Best and cheapest way to attach apple tv to non hdmi tv?

KTK1990 · Mar 7, 2012

I have an old (5 year old?) Mitsubishi tv, with component and composite cables ( red white yellow and, r/w/y/r/b/g). It doesn't have anything else really, no dvi or VGA, but it does have an svideo port.

I am highly interested in getting an apple tv, but am not sure how to connect it and get it to play with my tv. The audio part I have figured out, I can connect the optical audio to my non hdmi Bose lifestyle surround sound system.

I do also have a time Warner cable box, but I am not entirely sure if it has hdmi or not, it's a scientific atlanta box. ( I think 8300HD model)

reebzor · Mar 7, 2012

I would try something like this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10114&cs_id=1011410&p_id=8125&seq=1&format=2

I've also seen (for much cheaper) just a cable that has HDMI on one end, and component of the other, but I'm not sure how well that would work. A nice, powered, active converter will work much better I'm sure. It's also worth noting that this supports HDCP, which is NECESSARY for an AppleTV.

hafr · Mar 7, 2012

KTK1990 said:
I have an old (5 year old?) Mitsubishi tv, with component and composite cables ( red white yellow and, r/w/y/r/b/g). It doesn't have anything else really, no dvi or VGA, but it does have an svideo port.

I am highly interested in getting an apple tv, but am not sure how to connect it and get it to play with my tv. The audio part I have figured out, I can connect the optical audio to my non hdmi Bose lifestyle surround sound system.

I do also have a time Warner cable box, but I am not entirely sure if it has hdmi or not, it's a scientific atlanta box. ( I think 8300HD model)

You need a converter. Either google it, or go to your local audio/video store.

blueroom · Mar 7, 2012

For what it's worth use the money you'd spend on a converter and put it towards a new HDTV.

potatis · Mar 7, 2012

or buy an AppleTV G1, it connects to component, and can be hacked for AirPlay.

KTK1990 · Mar 7, 2012

Thanks everyone. I might look into the gen 1 apple tv, does the airplay work well for iPad and Mac mirroring?

Che Castro · Mar 7, 2012

Buy a new tv

Once u go HD you never go back

KTK1990 · Mar 7, 2012

Might be pretty hard. Can't find a good 60+ inch HDTV for about $100

. Don't have the cash to buy an entirely new tv. But I can find up some for a cheap apple tv

warvanov · Mar 7, 2012

Go with the new ATV and converter box. No sense investing in old ATV1 technology.

maturola · Mar 7, 2012

warvanov said:
Go with the new ATV and converter box. No sense investing in old ATV1 technology.

+1 to this, AppleTV3 ($99) + Converter box ($30) =

doktordoris · Mar 7, 2012

blueroom said:
For what it's worth use the money you'd spend on a converter and put it towards a new HDTV.

WHat he said.

KTK1990 · Mar 7, 2012

Are there any good converters for pretty cheap? Like under $50.

I checked amazon and saw this, but am not sure if it will work or not. http://www.amazon.com/eForCity-HDMI-RCA-Cable-FT/dp/B005J2PTNW

brudog68 · Mar 7, 2012

Pardon the interruption, but what if you have an hd tv, just no HDMI input...which method is best? HDMI to dvi, rgb, or svideo?

potatis · Mar 7, 2012

KTK1990 said:
Are there any good converters for pretty cheap? Like under $50.

I checked amazon and saw this, but am not sure if it will work or not. http://www.amazon.com/eForCity-HDMI-RCA-Cable-FT/dp/B005J2PTNW

That is a fake cable, you will need a box with a power supply. Like this one but for HDMI input http://www.avtoolbox.com/vs-223.shtml

upbraid · Mar 7, 2012

brudog68 said:
Pardon the interruption, but what if you have an hd tv, just no HDMI input...which method is best? HDMI to dvi, rgb, or svideo?

you will most likely need a converter. hdmi carries both the video and audio signal and most computers cannot transmit audio via DVI (some ATI gpu's can)

fdw777 · Mar 7, 2012

Mitsubishi 65813 and 3rd generation ATV (3/7/12)

I have a Mitsubishi 65813 CRT TV that only does 1081i, 480P, 480i no 1080P.
The Mitsubishi TV has DVI, and Component video inputs (and other lower resolution inputs).

Connecting my AppleTV 3rd generation (March 7, 2012):

1. ATV (HDMI) to Denon AVR 1912 (HDMI)
2. Denon AVR 1912 (HDMI) to Mits 65813 (DVI)

I know this works because I bought a ATV 2nd generation about 3 weeks ago (returned it after learning about the ATV refresh) and it worked. Only problem was some of the screen was cut off on the top (very minor).

Any comments?

thomasfxlt · Mar 7, 2012

DVI to RGB cable... connect to rgb input of Mits.(it will ignore the audio signal) Have to find the right video resolution setting for the connection.

Monoprice digital to analogue rca converter. Works great and cheap.

I've got about a 5 year old Fujutsu 1080 monitor and use this configuration with aTV 2. I upgraded software this afternoon and all is well. I had to change the audio setting to lock in at 16bit vs auto though.

brudog68 · Mar 7, 2012

upbraid said:
you will most likely need a converter. hdmi carries both the video and audio signal and most computers cannot transmit audio via DVI (some ATI gpu's can)

I was planing to use an existing optical audio cable for audio from atv to home theatre tuner...would I still need a converter to run HDMI to dvi for video only?

Thanks!

KTK1990 · Mar 8, 2012

potatis said:
That is a fake cable, you will need a box with a power supply. Like this one but for HDMI input http://www.avtoolbox.com/vs-223.shtml

Thanks for telling me. What about this? http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Composit...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331222602&sr=1-1

potatis · Mar 8, 2012

KTK1990 said:
Thanks for telling me. What about this? http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Composit...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331222602&sr=1-1

Should work, but check out the hdmi to component converter at the link, it's cheaper and should give better image.
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-RCA-component-AV-Converter/dp/B002WBOQPU/ref=pd_sim_e_1

KTK1990 · Mar 8, 2012

potatis said:
Should work, but check out the hdmi to component converter at the link, it's cheaper and should give better image.
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-RCA-component-AV-Converter/dp/B002WBOQPU/ref=pd_sim_e_1

Awesome, thanks

I think I will get that.

One last question, do you know if that will also do audio through the component cables?

Primejimbo · Mar 8, 2012

reebzor said:
I've also seen (for much cheaper) just a cable that has HDMI on one end, and component of the other, but I'm not sure how well that would work. A nice, powered, active converter will work much better I'm sure. It's also worth noting that this supports HDCP, which is NECESSARY for an AppleTV.

Seeing HDMI is digital and component is analog.. this will not work..

hafr said:
You need a converter. Either google it, or go to your local audio/video store.

^^^what he said

potatis · Mar 8, 2012

KTK1990 said:
Awesome, thanks I think I will get that.

One last question, do you know if that will also do audio through the component cables?

Yes, there are seperate red/white RCA outputs on the component side, so you get analogue audio out. If you want digital you could get it directly from the AppleTV's optical connector.

packerman1975 · Mar 30, 2013

fdw777 said:
I have a Mitsubishi 65813 CRT TV that only does 1081i, 480P, 480i no 1080P.
The Mitsubishi TV has DVI, and Component video inputs (and other lower resolution inputs).

Connecting my AppleTV 3rd generation (March 7, 2012):

1. ATV (HDMI) to Denon AVR 1912 (HDMI)
2. Denon AVR 1912 (HDMI) to Mits 65813 (DVI)

I know this works because I bought a ATV 2nd generation about 3 weeks ago (returned it after learning about the ATV refresh) and it worked. Only problem was some of the screen was cut off on the top (very minor).

Any comments?

How did you get the optical audio to work through the Denon? Did you have to assign the optical audio to match the HDMI to DVI out to the TV?

Best and cheapest way to attach apple tv to non hdmi tv?

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