How do I get Macbook audio to my HDMI TV

You would need a TosLink adapter to go from the 3.5mm jack on the MacBook to a device which would combine the optical audio with the DVI output to HDMI.

Something like this might work: http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm

I just did a quick search on devices that might combine digital audio with HDMI. There might be something simpler out there to combine to a single HDMI cable.


If you don't have any other equipment, it might be just as easy to take a 3.5mm analog RCA cable from the MacBook to the analog RCA input jacks on the TV. Wouldn't be digital, but the TV doesn't have DD 5.1 anyway.

Mr Skills said:

I think the TV assumes that audio will be coming through the HDMI cable. So the RCA audio inputs are paired with the component/composite video inputs. Composite does not look very good (and leaves a small border), and I don't think it's possible to get component video out of the Macbook (?).

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Check in your TV's manual about the audio thing. My LCD has an RCA audio input that's shared with S-Video and HDMI. You have to go into a special menu to enable it.

MacBook to HDTV setup

Mr Skills said:

Woohoo! There is indeed a special menu where you can tell one of the HDMI inputs to 'hijack' the analogue audio. I guess I should RTFM!

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I too can confirm that it is possible to hook up a MacBook to an HDTV (in this case a Pioneer Elite). I needed two cables: a mini-DVI to HDMI cable (see "PTC Mini-DVI to HDMI Adapter with 6ft HDMI Cable for Macintosh") to carry the video directly to the TV, and a 3.5mm to component (red & white jacks) "Y" cable (see "Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs (6ft)") to carry the audio directly to the TV. Note that I bypassed the A/V Receiver and went straight into the back of the TV.

In order to make this work, I had to change the settings within the setup menu of the TV itself to get the audio from an analog source (while retaining the video from the HDMI cable). Normally the HDMI cable would carry both video and audio, but there is no audio coming out of the HDMI port on the MacBook so you need a second cable coming from the MacBook's headphone jack. With decent speakers hooked up directly to the TV, this produced very acceptable stereo sound. The picture was quite good as well (maybe not HD but I was able to watch Hulu video as well as DVD movies on the 50" screen with no visible granulation).

This setup sort of obviates the need for the $100 Roku box I have (which allows you to display HD instant-download movies though Netflix). I can now simply play them on my MacBook though this new setup. The audio cable was $5 via a 3rd party vendor on Amazon (shipping included) while the video cable was $12. So using your MacBook for Netflix instant downloads is $83 cheaper than Roku.

Hope this helps. I'm very happy with all the options I now have for fully utilizing my 50" HDTV. Oh, and, I read the ****ing manual (RTFM) to figure this all out. You should too.

phubbard314 said:

I too can confirm that it is possible to hook up a MacBook to an HDTV (in this case a Pioneer Elite). I needed two cables: a mini-DVI to HDMI cable (see "PTC Mini-DVI to HDMI Adapter with 6ft HDMI Cable for Macintosh") to carry the video directly to the TV, and a 3.5mm to component (red & white jacks) "Y" cable (see "Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs (6ft)") to carry the audio directly to the TV. Note that I bypassed the A/V Receiver and went straight into the back of the TV.

In order to make this work, I had to change the settings within the setup menu of the TV itself to get the audio from an analog source (while retaining the video from the HDMI cable). Normally the HDMI cable would carry both video and audio, but there is no audio coming out of the HDMI port on the MacBook so you need a second cable coming from the MacBook's headphone jack. With decent speakers hooked up directly to the TV, this produced very acceptable stereo sound. The picture was quite good as well (maybe not HD but I was able to watch Hulu video as well as DVD movies on the 50" screen with no visible granulation).

This setup sort of obviates the need for the $100 Roku box I have (which allows you to display HD instant-download movies though Netflix). I can now simply play them on my MacBook though this new setup. The audio cable was $5 via a 3rd party vendor on Amazon (shipping included) while the video cable was $12. So using your MacBook for Netflix instant downloads is $83 cheaper than Roku.

Hope this helps. I'm very happy with all the options I now have for fully utilizing my 50" HDTV. Oh, and, I read the ****ing manual (RTFM) to figure this all out. You should too.

Click to expand...

Hey, I know its late but i try..
I have the same problem..got a new LG 42LH3000 and i connect my macbook to the tv in order to watch movies with an hdmi cable. the image is very good but I have no sound.. I bought a mini jack to RCA output but it doesnt work at the same time as the hdmi... If choose on the tv hdmi (1-2 or 3) i see only the image even if the rca cables are attched (one is red and the other black but I guess it doesnt make difference if 1 is black or white, does it?). Anyway if I connect the rca to a kind of adpater (the one of the ps2 with 3 female input, yellow-red-white) that I attach to the SCART and I choose SCART this time and not hdmi I can hear the audio. so either audio or video?? what can I do? I have 2 possibilities for putting the rca cables: I have a yellow-red-white input on the side and the same on the back, does it make difference?? please someone help me!!

maeishoj said:

Hey, I know its late but i try..
I have the same problem..got a new LG 42LH3000 and i connect my macbook to the tv in order to watch movies with an hdmi cable. the image is very good but I have no sound.. I bought a mini jack to RCA output but it doesnt work at the same time as the hdmi... If choose on the tv hdmi (1-2 or 3) i see only the image even if the rca cables are attched (one is red and the other black but I guess it doesnt make difference if 1 is black or white, does it?). Anyway if I connect the rca to a kind of adpater (the one of the ps2 with 3 female input, yellow-red-white) that I attach to the SCART and I choose SCART this time and not hdmi I can hear the audio. so either audio or video?? what can I do? I have 2 possibilities for putting the rca cables: I have a yellow-red-white input on the side and the same on the back, does it make difference?? please someone help me!!

Click to expand...

This may fall into the category of "too obvious to help" but when I was working out my setup (with a Sharp Aquos) I found
1) only one of the two HDMI inputs worked with the RCA-in selection (by design, not defect), and
2) that I had to use a DIFFERENT RCA-in than I'd been using for years (I had an old iMac hooked up to the SVHS video input). The RCA input I had to switch to was specifically dedicated to the HDMI input.

On my TV (some Sony model), there is two HDMI inputs, however the bottom HDMI (2) in has two RCA inputs beneath it to allow audio from RCA in. So I use a 3.5mm to RCA cable and then I put the input on HDMI2 and it works fine.

Or you could just use this:

http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3323 ($59.99, 2 channel analog audio)

http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3495 ($69.99, 5 channel digital audio)

From the GizModo review: "Someone finally gets it right"

Meh, cheaper and same quality;
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6331&seq=1&format=2
2 channel.

The whole need for these adapters is ridiculous though. The Mini DisplayPort spec has support for audio. It could be a simple one-line adapter from miniDP to HDMI. Hopefully on the next round, Apple.

mklnz said:

On my TV (some Sony model), there is two HDMI inputs, however the bottom HDMI (2) in has two RCA inputs beneath it to allow audio from RCA in. So I use a 3.5mm to RCA cable and then I put the input on HDMI2 and it works fine.

Click to expand...

Yes, the Sharp is basically the same setup. I don't know if it's true for the Sony, but the RCA inputs are far enough below the 2nd HDMI that it isn't immediately obvious that they're related.

Gen said:

Meh, cheaper and same quality;
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6331&seq=1&format=2
2 channel.

Click to expand...

Meh. $50 for a Rubegoldberesque fix is still too much when you can do the same with very basic cables.

Gen said:

Meh, cheaper and same quality;
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6331&seq=1&format=2
2 channel.

Click to expand...

+1

I love monoprice!!!

For 5.1, is that $60 "fix" the only option. Couldn't you just run a separate optical cable for the 5.1?

This really does just add to the "Apple Tax" doesn't it? Virtually every mid-grade, newer PC laptop has HDMI output. *sigh*

mklnz said:

On my TV (some Sony model), there is two HDMI inputs, however the bottom HDMI (2) in has two RCA inputs beneath it to allow audio from RCA in. So I use a 3.5mm to RCA cable and then I put the input on HDMI2 and it works fine.

Click to expand...

That is exactly what was recommended - to use HDMI2. It works for me.

put computer speakers behind your tv? dont judge me, i'm a college student

So I didn't read any forums before I went and bought cables. Ive got a miniwhatever to hdmi which works wonderfully on my crappy insignia. Until yesterday I was using my macbook pro audio when I finally got the toslink to toslink mini adapter. I was thinking I would just plug in the optical audio into the only available optical audio port on the tv. Well, its not working. Checked all the menus and settings. My mac likes it and adjusted its own settings. Im thinking the TV doesnt. The audio port im using on the tv says S/PDIF, which Im thinking may be output not input? Can I even use my optical audio to get the sound from the computer to play through the tv speakers?

zejoro said:

So I didn't read any forums before I went and bought cables. Ive got a miniwhatever to hdmi which works wonderfully on my crappy insignia. Until yesterday I was using my macbook pro audio when I finally got the toslink to toslink mini adapter. I was thinking I would just plug in the optical audio into the only available optical audio port on the tv. Well, its not working. Checked all the menus and settings. My mac likes it and adjusted its own settings. Im thinking the TV doesnt. The audio port im using on the tv says S/PDIF, which Im thinking may be output not input? Can I even use my optical audio to get the sound from the computer to play through the tv speakers?

Click to expand...

I'd have thought it's probably output yeah so no dice unfortunately.

zejoro said:

So I didn't read any forums before I went and bought cables. Ive got a miniwhatever to hdmi which works wonderfully on my crappy insignia. Until yesterday I was using my macbook pro audio when I finally got the toslink to toslink mini adapter. I was thinking I would just plug in the optical audio into the only available optical audio port on the tv. Well, its not working. Checked all the menus and settings. My mac likes it and adjusted its own settings. Im thinking the TV doesnt. The audio port im using on the tv says S/PDIF, which Im thinking may be output not input? Can I even use my optical audio to get the sound from the computer to play through the tv speakers?

Click to expand...

Unless you have multiple TOSLink ports on your TV, it's most probably an output. Double-check your TV manual.

Cheaper solution from Monoprice at 22% of the price

Go with this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=5311&x=0&y=0

and this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=1557&x=0&y=0


This combo does the same thing as the all-in-one adapter but at a whopping $11.11 versus $50.00. I have this combo and it works perfectly on my 2.8 MBP.

phrint said:

This combo does the same thing as the all-in-one adapter but at a whopping $11.11 versus $50.00. I have this combo and it works perfectly on my 2.8 MBP.

Click to expand...

While this may work for most HDTVs. The Panasonic TV (Panasonic viera tc-p42x1) I have does not have seperate audio option while using HDMI that I am aware of, If I am mistaken someone tell me how to get around this please. If not the $50 cable solution looks like my best option. :/

connecting imac to tv??? audio prob?????

hi is it possible to have sound coming from both my imac aswell as my tv i have a mini dvi to hdmi mirrored to project display but have no audio from tv i have read about connecting audio leads to tv and then into headphone jack on imac but surely sound from my imac will be lost is there any way to have both pllzzzzzz hellllppp!!!! thanks