iMac sound gone :(

[audi321]

2015 iMac 27 inch and the sound just stopped working. It works when it boots (the Apple sound) but then nothing. Also nothing out of the 3.5mm jack.

I've tried everything obvious (mute, volume etc etc) so assume something has broken.

Obviously well out of warranty and tbh I don't think it's worth a repair, so need to look at alternative options, that are they? Bluetooth speakers? Can you even get a USB speaker? Anything else?

Thanks for any advice guys.

[mmm-five]

USB speakers and/or headphone adapters are readily available.

I think you're model is too late to have optical out (toslink), but even if it did you'll probably find that's the expensive option

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 17th March 20:23

[xeny]

If it works when it boots, that suggests it isn't a hardware fault. Have you tried a PRAM/SMC reset ?

[audi321]

Yes I’ve tried the reset and no there’s no toslink out I’m afraid.

I have a Bluetooth speaker spare somewhere so I’ll try that but worried about a lag for video audio. Will usb speakers be instant like 3.5mm?

[FlossyThePig]

audi321 said:

...Will USB speakers be instant like 3.5mm?

When I was working from home the company supplied me with an MPOW USB headset. After I retired they only wanted the laptop and docking station back. I kept the MPOW USB headset, which consists of a USB dongle with 3.5mm socket and a separate headset with a 3.5mm plug.

The USB dongle works with my 2014 21" MAC with now delay issues watching videos from different sources BBC, youTube, etc.

[audi321]

Fantastic yes. A USB to 3.5mm adapter is just the ticket and for a fiver from Amazon same day delivery will mean I can use any speakers!

Didn’t know they existed thank you all.

[colin79666]

Tried booting a Linux distro? Would confirm if just a software fault or not.

[JimbobVFR]

The 27" 2015 iMac definitely does have an optical port, it's built into the headphone port and needs either a 3.5mm optical cable or a 3.5mm adapter on a normal optical toslink cable. The combined port disappeared on the 2017 model.

Not my iMac but I actually had a similar lack of sound issue on my older MacBook Pro with a similar combined headphone/optical port and it was the socket at fault, some debris of some sort had activated the switch in the port which automatically switched to using the optical, when the Mac thinks it's got an optical cable inserted it doesn't seem to be possible to switch to internal speakers.

On my MBP I turned it off and cleaned out the port with an air duster and some electrical contact cleaner which sorted my issue (the 2012 MBP is still in use by my daughter)