Audio output on the mini

I have a last gen mini and everything audio wise is fine, just using standard 3.5 outputs too, if anything audio quality should have improved, i remember the nvidia audiochipsets being pretty revered back when i was mostly a PC user.

 

The Nvidia Soundstorm was discontinued back in like 2002 or so. I don't think they've done anything with sound since then.

 

I have a 2009 mini and I haven't had any issues with the sound. I've run it to an external 5.1 system both over analog RCA cables (DolbyProLogic) and digital optical toslink.

On thing to note when using a digital connection the Mini doesn't send a constant audio signal so I sometimes miss the first fraction of a second of sound as it takes my decoder that long to kick on but I suspect that is an issue with the recievier not with the mini and its of little impact anyway.

 

Cracks

I hear rather loud cracks through the speakers about 2-3 times a day. They sound like an electric problem, a bad contact or maybe electrostatic ? I'm not much of an engineer I'm afraid. Still it's annoying.

I hope this doesn't end up in warranty repair.

 

Could be anything using the same electrical circuit as your computer. Thermostats turning on or off, light switches, pretty much anything...

 

Audio Out Mac Mini 2ch not Dolby 5.1

I have set up my new early Mac Mini with toslink optical to my Denon Reciever. I only get 2 ch stereo output from anything I play. In my midi settings I only see 2 ch no other settings for audio. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong or missing?

mac mini 2.26 4GB 320GB HDD.

 

My 09 Mini has no problems with the audio, I'm running the optical to a Sony 6.1 reciever.

Oddly enough though, I recently gave my old mini (core duo 1.83) to my mom, and in both Windows XP and Leopard the audio will die if you plug in external speakers (was working fine when I had it, although I only used optical). You can unplug them right afterwards too and the audio doesn't come back. Anyone heard of that happening?