HDMI Audio out at same time as Headphone/Analogue Audio Out?

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Level 1

9 points

HDMI Audio out at same time as Headphone/Analogue Audio Out?

I have a Mac Mini (early 2014) located in the study next to the lounge. External speakers in the study are connected to the Headphone / Analogue Audio out port for use when I'm sat at the Mac. I also wish to listen to hi-res music (24bit, upto 192kHz) via my A/V amplifier in the lounge and have connected using the HDMI port. However, the HDMI audio is muted when the study speakers are plugged into the headphone socket.

Is there a setting that will allow audio to be output on both at the same time?

Note: I also have an Apple TV, but AirPlay does not support hi-res audio.

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Feb 28, 2015 1:23 AM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,405 points

Feb 28, 2015 2:12 AM in response to fendercpk

No. you have to unplug the headphones.

Why can't I select HDMI audio on my Mac mini?

If you connect an HDMI display or television to a Mac mini (Mid 2010 or later), you might not be able to select the HDMI audio device (in System Preferences > Sound > Output). This can happen if you also have headphones plugged in to the computer. Unplug the headphones to be able to select HDMI audio.

Mac computers: Frequently asked questions about using HDMI - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Feb 28, 2015 2:49 AM in response to fendercpk

Plugging anything into the audio output jack disables all other audio.

I guess it is a carry over of the old days when the "headphone" outputs

were for private listening.

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Answer 3

fendercpk Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 28, 2015 6:11 AM in response to lllaass

OK, so I've now unplugged from the Headphone port and plugged the study speakers into a mini digital to analogue / analogue to digital converter that was originally purchased to connect a headset to the USB port. This gives two sound options in System Preferences: External SPDIF interface USB which appears to be the active option and Speaker USB which is muted when selected.

The only problem now is that I got a grey box appear on the screen showing a speaker and volume level. Selecting other speaker options did not get rid of it. It was not clickable (neither left not right click). No matter what I tried it was still obtrusive on the display.

After selecting HDMI and listening to an album in the lounge, I turned off the TV (that had been mirroring the Mac screen) just leaving the audio playing through the amp. When I returned to the Mac and selected alternative speaker options, the grey box disappeared and now selecting various speaker options does not cause it to return. Any ideas?

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