Just realized I didn't specify my audio units!. For input I use an old Yamaha P-80, and I have always used playback through the computer. No other audio units involved. 

In Finale's Midi/Audio menu, what is check marked as your playback source?

1. Play Finale Through Audio Units

or

2. Play Finale Through midi

When I open the file, the "through Audio Units" is selected, however, I changed it to play through Midi. The silent playback result is the same with both options.

So, the plot thickens. I opened the exact same Finale file and tried playback on my other computer - a newer MacBook Pro, 10.14.5. Computer only - no midi connections. Playback worked fine! This indicates to me that the audio set up within Finale is fine.

It just dawned on me that perhaps the issue is the ACER monitor I'm using with my laptop. (It's a recent addition to my set up). In checking the audio options on the monitor, it says the following:

Auto Source On

VGA

HDMI  -  HDMI is highlighted. 

Could this be part of the problem? As I said before, a you tube played fine on the computer coupled with the Acer monitor,  so it didn't dawn on me that the monitor could be part of this issue.

What does MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Audio Setup look like?

Thanks so much for the response! I’m guessing you use a PC - my Audio Setup interface doesn’t look like this, however I poked around and tried to make sure settings were consistent. 

Audio Units are the Mac version of the sound files that support the Aria player.

Aha! That makes perfect sense!  I suppose I should have known that after all these years, but one learns something new every day. Thanks much!

A similar problem. When I opt for MIDI playback, it won't playback through my MIDI keyboard, amp & speakers, it only wants the computer's speakers. This only started happening when I switched to Finale 26. (BTW the connection to the MIDI keyboard is standard MIDI output. I can input from the MIDI keyboard without a problem.

I'm on Finale 27.3, Windows 10 ... i think.

I'm having a similar problem that I've had before.

I can create a marching band arrangement and extract parts, but sometimes after that, the original score will scroll but not playback. 

Any suggestions on how to solve this?

What does your Score Manager look like. Are the required instruments assigned to the various slots?

I’m stuck with the same issue (27.4.108 on Win10 x64). I have playback in everything else. Opening Audio Setup reveals that everything should be in order, and when clicking Test Audio Output, I get a sound. However, when clicking Settings, which opens up the Windows mixer, there is no sound when clicking on the Finale volume lever. Opening the VST Banks & Effects windows and choosing between the different VST instruments, the only option that works is the SmartMusic SoftSynth; the Aria sound banks yield nothing.