Connecting external speakers

i just got my macbook pro and a led cinema display. i have connected my Harman Kardon SoundSticks to the mbp with a rca jack and cannot see those speakers in the system preferences sound section. the internal speakers and the cinema display speakers show up. any suggestions?
thanks.

When you connect external speakers to your MacBook Pro, under Sound, they will still come up under Internal Speakers, but with the name 'Headphones' instead. Hope that clears any confusion up!
Also, to switch between the display speakers and the Harmon/Kardon externals, just click the name (either Display Audio or Headphones)
Cheers

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Sounds like the micro switch inside the output jack that switches the audio from internal to external is stuck on external. Try plugging a set of buds, headphones or digital Toslink adapter in and out a few times to see if it will unstick the micro switch. You also might try jiggling a tooth pick around inside the audio output jack to see if that unsticks it? If not then you'll need to make an appointment at your Local Apple Store or Apple Service Provider and have the jack serviced.
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I'm connecting external speakers using RCA cables from the speakers to the headphone jack on my iMac. When I do so, under Preferences--->Sound--->Output, the "Internal Speakers" changes to "Digital Out" as I believe it should. However, I am getting no sound from the speakers (which work fine with other devices). The "Mute" button is not checked and I can't figure out what the problem is.
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The jack on the iMac is 1/8" mini stereo, I assume your "RCA cable" has that kind of plug on the end you plugged into your Mac's headphone out?
Your AV40's are analog speakers, not digital. In +Preferences > Sound > Output+ it should say +Headphones > Built-In Output.+
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Phoenix5791,
I would like you to uninstall and reinstall your sound driver.
Access your device manager
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Right click on the IDT option, left click on uninstall
Once that is done ,restart the computer
When the computer has restated give it a few minutes to reinstall the sound driver, once that is complete see if it does the same thing.
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Clicking the 'Accept as Solution' button is a way to let others know which steps helped solve the problem!

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[Apple Audio Developer Note|http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Conceptual/HWTechAudio/Articles/Audio_implementation.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003978-SW281200331167]
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Sorry, I incorrectly assumed that you upgraded to iOS 5. In earlier versions it is indeed the iPod app.
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Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

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I just upgraded from a MacBook 13.3" (Late 2008) to the brand new MacBook Pro 13.3" (Mid 2010). Sound wasn't a problem in Windows 7 64-bit on the old MacBook, but the new MacBook has somehow messed up the line-out signal to my external speakers (and headphones).
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This is not a product advertisement or endorsement. I had the same question, and thought I could contribute to the topic.
On Amazon, do a search for: fiio d3, specifically the item priced at $25.95 (and includes an optical cable).
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It's because the Mac's design considers the internal speakers and external speakers to be different, with different settings; more of the attention-to-detail. Most PCs would simply have a hardware switch to cut off the internal speakers when something is plugged into the audio port, and push the sound to the external speakers, with no change in volume settings. Macs keep separate volume settings for the two outputs.
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Connecting external speakers

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