Having fixed more Macs than I can count, I can offer these (admittedly unscientific, biased-sample) statistics:
1) Bad semiconductors are almost never the cause of audio problems in these all in ones. In fact, I am unable to recall a single case.
2) Bad capacitors (and this includes the goop they can leave behind) are almost always the cause of audio problems in these all in ones.
3) The number 2 cause of audio difficulties, and it is a far-lagging second at that, is bad contacts on the headphone jack.
So, if my stats are at all representative of the larger population of bad macs as a whole, then a prudent troubleshooting strategy would start with an examination of the two common sources.
I have never needed my multimeter to fix any audio problem on these compact macs. Chances are that you won't, either.
1) Bad semiconductors are almost never the cause of audio problems in these all in ones. In fact, I am unable to recall a single case.
2) Bad capacitors (and this includes the goop they can leave behind) are almost always the cause of audio problems in these all in ones.
3) The number 2 cause of audio difficulties, and it is a far-lagging second at that, is bad contacts on the headphone jack.
So, if my stats are at all representative of the larger population of bad macs as a whole, then a prudent troubleshooting strategy would start with an examination of the two common sources.
I have never needed my multimeter to fix any audio problem on these compact macs. Chances are that you won't, either.