Update to 10.6.8 broke my optical audio - any help?

New update solved it for me. Still on Snow Leopard. I'll not risk Lion just yet.

10.6.8 Supplemental Update didn't fix the eyetv sound lock problem: etv blocks all other sound (but other sound sources such as firefox & itunes will play simultaneously) until the etv window is closed...but then i don't usually want to hear more than 1 sound @ a time;-) system sound, tho, would be nice...

btw, the s/u doesn't fix the permanently-paused network printer problem, either:-\

also noticed that sound output control panel won't stay on digital out: reverts to soundflower on reopening s.c.panel...

For those who cannot wait for the corresponding Lion v1.1 supplemental update :

1. Apply Mac OS X 10.6.8 v1.1 Supplemental Update at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1429 on top of a 10.6.8 system (or reinstall 10.6.8 v1.1)
2. Make a copy of /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext
   Get info for this copy should show :
   2.0.5, Copyright © 2005-2011
   Saturday August 1 2009 07:55 <-- same date as version 1.9.9f12 of 10.6.7 !
   12 017 080 bytes <--
3. Install Lion (if not already done)
4. Use Kext Helper b7 to easy install the copy of AppleHDA.kext 2.0.5 (will replace the Lion original at /System/Library/Extensions/)
5. In Terminal, type "sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions" (or reboot)

Optical sound then works again 🙂.

Note that the "Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update" contains many more files in addition to the updated AppleHDA.kext, but this is probably normal since it corrects multiple problems, not only the optical sound one.

Sounds like a good workaround, but what about those of us who have new machines that came with Lion preinstalled? The computer firmware is hard coded to Lion, so I don't think we will be able to reinstall a deprecated OS. Any ideas?

Wow, am I glad I still have SL on my internal hard drive! thanks man!

Andrewlef - just download the kext file you need at: http://hotfile.com/dl/84331058/0ed56fb/AppleHDA1.9.9f12.zip.html

Unzip, place the AppleHDA.kext file on your desktop in Lion. Use Kexthelper b7 to 'easy install' this file and indoing so you will replace the problem file in Lion. Reboot and you are all set. I've posted this solution a few pages back - IMHO it's worth reading the whole discussion in future to find your answers. I've used this solution in Lion and it fixed it on a 2009 Mac Mini

Thanks for the suggestion. I did read your post a few pages back, but I've also read that the success rate for this procedure on Lion is hit or miss. Not sure if the install failures are related to incorrect permissions, user error or other factors. In addition, for security reasons, I'm not exactly wild about downloading a kext file from anyone other than Apple.

Suit yourself. I chose getting the sound back over paranoia. What's the worst thing that can happen - you have to do a reinstall?

Like Apple have done such a great job with this anyway? They're the one's that created this whole mess with the flawed 10.6.8. Not sure I would join you holding them up as a beacon of reliability.

Good luck!

ok I did this, and I do get the ability to select encoded audio out but now the former issues of it not working and not being able to switch back happens and on top of that vlc crashes with a kernal panic. I was going to post it but it's way too long.

this new kext file fixed nothing on my MBP 5,1 but gave me the same symptoms as the original poster.

I've gone back to the 10.6.7 kext. Surround Sound now works fine using Plex. Switching back to itunes, at least stereo now plays OK without having to reboot every time.

BUT - surround sound not working in iTunes.

Anyone any suggestions - using 2009 mac mini, with Lion installed (what a bad idea that turned out to be!).

have already redone the aac passthrough commands in Terminal and checked Midi set up....

tnx

Jeremy, did you test VLC, too? If not, can you please?

I did use the hofile AppleHDA.kext, but nothing changes. See here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3139275?answerId=15739668022#15739668022

Did I make something wrong or is there an additional bug in VLC? Hmm ^^

I'm in the same boat as you with iTunes refusing to play surround tracks. All other players are fine. But in my case it's a Mac Pro 2010 Hex, in Lion.

AC3 e DTS passthru enabled in Terminal

Latest Perian installed. I think, its related with the new 10.4 itunes cocoa.

I am looking for an answer since that(1 and a half week) and nothing.

The supplemental patch for 10.6.8 was working well so I decided to try Lion and use the kext version from that patch. I used kext helper to load it on Lion and then had to use the touch command. The kext file loaded and I have sound in all programs and when I move between them but there appear to be side effects in Lion. I have some videos that I purchased via itunes that will not play at all. The video will not even start I just get a black screen. Some itunes videos will play I can not figure what is different about them. I can get all of my videos to play on another mac that has a clean install of Lion so I believe it has something to do with the 10.6.8 kext on Lion. Also when I do find something that will play that has 5.1 it causes my magicjack to crash and restart when the 5.1 audio starts or ends playing. This happens in iTunes, VLC, and eyetv.

This is on a 2009 mini.

The problem with no sound in itunes movies or movies not opening is present since a very long time if your movies are encoded with selectable subtitles.

Im VLC subtitles are shown right as own stream3, itunes seems not to be capable to make a difference between audio and subtitle stream, so no sound at all. The best about it: if i sync a movie with subtitles to the iPhone or iPad then on the portable devices dubtitles work.

This Kext file seems to be buggy in many ways.

So if you use the old SL-Kext there are problems with surround with non itunes-store movies, stereo working always.

The newer Kext in Lion has no problems with surround but no stereo after 5.1 out.

Audio playback with subtitled movies never work, maybe this is the reason why itunes-buy-movies do not have subtitles. Strange subtitles can be enables in itunes settings.