How to get stereo sound from two displays?

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Level 1

8 points

How to get stereo sound from two displays?

Hi all. I'm using a 27-inch iMac (the latest generation that doesn't have Thunderbolt) and a 27-inch Cinema HD display. Since they both have speakers, at the minute, I can only choose one of them as the output in System Preferences. However, I effectively have a full left and right stereo speaker setup with them both. So, my question is this: is there any way to use the output from one as the left signal, and the output from the other as the right signal? If it matters, the iMac is on the right and the display on the left.

Thanks!

Posted on Aug 29, 2011 1:00 PM

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Answer 1

zackattack96 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 30, 2011 3:20 AM in response to X423424X

Thanks very much for this – that's worked, but it's only a 90% job. Once I've created the aggregate output device, System Preferences won't let me adjust the volume for it. It just greys out the volume slider and, where the balance adjustment would normally be, it just tells me there's no controls for this device. How do I rectify this?

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Answer 2

Sep 9, 2011 6:54 PM in response to zackattack96

this is very easy to do.

open 'audio midi setup' in utilities.

click the plus in the lower left and add new aggregate device

check both display audio's

hit configure speakers in the lower right

check both checkboxes at top.

choose mutichannel & quadraphonic.

then you can click each one and test the sound.

hit apply and done

then right click on the aggregate device listed in the left you just created, click on use this device for sound output and player alerts and sound effects through this device

I had to configure levels on my displays, they were set differently.

You can play with this (which i recommend) but clickin the triangle next to the aggregate device

click on the the first display audio and then on top click output and choose your levels.

do the same for the second display audio.

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Answer 3

Jun 11, 2016 3:36 PM in response to CLCEE

Audio Hijack (http://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/) will do this and more, but it is currently $49. Frankly, it's disgraceful that you can't do this out-of-the-box via OSX on a nearly $1,000 Apple display that is over five years old.

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Answer 4

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Aug 29, 2011 4:54 PM in response to zackattack96

Do both sets of outputs show up in the Sound preferences? If so you probably could use Audio Midi Setup to create an aggregate output device.

Even if it works you could probably do better with a decent set of external speakers.

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Answer 5

CLCEE

Level 1

8 points

May 5, 2013 9:33 AM in response to zackattack96

I have 2 led 27" cinema displays. I would llike to have both speakers on the left display put out the left channel of the stereo sound, and both speakers of the right display put out the right channel of the stereo sound. No matter what I do, I can not get both displays ( 4 speakers) to output sound at the same time, much less separate the stereo sound. It seems that only one of the displays will be active for sound at a time. I wonder if there is any 3rd party software to accomplish this.

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Answer 6

May 12, 2013 12:30 AM in response to CLCEE

There are several different devices that can control both devices. I'd have to see exactly what you were. Working with and what you needed. Most stuff can be ordered on line. Do u have a high def tv? Are you using cable or Apple TV? Have you thought of surround? All are viable and I've just started a small independant contracting company and would welcome the opportunity to. Meet with you and take a look at it. Also, if u had comcast, they offer on site tech repair to. Assist in networking. Either way would work. Let me know whet the budget is and what equipment you have already.

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