Mac Mini with Sequoia 15.5 drops headphone out

[GtrDude]

Thanks for sharing BritSchwob. Unfortunate if Apple has to address specifically for each Mac model and has only done so for the Mac Mini M4 so far...

@GtrDude or anyone else, did you file a report about this for your Mac Mini M4 to get this fix in 15.6? If so can you share your issue # so that others can reference this as the same issue just on other models.

I did not file a report.
Just started using USB into XLR instead.
Basically gave up on the headphone out.
Now that 15.6 is out I may try it again.
USB is a major pain if the electricity goes out.
Don't know if my expensive Focal monitors can handle coming on at maximum power all that more often without blowing something.

 

[okkibs]

Don't know if my expensive Focal monitors can handle coming on at maximum power all that more often without blowing something.

MacOS should save the previously chosen USB output volume and not reset it to maximum. I unplug my USB interface every time the Macbook leaves the desk and it does remember the volume.

 

[GtrDude]

On my computer if I lose the electricity or reboot the computer like after an update etc. they always start on Max.
Defaulting to always starting on max is really something.
If anything just make the default to start on zero.
So because of the headphone output mess and being forced to use USB I have hooked up an on/off switch for the speakers alone and have it under my work desk.
But this is a mess and actually much worse than it ever was with Windows.

 

[okkibs]

On my computer if I lose the electricity or reboot the computer like after an update etc. they always start on Max.

That's really weird and not my experience at all. Do you perhaps have access to a different Mac you can plug the interface into to test that there? You dont need the speakers to test it. Which interface is that? I doubt I am of any help but it's really confusing that you should have this issue as macOS definitely can remember the setting.

 

[bzgnyc2]

I did not file a report.
Just started using USB into XLR instead.
Basically gave up on the headphone out.
Now that 15.6 is out I may try it again.

It appears to be fixed for mayday563 who also has a Mac Mini M4. But for those with other models not yet...

USB is a major pain if the electricity goes out.
Don't know if my expensive Focal monitors can handle coming on at maximum power all that more often without blowing something.

Yeah that's not great. I tried an external DAC for my Mac Mini 2018 but didn't find the audio noticeably better so went back to the internal. The DAC in the Mac Mini 2009 was actually pretty good -- I think slightly better than the 2018 which also gives me distortion whenever I change the volume unlike the 2009. I am hoping the Mac Mini M4's DAC isn't actually worse than the 2018 and these are all resolvable (by Apple) software issues.