NOTE: Growing kernel_task usage and external speakers

Shortly after getting my new MacBook, I noticed that after about a day of uptime, the cursor would lag and jump every 30 seconds or so. A check in Activity Monitor would show that kernel_task was using 5-6-700 MB of real memory. The CPU usage would spike to 30-40 percent every half-minute or so. Restart required to fix it.
I searched here and saw a lot of people with problems of kernel_task taking over their machines. This was a little more of a subtle, steady growth of memory hogging. If I left the 'Book going overnight, I'd come in to well over a gig of mem being used and a nearly unusable (wireless) mouse.
I also have the "speaker popping" issue with this system that many users report.
After not using components like iPods, wireless mouse/keyboard, ethernet in order for several days now, it appears that having my speakers (Tivoli Audio Model Two) plugged into the audio jack is what's doing it. No speakers plugged in, and I stayed at about 350 MB of mem for kernal_task for two days. Plugged them in and it is now currently growing again.
Just a note if anyone is having a problem with a steadily growing kernel_task. Oh, and if you know of a fix ... that'd be awesome.

Same problem. Hundreds of other people have the same problem too, I checked on other forums.
The problem is definitely with the kernel thread that handles the routing of audio to the audio jack instead of speakers. AS soon as I plug anything into the audio jack, the kernel_task CPU usage goes up to 40% from 0.5-0.7% and mouse pointer starts lagging and gets jerky. This problem is not dependent on any application and has happened with me even with only Finder running. Why are there still no solutions?
More links -
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=545265
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=6322861

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I have lost all audio on both my internal and external speakers.

I have lost audio on both my internal and external speakers. I have checked the System Preferences when my external speakers are plugged in it is acknowledged. When using internal speakers they are also acknowledged. Sound volume on Preferences is on and fully high. The sound buttons on the keyboard do not work and the sound level is now locked in at full sound and cannot be adjusted using the keys. The System Preferences shows that Mute is now checked and I cannot uncheck it. What should I do to get my sound back both internally and externally?

Repair permissions & restart.
Check your settings in the Audio Midi app which is located in the Utilities folder.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1574 Troubleshooting issues with no audio from built-in speakers on Macs
Trick/Tip: Open up GarageBand if installed then, open a program (optional).
Quit out of the GarageBand app.
=====================
Repairing the mysteriously muted Mac
The background on the issue is that there’s a small sensor switch inside the headphone port. When you insert a headphone jack, the sensor understands what's what and changes the sound output setting to Headphones. If you insert a jack for digital audio output, the device changes to Digital Out. When you remove the jack completely, it should read Internal Speakers.
The spirits tell me that there’s a very good chance that you recently had something jacked into this port—a set of headphones or a cable leading to powered speakers, for example. When you removed the jack, something in the port prevented the sensor from tripping correctly. That’s why you see Digital Out instead of internal Speakers.
The solution is to force the sensor to do its job. The safest way to do that is to simply run a jack in and out of the port a few times. Much of the time, this takes care of the problem by correctly tripping the sensor. If that doesn’t work, there may be gunk in the port. Before turning to more invasive techniques, get a can of compressed air, attach the small tube that fits the nozzle, and blast a few shots of air into the port. With any luck, that should dislodge the gunk and the port will operate as it should.
If that doesn’t work, find a foam-tipped swab that fits (electronics shops generally carry them), dip it in rubbing alcohol, and gently insert it into the headphone port in an attempt to wipe away any stubborn gunk. I recommend foam rather than cotton swabs because the cotton variety might leave threads behind. (This same technique works well with misbehaving headphone ports on devices such as iOS devices.)
It's possible that gunk has nothing to do with it. Rather, it may be that the switch just needs a subtle nudge. If a jack or swab doesn't work, I've heard of people successfully resetting it with a deft poke of a toothpick.
http://www.macworld.com/article/2031146/repairing-the-mysteriously-muted-mac.htm l

Can I use my monitor and external speakers with apple tv

I have an extra computer monitor (DVI input) and external speakers (3.5mm male audio jack.) Is there some combination of adapters that I can use to hook up an apple tv to them in order to stream from netflix, and my itunes library?

no but you can get tons of solutions where you connect something to your tv's minijack headset connector and then it wireless transfer the audio signal to a headset
there are both bluetooth solutions belkin have one I use and there are also solutions where the headset is included and they use their own custom protocol
but mind you there is no way to keep such setups in sync in terms of video and audio so if the system is poor in quality or pre-process the audio signal too much it cause audio and visuals to get out of sync

Mac mini - built-in speakers and external speakers?

Hello
Is it possible to use built-in speaker and external speakers the same time?
I have connected Mini to my sound system, but sometimes I listen to the radio and would like to use the built-in speaker.
How can I do such thing without unplugging external speakers?
Regards
Przemek

You can't.
There are 5.1 speaker systems that work with Macs that have built-in SPDIF ports:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=506627&tstart=0
(the M-Audio link on this tip is to a no longer available product)
And there is 3 channel based speaker adapter here:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/firewave/
And while hard to find, you may be able to also get this Sonica Theatre USB Card somewhere:
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=eee876ef2e6cbb4ac377f83c406 e8885&mode=preview

I can't hear iTunes music or internet radio but internal and external speakers are definitely working. Is there a key stroke I have set or some other, maybe Yosemite, issue?

I have checked my internal speakers on an iMac and also the external speakers - all working. When play music in iTunes the sound bar moves but no sound is heard. Same problem if I want to listen to the radio via internet. Has anyone a suggestion. Is it a Yosemite issue - I have had others involving printers. thanks

like davis says then even though I have connected headset and external speakers to my imac then at boot up the boot sound comes out of the imac speaker
but once booted into OS X all audio is played out of the headset and ext speakers and the imac speakers are silent as the grave

Audio sounds damaged. I have tried with both built in and external speakers.

Audio sounds damaged. I have tried with both built in and external speakers. I think its a problem with a driver or something.

Try a PRAM reset:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Ciao.

MacBook Pro internal and external speakers not responding

For the last 3-4 weeks, I've had odd bouts of incidents where the speakers (internal) stop responding at all. I have a set of external speakers that are normally plugged into the computer, but they have also stopped producing sound. Is there any way to troubleshoot this to determine the source of the problem. (PS: NOTHING works. Even Skype contacts, iTunes playback, notification sounds -- everything is out.)

Bad really, coz if you could see a red light it would be much easier to solve. The red light would indicate it was operating as a toslink (digital audio) connector and the switch that changes it from analog to digital audio was stuck. It can be unstuck by wiggling a toothpick or cocktail stick in the socket. It means it's much harder to diagnose what your problem is.
Suggest as a first stage that you attempt a PRAM reset followed by a SMC reset if still not working, then report back here.

How to get internal and external speakers playing together?

Hey everyone, I just bought the HP ENVY dv7 with beats audio and I love it! I only have one question that I couldn't seem to get answered anywhere else so I turned to here. Is there a way I can have the compuer's internal speakers (beats audio) and my home stereo speakers (external) playing at the same time? I love how good the beats sound but I also want the surround sound given by the external speakers. So is there a setting I can switch it to so it'll play both? I've tried looking but couldn't find it. Or is there some program/driver like thing I need to download off the interwebs so it'll play both? Thanks in advanced.

Hello Branman,
I understand you want to play your surround sound system while also being able to hear your internal laptop speakers, is that correct? I will be happy to help you.
Unfortunately that will not work, by design whenever you plug in a surround sound system or just a standard set of headphones the system automatically disables the internal speakers. I was not able to come across any legit online software that you can download to make that a possible transition.
Thanks
Clicking the White Kudos star on the left is a way to say Thanks!
Clicking the 'Accept as Solution' button is a way to let others know which steps helped solve the problem!

Internal (central) and external speakers (left,right)

Hi all,
I looking for a way to put the speakers in the iMac to good use.
what I know:
I can't use the headphone-jack and the internal speaker simultaneously, since there is a hardware switch in the headphone-jack.
what I don’t know:
If I would use an usb-sound card, is there a way to use the internal speakers as a central speaker and the sound card for left and right channel?
Perhaps somebody has an idea to this.
Thanks
Patrick

I don't believe this is entirely true, it appears that while running Windows XP through Bootcamp, because of the absence of some kind of driver, both the internal speakers and the external speakers play the sound. Apparantly some guy was using Skype with his headphones, but the sound was not only coming through his headphone but also through the speakers.
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Howdy
I would like to know if there is a way I can send the audio from a you tube video to some external speakers? I can access the speakers from iTunes, but have not been able to find a way to connect to them with the you tube audio. Any help will be appreciated.
Thank You
rlmslo

Restarting the computer may help.
Maximizing the RAM with a 512 MB RAM module will help a bit.
Using Firefox as your browser, and having it as the only application running may help.
Allowing the video to load completely (so the progress bar at the bottom of the player shows completely full) before trying to watch it may help.
How fast is your internet connection? Mine is 10 mbps, and it's still sometimes choppy, even on an iBook G4. The speed of your internet connection as well as what time of day you're trying to watch may have an influence on performance.

Having USB headset and external speakers both connected

Have JBL external speakers plugged into the headphones jack and would like to get a headset for communications use. Am assuming that a USB headset would be best for my purposes, since I don't want to have to plug/unplug a device each time I want to use the other.
* Does anyone use this setup? That is, does it work? If yes,
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Hi Chrystal
If I'm understanding correctly, I believe the Sound Preferences within the System Preferences would give you the option of toggling back and forth between the input and output you want. I have speakers run to the headphone jack and also a usb sound device plugged in, and I am able to choose which one I want under the "Output" tab. Take a look at it.
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HT4619 Imac and external speakers....

Well, I just took out iMac which is brand new (Xmas present from year 2008) and not used, together with external speakers-type JBL spot and noticed that there is no sound. The installation is by the book....I was trying to register the speakers - and noticed that the site did not exist..
JBL-the site does not list the product type Spot ? gone out of business? I would be grateful if someone has any idea what went wrong? One would expect that it is plug and play with this kind of combination:)?

Hello, no idea really on the speakers, are they amplified?
Long shot, but...
Open Audio Midi Setup in Applications>Utilities, see the input & output options & KHz setting there.
Also see system Preferences>Sound>Output potions.

Can u have internal AND external speakers on???

Can both the internal speakers and some of my external speakers be on at the same time??

Allan,
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Joe

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Music plays out of sync between my computer speakers and externally connected throught Airport Express speakers.

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How to Enable Headphone/Mic and External Speakers at On

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NOTE: Growing kernel_task usage and external speakers

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