donholbrookjr1964

Level 1 (4 points)

Apple TV

Q: Mac Mini HDMI sound distortion

I have a MAC MINI running OS X El Capitan.

It's connected via HDMI to a HD TV.

I'm having issues with the sound and can't seem to find any fix.

Periodically the sound get's very distorted, it's a very robotic reverb sound.

It's very intermittent. It'll occur and after sometime it will just fade out and go away on it's own.

I've switched out the HDMI cables and tried different HDMI ports and the distortion continues. I know there is nothing wrong with the TV audio.

Has anyone else encountered this or know how to fix it?

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jun 25, 2016 11:30 AM

I have this question too

Q: Mac Mini HDMI sound distortion

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Helpful answers

by lllaass,

lllaass Jun 25, 2016 12:19 PM in response to donholbrookjr1964
Level 10 (190,813 points)

Apple Watch

Jun 25, 2016 12:19 PM in response to donholbrookjr1964

You said "there is nothing wrong with the TV audio."
Does that mean it work OK when that HDMI input is used from another device?
Does the sound problem occur with all apps, website and iTunes?
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by donholbrookjr1964,

donholbrookjr1964 Jun 25, 2016 12:26 PM in response to lllaass
Level 1 (4 points)

Apple TV

Jun 25, 2016 12:26 PM in response to lllaass

I have used other devices such as apple tv, dvd players, etc. via HDMI on this tv with no issues.
I have experienced the sound distortion from anything that requires sound, simple system alerts, iTunes music playback, youtube videos, etc.
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by lllaass,

lllaass Jun 25, 2016 12:34 PM in response to donholbrookjr1964
Level 10 (190,813 points)

Apple Watch

Jun 25, 2016 12:34 PM in response to donholbrookjr1964

- Try resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
About NVRAM and PRAM
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
- Try starting in Safe Mode
OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
- Boot to Recovery and repair the startup disk
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
- If it is repairable reinstall the OSX
How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
- If you do not have a backup use disk utility to restore the internal disk to an external disk so you can try to recover data.
Then format the startup disk and do a fresh install of OSX

After resetting the SMC and NVRAM yo can also try doing a fresh install of OSX on an external drive and boot from that and see if problem persists. If it does that would point to a hardware problem. In that case make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar
https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
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