No sound whatsoever through SPDIF

[macgoo]

Hi am running Lion 10.7.3 on a 2009 macbook pro.

After playing around with some settings last week I cannot seem to get any sound from SPDIF anymore. NO STEREO or 5.1

The optical cable is not at fault (tried 2 others and see the bright red light on the other end) and I know it has to be the software.

I have tried using Audio MIDI setup, playing around with all the settings but nothing seems to work. The built-in speakers work and so does sound if i use 3.5mm cable to my logitech z5500.

I have tried resetting PRAM, fixing permissions but nothing works.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thank you

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Check System Preferences > Sound > Output or OPTION/Alt click the sound/volume icon in the Menu Bar and tell us, what is listed and checked as Output Device when the SPDIF cable is connected to the Mac and the receiver.

 

[macgoo]

Check System Preferences > Sound > Output or OPTION/Alt click the sound/volume icon in the Menu Bar and tell us, what is listed and checked as Output Device when the SPDIF cable is connected to the Mac and the receiver.

Image​

Digital Out Optical digital-out port

 

[simsaladimbamba]

And a red light is visible from the end of the SPDIF cable that goes into the receiver?

 

[macgoo]

And a red light is visible from the end of the SPDIF cable that goes into the receiver?

yeah. i bought a new cable today just to make sure. so to me hardware doesn't seem to be the problem

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I just remembered, since SPDIF is like a Line Out, you can't adjust the volume via your Mac (only within audio and video player software's own volume control), as the volume is controlled via the receiver.

 

[macgoo]

I just remembered, since SPDIF is like a Line Out, you can't adjust the volume via your Mac (only within audio and video player software's own volume control), as the volume is controlled via the receiver.

Its not about the volume because i use PLEX and whenever i i watch something in dolby digital or DTS it switches and shows me on the logitech unit. so the computer doesn't seem to be sending an active audio stream when any sound is played...

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Its not about the volume because i use PLEX and whenever i i watch something in dolby digital or DTS it switches and shows me on the logitech unit. so the computer doesn't seem to be sending an active audio stream when any sound is played...

Okay.
What about the actual Plex settings/preferences, do they allow you to set an output?

 

[macgoo]

Okay.
What about the actual Plex settings/preferences, do they allow you to set an output?

just "built-in" output or sound flower (2ch) or sound flower (16ch)

 

[simsaladimbamba]

just "built-in" output or sound flower (2ch) or sound flower (16ch)

Okay, then I am lost now. If you can't get an answer here, and haven't done so already, you could ask at the Plex Forum.

 

[macgoo]

Okay, then I am lost now. If you can't get an answer here, and haven't done so already, you could ask at the Plex Forum.

thanks anyways mate

 

[Dockson ducks]

It may just be a dirty plug socket. My MacBook Pro had a dirty port. I inserted a wire with some heat shrink wrap around the exposed end, fiddled in the Mac audio out port and some fluff/dirt came out. It immediately worked afterwards. I suppose optical cable/port would be susceptible to dirt.