Get output volume with AppleScript

SwitchAudioSource http://code.google.com/p/switchaudio-osx/ is a command-line utility which works under Lion and Mtn Lion (I don't know about newer OS X versions). If it works for you, then you can use it in an AppleScript, as follows:

on run

    set theSwitch to "path_to_SwitchAudioSource"
    set theLine to "Current audio output device is:"

    do shell script theSwitch & " -c"
    display dialog theLine & return & return & result buttons {"OK"}

end run

on run
    set cat to value of variable "cat" of front workflow (*I have already defined the variable elsewhere in the workflow*)
    set num to {}
    set myString to ""
    tell application "Contacts"
        repeat with i in cat
            set inGroup to group i
            set phoneProps to value of phones of inGroup's people
            repeat with i in phoneProps
                try
                    set myString to myString & "\n" & first item of i (*gets first number only*)
                on error
                    set myString to myString & "\n" & "blank field" (*covers for empty phone number, otherwise would halt on error*)
                end try
            end repeat
        end repeat
        return myString
    end tell  
end run