External speakers cutting out internal speakers

I use my iMac for making music and have powered external studio monitors connected via the optical out jack. If I'm just browsing and don't switch the monitors on I get no sound from the iMac's internal speakers without unplugging the monitors. Obviously it's not the greatest problem in the world, but I was wondering if there is a simple tick box that I've missed or bit of software that would keep the internal speakers live even when there is a line out connected?

External speakers will generally be favoured as the primary line by default. I think this is because the system assumes you wouldn't connect speakers if you didn't want to send sound to them. The only way to play to another source while they are still connected is to go to System Preferences - Sound Preference Pane. In here you can select your output. You can select the internal speakers instead of the external. The problem is you have to go to the sound preference pane again later to switch it back. It is a bit of a pain.
I'm looking for a pair of Studio Monitors that have an optical connection myself. What monitors are you using? I am having a hard time finding a good pair. Everything has either XLR or RCA in and I would prefer a digital connection.
Take care.

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"Peggle" audio comes out internal speakers instead of externals

Here's a weird one- last week I was working between my mac pro and a mac mini I had bought and was configuring for a friend. I borrowed the internet, mouse/keyboard, speakers, and one monitor from my dual monitor set up on the mac pro tower in order to configure the mac mini. While it was doing software update, I borrowed the keyboard and mouse, came back over to the mac pro, and played some Peggle- popcap games' wonderfully addictive arcade game. Since there were no external speakers, audio was temporarily routed to the internals on the mac pro.
When all was said and done with the mac mini, I reconnected everything, and for some reason, the music from peggle still plays out of the internal speakers. everything else on my computer: warning noises, the audio buttons, audio from other programs, even the SFX audio from peggle play through the line out on the back of the computer, but the music audio plays through the internals.
I went into system preferences --> audio and made sure everything was set to audio line out, and I deleted and reinstalled peggle, losing all my progress in the game, but still when i reinstalled it, same issue. If, however, I route all the audio through the audio headphone jack on the front of the computer, i can get music and sfx to come out of my external speakers, but as soon as I go back to the rear output, peggle's music goes right back to internal speakers.
I contacted popcap games, and they basically told me to delete everything peggle- system folders and all, and reinstall. I did that, but am having the same issue. Any ideas? anyone experience something similar? Help!!!

I can't speak to the specific case of Peggle, but you will want to make sure to delete any preference files associated with the game. Check in the /Users/your name/Library/Preferences folder for any files which contain the names "peggle" or "popcap", and delete any such files.You will, of course, lose any saved data associated with the games.

Inspire 5500 - Speakers Cut Out?

Hello... I'm using the excellent Inspire 5500 speakers, but occasionally one of the speakers, usually front center, just cuts out. If you pull the power and plug it back in (a simple off/on doesn't work) it'll come back. But sometimes when I turn the system on, or more speakers won't work and I need to unplug it from the mains and plug it back in. Last night, the front left, center and woofer failed to work when I turned them on. 3 plug cycles later they were all kicking again.
Anyone know why this is happening? It's plugged into a fairly new Sony DVD player via the Digital Coaxial input...

Hi there
The same thing has started happening to me.
When I switch on, the front right speaker does not come on. Only way to get it back on, is unplug the power connector from the back of the decoder and then plug it back in. As you say, a simple switch on/off does nothing.
I've been using this set up with a PC for the best part of two years now and I've changed nothing recently. I've also checked all connections and wires are sound and plugged firmly in.
My guess is that it's something wrong with the amplifier in the sub-woofer. Unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Optical out/internal speakers no longer work

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could help, my macbook now believes that there is an opitcal lead in the jack all the time - and so the internal speakers no longer work, i can plug in headphones and the optical but when everything is removed then no speakers - its just set at optical out.
any ideas would be most welcome as i would rather not spead money on repair or just it sent off for ages - thanks
craig

when you turn the machine on with nothing in the audio out, do you get a startup sound?

Wireless Speakers Cutting Out with Extreme

Hi - Connected up my Audioengine A2 speakers to my Airport Extreme so I could play my iTunes library around my dinning room, but the connection seems to drop out intermittently!
It works fine initially, all set up correctly on Airport / iTunes, I even use my Touch as a remote but it keeps cutting out like there is a connection issue.
Have tested the speakers on a wired source with no problems so it suggests there is an Airport Extreme problem!
Anyone had a similar issue?
Cheers John

I cant see how. The only devices near the Extreme or the speakers is the 2 way power adaptor which the Extreme and the A2 speakers are plugged into.
I checked the connections which all seem fine!
Thanks for you reply anyway.
John

T7900 Speakers cutting out at high volume

Help! I'm having a Party tomorrow and everytime I turned my speakers higher than about 50% they cut out, so that the volume drops until the next beat hits, then it cuts out again. I am using the original power supply, and I am sure that the connections are ok because the problem started recently.
I did have a problem with the pendant that has the volume and bass control on it, in that there was a bad connection when tyou turned the volume dial so that it crackled and the green light dimmed, but that cleared after a little use. The green light stays on with the current fault.
I am using onboard sound (AC97) on my MSI 875P Neo motherboard, and i haven't altered the drivers since before it worked.
I'm running out of time before we kick off tomorrow so any help you can offer please post.
Otherwise its going to be a very quiet party
also i don't know why there are no paragraphs when i preview this post. Go figure

Hello guys, I faced a similar problem with the t7900...
when I turn up the volume from my pc... without touching anything else the speakers begins to power off and then back on,, and one time i found it powering off and on again without playing any music, that terrifed me to death.. as I was sleeping. and at last I began to check wires and just move it and I found it doing the same thing.. I found that the fuse that is located at the end of the adapter cable( the thick part located before the jack that is connected to the subw.) is not properly connected to the wire that doesn't permit high power to pass through it that is needed for high volumes so it begins to poweroff. I fixed it's and the problem never repeated again.. Hoping this to help you.

HT6114 external display cutting out

since the new update every few minutes my external display keeps cutting out and have to unplug and re plug the hdmi cable back in

Hey there jamie0105,
It sounds like your external monitor is not funcitoning correctly with the computer after updating to Mavericks even after reseating your HDMI cable. I recommend these troubleshooting steps from the article named:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1573
Reset the system
You can reset the Mac's parameter RAM and SMC.
Reset the resolution
Start by resetting the Mac's parameter RAM. If the display does not come up, was previously set to an unsupported resolution, and still results in no video:
Start up in Safe Mode.
From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
Choose Displays from the View menu to open the preferences pane.
Select any resolution and refresh rate that your display supports.
Restart your computer.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the very best,
Sterling

T7700 Speakers cutting out

Sometimes, even in the middle of a game, my T7700 speakers just stop putting
out audio. Never had this happen with any other speakers I have used with this
system. I haven't touched them, did nothing but play a game (didn't adjust the
sound settings) and they just stop. Even when the volume is jacked up to full
blast there isn't even any audio feedback through them -- they are dead silent.
I tinker with the volume controls/EAX/THX settings for a while, check the power
and speaker connections, and nothing happens. The only thing that seems to cure
this is a reboot -- upon rebooting, audio feedback through the speakers as soon
as the OS starts loading.
What gives? I don't understand how the software can cut off even audio feedback,
but that it is cured by a reboot leads me to believe this is a drivers/software
issue.
Any ideas what's going on?
Edit: the T7700 system 7.1 is linked to a SB Audigy 2 ZS, and my subwoover is set at
Direct.
Message Edited by Ashurba***al on 11-18-2004 10:39 AM

All speakers cease simultaneously, and at random times.
Weird thing of it is that I can jack headphones into the T7700's
remote control (not directly into the Audigy 2 ZS), and the
headphones work.
I seem to have found the problem -- the connects of the remote
control to the sub seem to be bad. All I did to restore sound
this time was unplug and replug the remote control. This
shouldn't have been the problem, since the jack into the remote
control worked for the headphones!
I should mention that this sound system should not require
servicing -- it's less than 2 weeks old.
ThanksMessage Edited by Ashurba***al on 11-18-2004 05:54 PM

Speakers cutting out

I have airport express on wireless network mad jbl powered speakers which I use for music streaming, lately I have noticed that after about 10 minutes of streaming the music stops and the speakers stop and to get them working again I have to turn them off and on.
I have tried with another set if speakers and it's the same- this only happens on ipad and iphone., iTunes through PC is fine
I have three devices around the house but only have problem with one, any ideas ?

I also have airport express and in the past week have been experiencing a similar issue.
Everything worked fine for the past couple of years with my iPhone 4 and now my iPhone 5. I first noticed it with my Relax Melodies app, and now Pandora and Music app are victim's as well. Both of them will play via airplay for couple of minutes or so, and then stop entirely. I have to hit play and then select airplay again for them to start working.
Based on another post, I tried doing a hard reset to factory settings and redoing the setup process. Still experiencing the same issue though
I'm not having trouble when connected to speakers via bluetooth in the car. Also, not having trouble when connecting my Mac through airplay either.
Hoping someone may have some insight to solving this. Having a hard time sleeping at night without my white noise.

External speakers keep cutting out

Using Harman Kardon sound stick USB speakers on my mac book and they keep cutting out after about 1:08 of use. It happens with all audio sources (itunes, online streaming etc.) and works immediately if I unplug and re-insert into the USB port.
On the sound settings, the "USB Sticks" stays highlighted as the source. The internal speakers do not come on when the sound stick speakers cut out, but do so when I unplug them from the USB port.
This problem just started out of the blue after years of flawless use, no software updates. Happens on both of my USB ports. Tried re-starting, didn't help.
So frustrated.

I think that the manufacturer is your best source. Perhaps there is some incompatibility.....
Barry

Front earphone plug does not cut out speakers or plays any sound

I have an HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7480n Desktop Pc. I upgraded to Windows 7 32. After install the front earphone plug no longer cuts out the speakers or plays any sound. I updated all the Realtek drivers. In Realtek HD Audio manager the green and pink front plugs are light color. I tried both the advanced settings to play back devices. Neither work. I had the front plug and the headphones checked out and both are functioning. I have been using the rear plug for my headphones and switch plugs with my speakers when I need them. I miss my front plug. Any Ideas?

Hi CanadaDry,
You probably just need to update either your audio driver or your chipset directly from the component manufacturer. I'd start with the audio driver first if everything else on your PC is working after the upgrade. But if there are other things not quite right like USB ports not working, then I would install the chipset driver update too.
Your PC has a Realtek Audio Device, so here is a link to the Realtek downloads:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/
Select "High Definition Audio Codecs", accept the agreement, and then download and install the Win 7 32bit driver.
If that doesn't work, here is a link to the Intel 945P Chipset driver for Win 7:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%...
I hope this helps. Let us know how it goes.
...an HP employee just trying to help where I can, but not speaking on behalf of HP.

My MacBook Pro internal speakers sound like they are playing through the headphone jack, why is this? How can I fix it?

Periodically, the sound from my MacBook Pro speakers cuts out to where it sounds as if I am just blasting music through a pair of headphones. The start up sounds and even some normal sounds coming from my computer are at the regular balanced speaker level. I sometimes use external speakers and have not had this problem with them. This has been happening more and more lately, and for longer periods of time. I'm running 10.7.5

What frame rate/frame size/codec did you record?
How did you transfer it into FCX?
x

My internal speakers sound like chipmunks talking on them when i play anything on the computer

my internal speakers sound like chipmunks talking on them when i play anything on the computer. what can i do to correct this problem?

can hear headphones and external speaker yes. Internal speakers dont work at all even when external speaker disconnected.

Internal Speakers not working on Equium A110-276

Hi
I bought this Equium A110-276 a few months ago. I understand that connecting external speakers disables the internal speakers automatically. I have been using external speakers for quite some time, but now when I disconnect them the internal speakers are not working anymore.
Any ideas what I should do to get my internal speakers working again?
Many thanks.

Hi,
usually the socket where you connect your external speakers uses a sprung metal contact to disconnect the built in speakers when the plug is pushed in. Removal of the plug from the external speakers should then allow the sprung contact to return to its normal position which will return power to the built in speakers.
It is possible that the plug from the external speakers has bent the sprung contact so that it no longer completes the circuit for the built in speakers. You will need to dismantle you nnotebook to get access to the socket to check.
You could ask your local authorised service partner to check for you so that you don't invalidate your warranty.
regards,

Mouse freeze and sound cutting out

Since I've upgraded to OSX 10.9 (Mavericks), when I switch between open programs, my Logitech Performance MX mouse (uses USB receiver) stops responding for about 30 seconds. When this happens, the audio from my Bose speakers cuts out. While the Logitech mouse is forzen, I can still use the Apple bluetooth trackpad. To be clear, this mouse.audio chain reaciton issue doesn't happen every time I switch between open applications. It doesn't seem to happen specifically when switching out of any particular application but it does seem to happen more frequently when switching out of Firefox. But like i said, even with Firefox completely closed it still happens.
Sometimes the audio will stutter a bit and then will kick back in, but sometimes even after hours the only way to get audio is to either switch to the iMac's internal speakers, or restart the computer.
I opened the console to see what was happening when the mouse freezes and I get the following lines:
11/3/13 1:43:49.000 PM kernel[0]: com_Logitech_HIPointing::terminate(kIOServiceSynchronous) timeout
11/3/13 1:43:49.000 PM kernel[0]: USB Sound assertion in AppleUSBAudioStream at line 4767
11/3/13 1:43:49.000 PM kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0xffffff8039764000]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (478,209a)->(4a4,f26).
11/3/13 1:43:49.000 PM kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0xffffff8039764000]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (4a3,209a)

Alright, so I solved this myself by changing the resolution. Would've liked to resolve it a different way, but this works for now! So, anybody else who may see my issue.... go to system preferences>display and change the resoltuion.

External speakers cutting out internal speakers

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