Mac OS X Lion: Sound problem after unplugging my headset/headphones.

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Mac OS X Lion: Sound problem after unplugging my headset/headphones.

Hello all,

I have an early 2011 i5 Macbook Pro, 8GB ram, 320gb HDD, recently upgraded to Mac OS X Lion. I've been looking through the discussions, but I haven't found any other topic with my same problem, unless I missed it.

My problem is: sometimes I will leave my wireless headset (Plantronics .Audio 995H, via USB) or headphones (via audio jack) plugged in for hours at a time. Once my headset battery dies, or I just decide not to use either my headset or headphones, I will unplug it. When I unplug it, NO sound is coming from the built in speakers whatsoever. Also, when I plug the headset/headphones back in to see if the sound is still going to play through them, it doesn't. I have checked my sound preferences after I unplug (System Preferences > Sound) and it's on the default "Internal Speakers" but no sound is coming out. I press the volume adjust buttons on my keyboard, and they work but still no sound.

This DID NOT happen when I had Snow Leopard..

The only way I can get my sound back is by rebooting. Right when I click restart, all the volume adjust sounds, Skype IM sounds play RIGHT before it reboots. I have done PRAM and anything else suggested by other users in the discussions to reset hardware but nothing has worked. Does anyone else have this problem? and did you find a solution?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 28, 2011 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

neobr

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Jul 28, 2011 8:08 PM in response to karmennim

Same problem here, tried to reset EFI and PRAM. No success =(

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Answer 2

karmennim Author

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Jul 28, 2011 8:13 PM in response to neobr

neobr, glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I hope someone has an answer 😟

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Answer 3

Jul 29, 2011 2:24 AM in response to karmennim

I also have this issue, seemling after my MBP sleeps for a bit. Only way to get sounds back is to reboot.

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Answer 4

Sonicray

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Jul 29, 2011 3:43 AM in response to karmennim

Ironically, I called Apple about something like that a few days ago (because my external speakers were not working with the mac and I had to reboot to get the sound back) The technician said: "Call the manufacturer and ask them if their product is compatible with our OS." 😮

So, in short & under theory there are many devices (including speakers & other sound devices) which will need to be specifically made for OS X Lion. Even if they worked under Snow Leopard, they might not work in Lion... 😢

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Answer 5

karmennim Author

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Jul 29, 2011 3:57 AM in response to Sonicray

Well, my sound works fine when I plug them in. The problem only occurs when I unplug them, after a few hours of use.

I understand the OS situation regarding my wireless headset, but not my headphones. I find it kind of, well, stupid that if I leave my 3.5mm headphones in for a few hours, then decide to unplug them and use my built-in speakers, to find that it's not working. I'm pretty sure 3.5mm headphones are compatible with everything that has the jack for it 😟

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Answer 6

karmennim Author

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Jul 30, 2011 1:09 AM in response to karmennim

Update: I had my MBP on for about an hour with no headphones plugged in. Plugged in some headphones (via 3.5mm jack) before I started a Skype call and behold ANOTHER problem added to the list. The headphones would not play any sound through them. It is weird cause my wireless headset (via USB) doesn't have this problem...

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Answer 7

karmennim Author

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Jul 30, 2011 2:41 AM in response to karmennim

Another update: I found another solution to get the sound back! EXIT ALL YOUR APPLICATIONS! So far that's the only thing, besides rebooting, to fix this problem.. Well, I've only done it once.. I'll see if it works again later in the day.

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Answer 8

Jul 30, 2011 11:00 AM in response to karmennim

I also thought i was the only one having this problem and it is annoying. I am not going to go through contacting this person and that person for something apple has created with their upgrading their system. I feel that apple needs to come up with some answers and some type of fix because it does not make sense to have to reboot in order to get sound. That is a great big problem and inconveyance on so many levels. Apple needs to get it together since too many people invest in their products...

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Answer 9

Ju4ncho

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Jul 30, 2011 5:06 PM in response to karmennim

Ughhh... I thought I was the only one. No solutions yet. Same thing's been happening A LOT to me since I upgraded to Lion.

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Answer 10

karmennim Author

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Aug 1, 2011 3:06 PM in response to karmennim

I figured out what was causing my sound to go out after unplugging headphones/headset. IT WAS WINE/X11. When I quit the app, the sound starts working, when I don't have it running and unplug my headset/headphones sound goes through the speakers as they are supposed to!

Do any of you guys use Wine/X11? Maybe that could be your problem too?

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Answer 11

Sonicray

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Aug 2, 2011 1:47 AM in response to karmennim

I use X11 almost every day but I have never had that problem... 😕

Well, great to hear that you fixed your problem! 😀

cheers!

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Answer 12

neobr

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Aug 2, 2011 10:51 AM in response to karmennim

I don´t use the X11, and the problem persists 😟

Anyone has another suggestion?! I want use my headphones =/

Cheers!

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Answer 13

Peyuksis

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17 points

Aug 2, 2011 1:06 PM in response to karmennim

I have an advanced version of this glitch 🙂

I use my MB (old black one) to watch videos on tv. I connect audio thru optical cable. Before Lion all was fine. Now there is no sound when watching AVI files. Others, like MKV, MP4 seem to play (the sound) ok. I tried switching to conventional minijack to RCA and the sound was gone altogheter. Only after reboot i got it back.

So now to watch AVIs i have to plug in minijack to RCA; when watching MKVs, i can use optical. But i have to choose first whitch one i'm going to watch, because after switching, the sound will be lost at all.

Lets hope Apple can hear us an fix this (and quite a few other) Lion glitches 🙂

(in case you wonder if sound channels and/or encoding differ - it doesn't matter, because in Snow Leopard and Leopard all was fine. Its a Lion glitch)

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Answer 14

adarob

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Aug 2, 2011 10:01 PM in response to karmennim

Same problem here. Praying for a fix. Strange thing is sound still works on web videos, but VLC and Quicktime have no audio and iTunes won't even play (stays at 0:00)!

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Answer 15

Aug 4, 2011 10:29 AM in response to karmennim

Was having the same problem, after poking around the web for a bit, came across a MacRumors thread that seems to solve the problem (worked for me) http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1104755

Go to Audio MIDI Setup (search for it in Spotlight)

Go to the Built-in Output and play around with the Format.

For me, 2ch-24bit Integer works for both my headphones and the built-in speakers. Play around with a couple settings, you should notice an immediate change if it works.

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