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TrancyGoose

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 13, 2021
356
179
I have a 27 Inch BenQ 4K screen, attached via USB C to my M1 MacBook pro.

Today, I noticed while i can adjust volume, for built in Mac Speakers and for pair of Creative speakers i got, if i switch the sound to the Monitor speakers, the volume slide is basically greyed out.

See attachments, it says that this device has no controls? Is it always on max so, and I am to use youtube or other media playback controls?
I can't even remember, if it ever worked at all, now that it doesn't, i nee to get to the bottom of this! :D
 

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BrianBaughn

macrumors G3
Feb 13, 2011
9,823
2,495
Baltimore, Maryland
Have you updated the firmware on that monitor?


If you have or that doesn't change anything audio-wise it might just be a digital audio device that doesn't have drivers or firmware to make it integrate with macOS system volume controls.

My PreSonus USB audio device is in a similar category…it has a knob for volume and can't be controlled that way with Apple's system audio controls.

I have a cheap set of USB gaming headphones that ARE controllable in that way.
 

TrancyGoose

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 13, 2021
356
179
Have you updated the firmware on that monitor?


If you have or that doesn't change anything audio-wise it might just be a digital audio device that doesn't have drivers or firmware to make it integrate with macOS system volume controls.

My PreSonus USB audio device is in a similar category…it has a knob for volume and can't be controlled that way with Apple's system audio controls.

I have a cheap set of USB gaming headphones that ARE controllable in that way.
Ah well, mine is a EW 2780U, i assume the software you mentioned, doesn't support it yet, judging by what I got.

I did give it what it asked in security settings.

As it turns out, this monitor does have a volume nob, by default set somewhere in the middle, but this particular screen, while great, has been a pain from day one believe it or not, it occasionally flickers, and shows black lines, like for 10-15 mins, then it goes away, for few days, or weeks, then comes back. BenQ sent a total of 3 replacements for this, all did the same thing. They concluded, that it's apple silicon incompatibility, and that many people have it with other screens, i googled it, and indeed it was, so basically, I learned to live with it :D

So, it would not surprise me at all, honestly, i don't care about monitor speakers, they suck, I was simply curious.

Just going to attach here a support message from BenQ about the flicker! :D

Also, with BenQ, I was told by support, that firmware can't be updated by the user, and has to be done by them.
 

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