Any plans for Audio on Tahoe?

[MatinDevs]

I just realized that AppleALC.kext won't work on macOS Tahoe due to Apple removing some stuff from the OS. Is there theorically any way to bypass this?

[Cyberdevs]

@MatinDevs

Check this topic:

https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/361340-mykextinstaller/#comments

[Slice]

On 7/16/2025 at 11:16 AM, MatinDevs said:

I just realized that AppleALC.kext won't work on macOS Tahoe due to Apple removing some stuff from the OS. Is there theorically any way to bypass this?

Other way is VoodooHDA.

[roederja]

What is the better/preferred way to restore audio in Tahoe? VoodooHDA or bringing back AppleHDA? My understanding is that they both require system integrity protection to be turned off, so I would have thought brining AppleHDA back would be preferred?

[deeveedee]

21 hours ago, verdazil said:

VoodooHDA is inferior in sound quality and functionality.

 

This is a myth that we need to stop promulgating.  The sound quality of VoodooHDA.kext 3.0.2 is outstanding.  Slice posted this.  I'm using VoodooHDA.kext with Tahoe and couldn't be more pleased.

[Mirone]

The process of restoring AppleHDA using MyKextInstaller has proven to be very effective, as long as you use the correct KDK and meet all the minimum requirements for audio restoration. In 99% of cases where the audio doesn't work, even when the user claims to have met all the minimum requirements, it's due to using the wrong version of the KDK.

[verdazil]

2 hours ago, deeveedee said:

This is a myth that we need to stop promulgating.  The sound quality of VoodooHDA.kext 3.0.2 is outstanding

The sound quality and functionality of VoodooHDA are objectively worse than AppleHDA, and this is not a myth but a confirmed fact.

AppleHDA is Apple’s native audio driver, designed to work directly with macOS’s CoreAudio framework and to take full advantage of the operating system’s low-latency audio stack. It supports advanced features such as hardware mixing, digital signal processing, per-application volume control, power management, and seamless integration with system services. As a result, AppleHDA delivers high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion, stable channel mapping, and proper handling of multiple audio streams.

By contrast, VoodooHDA is a third-party, reverse-engineered driver created to provide basic audio functionality on unsupported hardware. Because it is not fully integrated into the macOS audio subsystem, it often introduces higher latency, lower sound quality, distorted or unbalanced audio, poor microphone support, and limited or unstable features (e.g., broken volume control, missing digital audio support, or channel misconfiguration). Many Hackintosh users report issues such as crackling, static noise, or reduced dynamic range when using VoodooHDA.

In short:

AppleHDA = native, optimized, high quality, feature-complete.

VoodooHDA = fallback, limited, lower quality, less stable.

This is not just hearsay or community bias; it has been consistently confirmed in practice by Hackintosh users, developers, and audio measurements.

[deeveedee]

@verdazil You're entitled to your opinion. But let's be clear - it is only your opinion.

Edited September 28, 2025 by deeveedee

[deeveedee]

@verdazil I posted a working solution for the 'clicking sound' in Slice's VoodooHDA 3.0.2 thread here. With this solution, there is no 'clicking sound' at boot. Others claim to have their own solution.

 

EDIT: I also posted a solution here that demonstrates how VoodooHDA.kext works well when SIP is tightened with csr-active-config = <01000000>.

Edited September 28, 2025 by deeveedee

[deeveedee]

@verdazil  Virtually every solution that enables a hackintosh is a work-around - just like the AppleHDA root patch.

[J Lamp]

😒 Sigh, what's the point of still arguing over VooDooHDA at this point point?

 

Personally, I get clicks and pops with it set to anything above 48K 16 bit, but for now it's the simplest and quickest solution to the fact that AppleHDA is gone and not coming back.

 

@MatinDevs it seems at this point that there are three options;

 

1) Follow the instructions linked by @Cyberdevs. Upside is you get your original audio back. Downside moving forward will be updates. You've opened the sealed OS partition, it's more of a "hack" install than a "vanilla" install at this point. I expect that you will have to run all the patches again after each incremental Tahoe update.

 

2) VoodooHDA (currently what I am using.) It's a minor adjustment to lower the SIP settings (you only have to allow unsigned kexts, you don't have to turn it off completely.) This will get you working sound again quickly.

 

3) Ditch these options and get a cheap USB audio dongle. These will work without any hacks or patches and can be found (on Amazon anyway) for well under $20.

[Slice]

5 hours ago, verdazil said:

@deeveedee, when using VoodooHDA, I get an annoying loud clicking sound every time the system boots up. And no amount of manipulation can fix it. I can only be glad for you that in your hardware configuration you do not suffer from the shortcomings of the VoodooHDA driver.

In the right hands VoodooHDA has the fine quality.

[deeveedee]

11 hours ago, J Lamp said:

😒 Sigh, what's the point of still arguing over VooDooHDA at this point point?

 

That's a lot of points in one sentence! There must be extra reputation points for that.

[LockDown]

Whatever works.

Voodoohda was there when we needed sound badly

[J Lamp]

9 hours ago, deeveedee said:

 

That's a lot of points in one sentence! There must be extra reputation points for that.

I should put my glasses on before I post🤓