I have a Logitech external speaker for my Mac. My Macbook sits on it, and the speaker has a cushion underneath for my lap if you can picture that. I can only find used ones at this point.

Anyway, lately the speaker doesn't work now and again unless I restart my mac, and then it kicks in. Does that sound like a speaker problem or a Mac problem? If it's a speker problem I probably need a new one. If it's a Mac problem, perhaps there is something I can tweak so that this doesn't keep happening.

Thanks.

I'm guessing the speaker is connecting by Bluetooth. If so, I have found that if you turn the speaker on after the computer or iPhone is on, the connection always takes. If the speaker is on before the source of the Bluetooth connection, that could result in it not connecting.

I didn't think to say this. It's connected by USB. That's probably why they aren't making them anymore.

Given the fact USB is a hardware/firmware protocol there are no settings you can tweak per. se. An intermittent connection such as you describe would have a hardware cause such as a faulty USB cable, connector, or connection. Bailey's troubleshooting rules would have you start with the lease expensive option and proceed up-budget from there.

1. Disconnect and reconnect both ends of the USB cable being careful to examind for dust, rust, damage on both sides of both ends -- if the problem disappears consider it solved.
2. Swap out the USB cable with a known good cable -- if the problem disappears discard the original cable. (Apple, Anker, belkin, and OWC are all reliable cable brands.) <YOU INVARIABLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN ANY CABLE>
3. Try a known good speaker from from another computer -- replace the speaker (I have good results with ANKER and Apple
4. try the speaker on another USB port or on a different computer (Applecare?)

Given the fact USB is a hardware/firmware protocol there are no settings you can tweak per. se. An intermittent connection such as you describe would have a hardware cause such as a faulty USB cable, connector, or connection. Bailey's troubleshooting rules would have you start with the lease expensive option and proceed up-budget from there.

1. Disconnect and reconnect both ends of the USB cable being careful to examind for dust, rust, damage on both sides of both ends -- if the problem disappears consider it solved. Unfortunately, one end of the cable is hardwired into the speaker, so I can't try any of the suggestions other than maybe getting another speaker. I did blow the dust out of it but it didn't make a difference. I like this one because it fits on my lap. Any other speaker would be a pain because it would have to be off at the side and be in the way of something.
2. Swap out the USB cable with a known good cable -- if the problem disappears discard the original cable. (Apple, Anker, belkin, and OWC are all reliable cable brands.) <YOU INVARIABLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN ANY CABLE>
3. Try a known good speaker from from another computer -- replace the speaker (I have good results with ANKER and Apple
4. try the speaker on another USB port or on a different computer (Applecare?)

[/quote]

Have you tried it with your husband's Mac?

I didn't think of it because it's a desk top, and it has very good sound.

I have this little puppy sitting in a tiny niche on my workbench, so it would probably sit comfortably on your lap as well. it produces amazingly good sound and enough volume to be heard over the cacophony of vacuums, sanders, saws, lathes, etc. that often send my Apple Watch into paroxysms of "too loud" notifications. And, the sound quality is arguably better than my Apple "HomePod" (which cost ~$100 more), and the stereo effect is competitive with a pair of HomePod minis (which cost ~$150 more), albeit without the network and Siri connections. — Just saying.


Good thinking! I wish I had thought of that :dopeslap:

I eventually bought another Logitech off of eBay. It worked for a few weeks then quit. It works if I restart the Mac but I have to keep doing it. I found another Logitech I forgot I had, brand new. I put that on today but the same thing. The mac won't recognize it. So, it's the Mac, not the speakers. Would PRAM, SMC or any of that fix it maybe? That's never really fixes anything for me, just wondering before I go through the trouble.

This suggests that zapping NVRAM may help:

Dang it. I already did and it's not working. At first I couldn't get it to show up on the list of speakers, now it shows up but no sound. I can only get sound from my crummy internal speakers.

I asked a while back if you tried the speakers with another Mac, and you never said that you did. It may not be helpful, but it will be information.

OK, I tried it on the iMac and the new one still doesn't have sound, the one I've been using has sound on the iMac. I replugged it (the older speaker) into my MacBook Pro and no sound until I shut down and restarted my Mac (again). I can't explain it.

Don't you have three of them...the one you had at the start of this thread, the one you bought on eBay, and the one you "found?"

I ask because you've only reported having tried two with the iMac, and if the original and eBay ones worked but not the found one it would suggest that the found one is defective...not that that contributes anything towards solving your problem.

In other words: Basically, I'm stumped!

PMFJI...

First some general questions:

1. How do these speakers connect to your computer; via the standard 3.5mm audio port, USB, Bluetooth, or how?
2. If it is a wired connection, have you tried a different connecting cable
3. If it is a wired connection, have you tried a different port on the computer?

Then an observation: Statements like and
sound (no pun intended ) suspiciously like software rather than a hardware issue. Logitech has a propensity for marching to their own drummer and using proprietary drivers and even proprietary wireless connections for their devices (which is why I quit using Logitech years ago). I know this is the case with several Logitech speaker models and it appears most have required updates to run on macOS 12 (Monterey), if we had model numbers for your speakers I could do a search for specific information and/or more current drivers.

I tossed the first one when I bought the second one because it wouldn't even work when I restarted the Mac like the other ones did/do.

USB connections. USB cable is hardwired into speaker. I did try different ports. No dice. Model # N550.

Try downloading and installing the Logitech N550 drivers here. and see if that doesn't solve your problem.