Software switch between internal speakers and digital out?

I have a brand new Aluminum iMac.
My iMac is connected to my stereo receiver with the built-in S/PDIF Digital Output.
But sometimes I'd like to just use my iMac's internal speakers, so I don't need to power up the receiver.
But when I plug in the digital cable, OS X turns off my speakers, and vice-versa. The Sound Control Panel doesn't give me the option.
I've googled for a while on this -- it looks like Windows leaves the digital output on even if the internal speakers are playing, so this is clearly a software issue.
Is there any way I can use software in Leopard to switch between my internal speakers and my digital output? (Or to use both at once?)

Funkey Monkey wrote:
Isn't there a software option out there somewhere?
I don't know fore sure, but I believe inserting a plug into
the audio output jack electrically disconnects the speakers.
Yep, totally brain-dead -- but so is the entire analog/digital
"combo jack" nonsense. It leaves you with no way to monitor
any digital audio signal being sent to an external device.
Not with headphones OR speakers!
IMO, the only workable solution is a USB or Firewire
audio interface. If you only need digital audio output,
the cheapest stuff available ($25-ish) should be fine.
If you also want good 24-bit A2D/D2A converters, mic
preamps, etc. expect to pay $150 and up.
..."clever" is usually the opposite of "smart",
Looby

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Message was edited by: davidszcz

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Solved!
Go to Solution.

smileemile wrote:
i want to connect my tv's audio output to my home theater
i have a vizio tv, on the back of it, it says SPDIF OPTICAL OUT
and on the back of my panasonic home theater system it says, DIGITAL AUDIO IN, i tried connecting an optical cable and the sounds from my won't still go through the home theater system speakers.
i'm just wondering, is there a difference between SPDIF OPTICAL and DIGITAL OPTICAL?
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Hi,
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Regards,
DP-K
****Click the White thumb to say thanks****
****Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem****
****I don't work for HP****
Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience

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Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) lundi 20 juin 2011 18:03:28
iMac 21”5, i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 Gbytes, 1 Tbytes, mac OS X 10.6.7
Please : Search for questions similar to your own before submitting them to the community
To be the AW6 successor, iWork MUST integrate a TRUE DB, not a list organizer !

Software switch between internal speakers and digital out?

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