display does not recover after waking from sleep mode. Had worked flawlessly until last week. Mac Air connected to Cinema display.

RN-RDAM

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2013 2:13 AM in response to Mr. Luigi

I have same problem using 27" display and macbook air. Everytime I reconnect screen and mac there is no audio. Thanks for the display audio (USB) workaround. I hope Apple presents a proper fix asap...

megberts

Level 1

0 points

Nov 21, 2013 2:48 AM in response to Serpento

Hi Guys,

I had the same issue right after purchase and got the possibility to swap this item.

After the switch I find out the socket in which the power plug resided wasn't shock proof

During usage of daisy chained firewire equipment problems occurred starting with a annoying sound in the woofer, you can test this quite easily using a shock proof socket.

This sorted things for me ;-)

Did you guys know you can update the firmware? It is explained here...

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3602

Mar 25, 2014 7:24 PM in response to Serpento

Hi all,

I'm having the same issue, I mean is kind of different now:

My Specs:

- MBP Early 2011

- LED Cinema Display 27''

I get the two entries on the sound settings but sometimes the sound gets muted and I have to go there and change it to USB and put back on DisplayPort.

Is this normal? Should I choose always the USB?

Thanks.

Regards

27" Cinema Display Sound Issues