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How to stop digital (optical) out audio from going to sleep?

My iMac 2011 audio goes to via the optical cable to a receiver.

After 30 secsonds of no audio, I can hear a click/pop as the audio shuts down. Then, any sounds miss the first second or two when the audio is 'waking up', so that means in the case of system sounds I miss them completely. Very annoying.

I am using an app - written by a helpful user from another forum - that keeps the sound awake, but even that doesn't always work. (BTW, I've tried various apps that don't work, like Keep SoundAwake, Antipop, etc. byt none work.)

This behaviour only happens on the digital output as if I disconnect the optical cable, the problem doesn't occur through the internal speakers.

I should also add that the problem does not occur in Windows 7 Bootcamp, which suggests it's a OS X issue.

 iPhone 4 32Gb,  AppleTV2-OTHER,  iPad 2 64Gb 3G,  iMac 27" 3.4GHz

Posted on Jul 31, 2011 9:32 AM

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18 replies

Aug 2, 2011 3:43 AM in response to igmackenzie

OK, interesting. I plugged in a set of headphones, and sure enough the sound cut off after 30 seconds or so as usual. BUT, when I tapped on a system sound, it played OK. There was no delay in the sound 'waking'.

Back to the optical. Do the same thing, and there is definitely about a second delay in 'waking'. So, for example if I tap on a system sound in Sys Prefs, then I don't hear it, but if I tap a second time, then I do.

This is very frustrating!

Any ideas?

Aug 5, 2011 5:11 AM in response to igmackenzie

If you haven't done it yet, try disableing (all) unnessesary background apps running in the background, to include SoundStay and restart. Then check. Test for the whole day that way if nessesary.

BTW: What iMac model/date do you have?

What OS X are you ussing?

Does the delayed sound happen right after you start the machine or hours later?

Please let me know.

How to stop digital (optical) out audio from going to sleep?

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