Sounds doesn't come out of thunderbolt display

Question

Level 1

1 points

Sounds doesn't come out of thunderbolt display

Hi everyone,

I am experiencing an issue.

The sound doesn't come out of the thunderbolt display when connected to my macbook air i7 256GO. It was working ok before (but I was still experiencing the isssue time to time but unpluging and repluging was fixing the issue - not anymore). The sound still comes out of the macbook air speakers.

I tried a reset SMC and PRAM but no change.

I would like to avoid the pain to reinstall everything just to check if it is not a software issue. any other test I should do beofre calling the support ???

Appart from that the USBs and firewire and the camera work fine.

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Feb 1, 2012 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

kelfaij Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 1, 2012 11:51 AM in response to kelfaij

Hi guys,

Ok good news, I did not solve the issue but it is isolated... in a new user the issue is not there.

I removed my user related preferences ~ username/library/preferences but it does not change the issue.

it is somewhere arround here but can't find it... If you have any recommendations...

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Answer 2

Feb 2, 2012 12:21 AM in response to kelfaij

I'm about to scour Discussions to find somewhere to post my problem - which is related to yours!

I've noticed that my Thunderbolt sometimes refuses to produce sound and when checking in System Preferences>Sound everything is 'greyed' out from Sound Effects to Display Audio, with a blank where usually there is a Device For Output.

I also noticed Safari niggles and I had to literally open Finder from the Dock to make it visual on Thunderbolt.

On Restarting everything reverted back to what it should be.

The only reason I found for these problems was sometimes when my OSX Lion Macbook was booted it took ages to open, with a progression bar visible, and even longer to open Thunderbolt.

Other times is booted fast and straight to Thunderbolt, no problems.

Anyone else getting the same grief?

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Answer 3

kelfaij Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 2, 2012 12:48 AM in response to Designer Gav UK

I don't exacly have this issue : the progression bar is visible if I start and press the shift button at the same time. (without extentions)

I know my issue is user related / not with the sytem or with the hardware. I have to isolate it but don't know what plist file or other I should reset.

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Answer 4

mkatz

Level 1

10 points

Feb 2, 2012 7:27 PM in response to kelfaij

I have a similar issue I need help with. I can't get the sound to come out of my Thunderbolt display because when I go to preferences > sound > output my only option is Internal Speakers, so the sound only comes out my my Air. There is no option for the Display Speakers. Any idea how I make that option available?

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Answer 5

kelfaij Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 2, 2012 11:40 PM in response to mkatz

Hi Mkatz,

I will appear as a stupid person but I only had to go preferences > sound > output and select the USB speakers and it worked. I don't really know how I missed it. for me the issue is fixed.

Now for you I'll try to create a test user and see if the issue is still there, if it is it mmight be hardware if not then it is a software user related issue. then a work arround to isolate the issue is to create the root user, log in the root user, move the library folder from the user where there is the issue and see if the issue is the still there. Then finally what you do is put back i one folder by folder from the library and at each time log in back in the user to isolate the faulty folder.

Hope it helped, to enable the root user http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1528

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Answer 6

Feb 22, 2012 1:41 AM in response to kelfaij

But why should we have to do all this when Apple claim TD works "seemless" with a laptop???

I'm now at the stage of booting the MBP independently, then either re-booting or sending it to sleep THEN plugging in my TD!

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Answer 7

Jun 16, 2012 7:22 AM in response to kelfaij

Go to systempreferences, sound, select USB. Problem should be solved

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Answer 8

Jun 19, 2012 12:46 PM in response to Hansman67

USB option is not there *******. Did you read the original post?

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Answer 9

Jun 19, 2012 2:39 PM in response to Hansman67

Don't talk daft Hansman67 - that's one of the core problems.

Some people are finding that sound options are 'greyed out' when selecting TB sound (USB to you) - even using volume keys on the keypad just shows the 'no sound/mute' sign.

Luckily when I plug MBP to TB and boot up now everything runs fine - that's without any new OSX update, any change to my routine, even without kicking my MBP around the floor!

Curiouser and curiouser.

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Answer 10

Dec 10, 2012 9:10 AM in response to kelfaij

Try this.

Shut-down everything and unplug the power-supply of the thunderbolt screen - leave it unplugged for 30 seconds. Plug-in again and restart.

It worked for me.

Best wishes

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Answer 11

jj7q

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2013 2:21 PM in response to Hansman67

>Go to systempreferences, sound, select USB. Problem should be solved

Yes!!!! This resolved the problem.

Thanks

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Answer 12

Jul 11, 2013 2:46 PM in response to kelfaij

My mistake was over-looking the defaulted Mute on setting. Selecting USB and clearing the mute optiuon resolved the issue for me.

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Answer 13

Jan 8, 2014 11:50 PM in response to Hansman67

>>Go to systempreferences, sound, select USB. Problem should be solved

Thanks that worked for me. The only thing I would add is that you need to choose the "Output" tab in the Syspref, Sound panel before you can select the "Display Speakers - USB" option.

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