(Mid 2010) Mac mini External Speakers+Sierra

Based on Lynnspain's method, I found that the 1/8 inch audio output of my video monitor plays the Mini's audio without a problem. No other changes in Audio/Midi were necessary, which makes me believe that the code for Sierra couldn't accommodate something about the architecture of this particular Mini model. Even more simply, it could be that the code writers forgot about this Mini. It doesn't make sense that all audio would only be routed to HDMI if the option for headphones is still present.

To fix this, I found a setting in the Sound preference (within System Preferences) to select my video monitor for audio output. Now, all I have to do is move the 1/8" jack from the Mini to the monitor, and from there it connects to my amp and speakers.

As a note for posterity, Sierra 10.12.5 is the culprit. I would expect Apple to fix this in a future update but we'll see if it registers as a blip on their radar or not.

I was about to buy a USB digital to analog converter anyway...

Double-check your Sound settings in System Preferences. They might have been eset to defaults. Often just toggling Off and On the output selections will "wake" the system.

You you can also try a Safe Boot if the above doesn't help.

------

Restart in Safe Boot mode by holding down the Shift key at startup. Safe Boot is quite slow because the OS performs some cleanup and verification tasks, so give it time. After you're completely logged in, restart normally.

Hi, I have the same problem with sound output on my MacMini Mid 2010 after upgrading to Sierra. How is your display connected? My research so far came up with a HDMI problem. If I disconnect HDMI from the Mac my sound is instantly ok again, plug the HDMI back in and it gets "scrambled" again 😟 I checked all settings in System Preferences and Audio MIDI Setup, no luck. I tried Safe Boot Mode and resetting SMC and NVRAM/PRAM but no change. Downgrading to ElCapitan seems the only way right now as long as Apple doesn't provide a fix, but that means an OS installation from scratch 😟 So far no solution in sight... If you consider downgrading, here is a step-by-step tutorial: http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/how-downgrade-from-macos-sierra-el -capitan-remove-macos-sierra-3581872/

Hello,

My internal speakers stopped working after the upgrade. After days of searching the common denominators for this problem seems to be the HDMI port, as said above. I have no sound via the inbuilt speakers of upgrading to Sierra ( Mac Mini Mid 2010 ) and have a monitor (with no speakers) connected via the HDMI. I played a song via iTunes and of course no sound, but when i pulled out the HDMI cable the sound worked for a second but stopped again once the cable was fully out. the same in reverse as I pushed in the HDMI cable, sound for a second then gone once fully in.

My external speaker via bluetooth works fine. So guess will have to use that until next update.

For others with the same problem....

Go to -- Applications / Utilities / Audio Midi Set up.

Select the output e.g. built-in Output

Look at format options, mine were set to 2ch 24-bit 44.0 kHz

I changed it to lower, as in the post I read, but that didn't help so I changed it to 2ch 24-bit 48.0 kHz

I also changed the HDMI to 2ch 16-bit 44.1 kHz

Eurika....... I have sound

The settings may be different for each computer so think you need to play around a little first. For example a response to my solution on another post on this said all they had to change was the HDMI to the same settings I put here and it worked.

Good luck!

Thank you, you saved me from an another reinstalling (that seemed to be the only solution for no sound so far). It works like charm, and I have a Mac Mini Mid 2010 too!

Thank you so much this worked for me :-)