Harry,
You're thinking of the multi-out connectors of the newer Intel Macs,
like the MacBook. The OP's G5 has a separate connector for analog and
optical audio output. We have already established here that the OP has
a problem (not too far off from what you're explaining) with plug
detection in the analog jack.

Chance

On Fri, Nov 4, 2011 at 10:47 AM, gifutiger <[email protected]> wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> The problem is actually caused by a little switch inside the jack that
> gets stuck. When you stick in an audio cable, it pushes the switch
> down. If it's an analog cable, the end is made of metal. If it's
> optical, the end is made of plastic. If the switch is pressed down,
> the computer checks to see if the plug inside is metal or plastic
> based on conductivity. When it gets stuck and nothing is in there, it
> thinks an optical cable is plugged in since the switch is down but
> nothing conductive is in there. That's why it works with headphones or
> external analog speakers.
>
> Comments from an Apple User Group;
> Had the same problem as thousands of you, re: dodgey cheap mutiple
> output 3.5mm plug. When will they learn one hole for one thing. They
> try to be too smart for their own good. Anyway, internal speakers
> weren't working so I tried inserting headphones in and out, but no
> luck. Then tried inserting a toothpick, but again no luck. Finally
> succeeded, against my best judgement, to insert a metal object into an
> optical output. By fiddling about I was able to "realease" the contact
> that allows the computer to make an assessment on whether a headphone/
> toslink or "nothing" is inserted. The contact is in the 7 o'clock
> position. By isloating this contact I gave it a gentle push downwards
> and it seems to have fixed the problem, but be gentle as there are
> plenty of things to ruin inside that little connector. Good Luck
>
> So your problem is in the "Toslink" connector.
>
> You could also try Trashing the file ~/Library/Preferences/
> com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist
>
> Cheers
> Harry
> San Jose, CA
> ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?º?ø
>
>
>
> On Nov 1, 7:33 am, jfMac <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Newly aquired G5 DP 2ghz with 2gb ram running Leopard, which I updated
>> to 10.5.8. Air cooled NOT water. Mostly running quite nicely.
>>
>> Internal speaker not working thus NO chime or sounds. The headphones
>> work fine.
>>
>> The Sound Preferences output tab lists the build-in-audio (Internal
>> speakers) under choose a device for sound output, and lists optical
>> digital-out port (Digital Out). No device is connected to the optical
>> audio port, and selecting it brings up "the selected device has no
>> output controls." If Digital Out is selected Output volume control is
>> greyed out.
>>
>> If Internal speakers is selected the Output volume control is NOT
>> greyed out, appears to work but has no effect. Internal speaker
>> selection also states "the selected device has no output controls."
>>
>> I have reset the nvram via open firmware, but made no difference.
>>
>> An internet search reveals problems with the optical audio port mostly
>> refer to portable macs. Solutions range from jamming the headphone
>> plug in repeatedly to twisting and turning toothpicks, matchsticks or
>> plastic forks into the headphone port at a particular angle. I surmise
>> that on the portables there is an optical audio switch inside the
>> headphone jack which gets stuck in the on position?
>>
>> On my machine there is red light lit in the port from boot to
>> shutdown. Here's a photo of what the port looks 
>> like:http://support.apple.com/kb/TA27095?viewlocale=en_US
>>
>> Pushing the tiny door back on the port does not reveal a switch of any
>> kind, and I don't want to go poking around in there without more
>> information.The connector cable is I think a toslink optical; I don't
>> have one, so it's off to the electronic store. Perhaps, just plugging
>> unplugging the cable will have some effect, if my machine suffers from
>> a stuck on switch. Who knows?
>>
>> I have NOT reset the PMU. A PMU reset always seems a drastic/risky
>> measure to me, but maybe no more risky than prodding and poking the
>> optical audio port itself.
>>
>> Is there a particular kext or bundle that controls the optical audio
>> port, which i could remove/mv or disable? It has to be controlled by
>> some kext, which one?
>>
>> Answers and alternative suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
>>
>> jfMac
>
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