Serpento

Q: 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

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Q: 27" Cinema Display Sound Issues

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  • by Jeki,

    Jeki Jeki Dec 30, 2010 9:43 PM in response to Smudge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2010 9:43 PM in response to Smudge
    You might want to try running the firmware update again. The launcher is in the Utilities folder, the name is "LED Cinema Display Firmware Update". Make sure you get all the way to the end where it says the update was successful. The update didn't work for me originally but after I ran it a second time it fixed my sound. I too would lose the "Display Audio" option. Hope it helps you as well.
  • by Smudge,

    Smudge Smudge Dec 31, 2010 1:46 AM in response to Jeki
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 31, 2010 1:46 AM in response to Jeki
    I tried that just before originally posting and again just now. It says

    --------
    LED Cinema Display Firmware Update
    *Display Audio*
    This device is up to date.

    No updatable device found.
    --------


    Any way to force it to install the update again?
  • by bieci,

    bieci bieci Dec 31, 2010 4:33 AM in response to Smudge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2010 4:33 AM in response to Smudge
    same issue after fix
  • by Jeki,

    Jeki Jeki Dec 31, 2010 11:41 AM in response to Smudge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2010 11:41 AM in response to Smudge
    Sorry it didn't work for you as well. I think at this point I would call Apple if you haven't already. Perhaps they have another idea that could help. It seems like the patch has helped the majority of people so perhaps your issue is different than what most are experiencing.
  • by SillTry'n,

    SillTry'n SillTry'n Jan 1, 2011 7:15 AM in response to Serpento
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 7:15 AM in response to Serpento
    If I bought a new 27' Cinema Display today would it be delivered (or built) with the latest firmware updates and/or corrections?

    Thank You

    Dan
  • by Alexandra Cohn,

    Alexandra Cohn Alexandra Cohn Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM in response to SillTry'n
    Level 1 (64 points)
    Jan 5, 2011 10:16 AM in response to SillTry'n
    HIGHLY UNLIKELY, the update is very new It will be a long time before updated or newly manufactured monitors will be available. But don't dismay, doing firmware update is a VERY SIMPLE process - so don't let that stand in your way. If you're at all fearful or confused, have Apple Tech support walk you thru it.

    I assume if you have any problems, you should be able to return the monitor. (Make sure this is true, and in writing if you're concerned)
  • by SillTry'n,

    SillTry'n SillTry'n Jan 5, 2011 12:11 PM in response to Alexandra Cohn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2011 12:11 PM in response to Alexandra Cohn
    Alix Leigh wrote:
    HIGHLY UNLIKELY, the update is very new It will be a long time before updated or newly manufactured monitors will be available. But don't dismay, doing firmware update is a VERY SIMPLE process - so don't let that stand in your way. If you're at all fearful or confused, have Apple Tech support walk you thru it.

    I assume if you have any problems, you should be able to return the monitor. (Make sure this is true, and in writing if you're concerned)


    Very interesting: I would assume that they would do the update before shipping in stock product.

    Good to know this.

    Much appreciated, Alix!

    Dan
  • by Chester2,

    Chester2 Chester2 Jan 7, 2011 10:10 AM in response to bieci
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 7, 2011 10:10 AM in response to bieci
    Same issue here - remaining after fix. Sound via Mini-Display Port on Mac Pro mid-2010.

    Will try to run sound via USB out, and see if this avoid the issue.
  • by Rod Drury,

    Rod Drury Rod Drury Jan 11, 2011 9:22 PM in response to Justinman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2011 9:22 PM in response to Justinman
    The update fixed it for a couple of days. If I power cycle the monitor it works for a while. It does seem to happen when using Skype for Mac beta - which is a horrible update so wouldn't be surprised if that is part of the issue.

    Rod
  • by Smudge,

    Smudge Smudge Jan 18, 2011 12:05 PM in response to Serpento
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 18, 2011 12:05 PM in response to Serpento
    So after becoming more frustrated with this issue, I decided to call Apple support (Case #198189288). Worked with 2 levels of techs and they had me take it in for a logic board replacement. Did this and when I got it home, it was even worse off. I couldn't control the display at all (brightness, audio, etc). Called Apple support again (Case #198811733) and worked with a level 3 tech for a long time to troubleshoot it. Even created a new separate OS install just to make sure there wasn't a 3rd party software conflict. Didn't help.

    So, took it back to the Apple store for another repair and the store manager just replaced it with a new one (how nice!) but unfortunately it has the same problem as before.

    I just put the laptop to sleep and re-awakened which caused the USB Audio drop out (which also locked up my iTunes for the first time) and noticed in the console log that it was having a problem with the display's internal hub and then a few seconds later, it disconnected the USB Display Audio.

    1/18/11 12:38:38 PM kernel USBF: 248842.431 [0xffffff801500b600] The IOUSBFamily is having trouble enumerating a USB device that has been plugged in. It will keep retrying. (Port 4 of Hub at 0xfd130000)
    1/18/11 12:38:54 PM kernel Display Audio::terminate(kIOServiceSynchronous) timeout


    I used USB Prober to get the hub address just to confirm that hub is in the display.

    High Speed device @ 5 (0xFD130000): ............................................. Hub device from Apple Inc.


    So it seems the internal hub is having a problem reinitializing itself after a sleep. Hopefully they will determine the issue soon and release another firmware update.
  • by Jonas Calhoun,

    Jonas Calhoun Jonas Calhoun Jan 26, 2011 11:49 AM in response to Smudge
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iBooks
    Jan 26, 2011 11:49 AM in response to Smudge
    I applied the fix right after it came out, and everything was good. Until I updated to 10.6.6. Now the issue is back, and I have the same USB issues showing up in Console.

    I only see if when I'm using a couple of external drives (my virtual images, time machine, etc) heavily, which leads me to believe it's something with the USB hub in the display itself. I called Applecare and explained the issue, they seemed to agree--although the issue doesn't seem to be affecting everyone that after they applied the update. So, I had to take my display to the local Apple store and exchange it, the guy at Applecare almost seemed to think it might be a hardware revision or something that is causing the issue to still be there.

    So, is anyone else experiencing the issue while using the USB hub? I'm tempted to just go out and buy another external hub and use that instead of the one on the display.

    Anyway, if I hear anything more from Applecare I'll post it here.
  • by Smudge,

    Smudge Smudge Jan 26, 2011 2:07 PM in response to Jonas Calhoun
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2011 2:07 PM in response to Jonas Calhoun
    I have these problems whether I have something attached to the display's USB ports or not.
  • by Alexandra Cohn,

    Alexandra Cohn Alexandra Cohn Jan 27, 2011 7:13 AM in response to Serpento
    Level 1 (64 points)
    Jan 27, 2011 7:13 AM in response to Serpento
    Clarification Please:

    If one Totally ignores using the displays' sound input/output & options (ie simply use computers' speaker or audio output -> external speakers) is there still a problem?
  • by Jonas Calhoun,

    Jonas Calhoun Jonas Calhoun Jan 27, 2011 9:35 AM in response to Smudge
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iBooks
    Jan 27, 2011 9:35 AM in response to Smudge
    I moved everything off to a USB hub, and still get the issue too.

    However, I did notice the same MuxSendToClient with com.apple.iTunes Broken pipe when I was just syncing my iPod--but the audio didn't go wonky. Not sure what to make of that.
  • by Smudge,

    Smudge Smudge Jan 27, 2011 5:36 PM in response to Jonas Calhoun
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2011 5:36 PM in response to Jonas Calhoun
    Alix: I have removed everything from the display's USB Ports and it happens. However I was using the display for audio. I'll do some more testing using only the MacBook's internal speakers. Problem is that this issue is not consistent. It doesn't happen on every sleep and sometimes only happens if slept for a while.


    Jonas: Strangely enough, I had the same error/issues today when trying to sync my iPhone. iTunes kept saying that the iPhone was disconnected in the middle of the sync and the console would show various usbmux and broken pipe error messages. I troubleshooted it by moving it around to different ports, connectors, directly without dock, etc. The problem ended up being the sync cable. It was a 3rd party cable by Griffen that must have had an open/short it in as I had it wrapped up tightly. I swapped it with the Apple cable on my nightstand dock connector and the problem went away.
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