Apple TV, Kanex XD and Apple Cinema Display

[boston04and07]

Hmm, sorry it's not been so simple for you. Why not see what happens when you plug something else in on the HDMI connection of the Kanex running at 1080p?

Hey @Draeconis! Thanks for your quick reply I actually should have mentioned that I tried two Apple TV 4's with the Kanex, and both created the same issue. They both have no issues hooked up to my TV's. I don't have any non-Apple TV 4 devices that use HDMI in the house, though...hmm. That's a good idea, though, I'll do some digging and see if I can find a DVD player or something.

Off the top of your head, though, do you think it sounds correct for the Kanex box to say that the 24" Cinema Display can *only* accept 1920x1200? I've had this thing for a long time and that doesn't seem right to me, but who knows?

 

[Draeconis]

No worries. You mention you have a rMBP; that has HDMI out. Set your screen (if you can) to 1920x1200 and connect to the Kanex via HDMI. If that works, try forcing the rMBP to 1080p and see if you get the same result.

 

[boston04and07]

No worries. You mention you have a rMBP; that has HDMI out. Set your screen (if you can) to 1920x1200 and connect to the Kanex via HDMI. If that works, try forcing the rMBP to 1080p and see if you get the same result.

Ohhhhh duh. Haha. I didn't even think of that! Totally forgot my MBP has that! Whoooops. Good thinking, and thanks for all the help with thus! I'll try that in a bit and let you know!

 

[Draeconis]

I just tested mine out, although I obviously only have the 27" not the 24".

Through the Kanex adapter, my 27" ACD would accept and pass through 1152x720 or 1280x720 (720p), nothing else.

Connect your laptop, tell it to mirror displays, and see if it allows you to set 1920x1200 as the mirrored resolution. You might need to tell it to optimise either for the internal screen or the HDMI port to see the option for 1920x1200.

 

[boston04and07]

I just tested mine out, although I obviously only have the 27" not the 24".

Through the Kanex adapter, my 27" ACD would accept and pass through 1152x720 or 1280x720 (720p), nothing else.

Connect your laptop, tell it to mirror displays, and see if it allows you to set 1920x1200 as the mirrored resolution. You might need to tell it to optimise either for the internal screen or the HDMI port to see the option for 1920x1200.

Just tried it! So now I'm thinking that, regardless of the resolutions that the Cinema Display can accept, there's probably something wrong with the Kanex that I have, because the exact same issue occurred when I connected the display to my MBP via the Kanex - I got a slightly yellowish, flickering display of my desktop for a couple seconds before it completely cut out. The CD went to sleep again, and the light next to the Mini Displayport input on the Kanex went out, even though the light next to the HDMI input on the other side stayed on, meaning that the Kanex was still powered on. This never happens when I connect the CD to my MBP via the Mac's own Mini Displayport input, so I don't think there's something wrong with the display.

Also, for the few seconds that the CD was displaying an image, I saw that it was using a 1920x1200 resolution. Since the MBP was outputting at what is apparently the CD's native resolution, I don't think resolution incompatibilities could be to blame. There was no option for 1080p, so I'm wondering if it'll still not display the Apple TV 4 even if I get an adapter that works properly. The Apple TV 4 has no 1920x1200 resolution option (at least none that display on my TV's), and it seems as though the Cinema Display has no option to accept anything other than 1920x1200. Hmm. I took this screenshot after the display had already cut out; I was messing around and trying to see if changing to any of those other resolutions would do anything, but they didn't.

 

[Draeconis]

That's interesting. So it sounds like your Kanex is indeed not working properly; when I pushed through resolutions that didn't work on the Kanex my MDP end was still lit, although the ACD still did nothing.

I'm sure that you should be able to output 1080p through the Kanex to the 24" ACD though.. very odd. Unfortunately I don't have access to a 24" to test.

 

[boston04and07]

That's interesting. So it sounds like your Kanex is indeed not working properly; when I pushed through resolutions that didn't work on the Kanex my MDP end was still lit, although the ACD still did nothing.

I'm sure that you should be able to output 1080p through the Kanex to the 24" ACD though.. very odd. Unfortunately I don't have access to a 24" to test.

That's good to know! Thanks for your thoughts on this. Yeah, I mean 1080 and 1920x1200 aren't that far off in terms of resolution, right? If I'm not mistaken, the big difference is vertical height, and since displays and TV's come in all shapes and sizes perhaps it will indeed work under 1080p. I'll let you know though! The new Kanex should hopefully come this week and I'll test it out as soon as I get it.

 

[boston04and07]

Hello again @Draeconis! I got my replacement Kanex and I'm still having the same issue - the screen flashes on for a second, and I see a yellowish Apple TV home screen, and then it goes blank again. I'm thinking that the issue is the fact that the Apple TV 4 doesn't output the Cinema Display's only accepted resolution - that sort of weird 1920x1200. I'll keep playing with it for a little while and will let you know if it works, but thanks again so much for all your help with this!!

 

[Draeconis]

That's frustrating to hear. I know the Kanex XD and my 27" can't do 1080p, but have you had the chance to test your laptop mirroring 720p or 1280x720 through the Kanex to the ACD? You should see the option for it under either 'optimise for' display setting.

The alternative is that we add another box that scales the 1080p output to 1920x1200, but admittedly this costs more money and may yield stretching on the image.

I use a scaler to upscale from 480p to 720p when connecting my Wii to it. Apart from slightly mangling the green channel, it works perfectly. Interestingly, it handles 720p signals just fine too (while again, mangling green). No stretching occurs, but then since both resolutions share the same aspect ratio, this would be unexpected. I've not tested what happens if I send the scaler a greater signal than it can handle; I guess in theory it would work, as the output is the important part. Importantly though, my solution doesn't need to preserve HDCP, whereas yours almost certainly would. Cheaper scalers might not preserve the stream properly and break HDCP, rendering it useless.

 

[takeichimasato]

Just tried it! So now I'm thinking that, regardless of the resolutions that the Cinema Display can accept, there's probably something wrong with the Kanex that I have, because the exact same issue occurred when I connected the display to my MBP via the Kanex - I got a slightly yellowish, flickering display of my desktop for a couple seconds before it completely cut out. The CD went to sleep again, and the light next to the Mini Displayport input on the Kanex went out, even though the light next to the HDMI input on the other side stayed on, meaning that the Kanex was still powered on. This never happens when I connect the CD to my MBP via the Mac's own Mini Displayport input, so I don't think there's something wrong with the display.

Also, for the few seconds that the CD was displaying an image, I saw that it was using a 1920x1200 resolution. Since the MBP was outputting at what is apparently the CD's native resolution, I don't think resolution incompatibilities could be to blame. There was no option for 1080p, so I'm wondering if it'll still not display the Apple TV 4 even if I get an adapter that works properly. The Apple TV 4 has no 1920x1200 resolution option (at least none that display on my TV's), and it seems as though the Cinema Display has no option to accept anything other than 1920x1200. Hmm. I took this screenshot after the display had already cut out; I was messing around and trying to see if changing to any of those other resolutions would do anything, but they didn't.

I have tried to use Kanex XD converter for MacBook Retina as follows. This may help you setting the resolution of the MDP adapter in the system settings, namely, "Option key while clicking the Scaled button."

Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for the MacBook and Kanex XD HDMI to Minidisplay Port Converter solve the problem.
https://www.amazon.com/Apple-USB-C-Digital-Multiport-Adapter/dp/B00VU2K10G/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=14688768…
https://www.amazon.com/Kanex-HDMI-Mini-Displayport-Converter/dp/B003LGOWNQ

Other USB-C to HDMI adapters will work in place of Apples'; I have a new KickStarter KADi Port which works fine as well.

It should be noted, however, that Kanex XD converts HDMI to Apple's LED Cinema Display 27" with resolution 720p, and we may need to set the resolution for MDP adapters for HDMI.

An apple support page “Using a Retina display” tells us how to manage the resolution.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202471
——
"Get more resolutions for your external display"
You can see more resolution options for your external display by holding down the Option key while clicking the Scaled button.
——
Additional resolution options appear, and we can choose 720p.

Thus, we can use the Cinema Display with miniDisplay port as the 2nd display of Retina Macbook through HDMI Adapters and Kanex XD.
[doublepost=1469846186][/doublepost]I don't have any Apple TV's, but have a Fire TV Stick, which has no volume control neither.

FYI, tell you how the Kanex XD is used for the Fire TV Stick with the Apple Cinema Display 27".

The Kanex XD is fully working with 720p by simply inserting the Fire TV Stick to the HDMI port. So, a Mac Mini (Mid 2011) running El Capitan is connected ACD via its USB cable, and volume is controlled by the Keyboard connected to the Mac Mini. We don't care about what is displayed by the Mac Mini.

A small and simple device for ACD volume control which can be connected to the USB Port be expected!

 

[applerocks]

Hello again @Draeconis! I got my replacement Kanex and I'm still having the same issue - the screen flashes on for a second, and I see a yellowish Apple TV home screen, and then it goes blank again. I'm thinking that the issue is the fact that the Apple TV 4 doesn't output the Cinema Display's only accepted resolution - that sort of weird 1920x1200. I'll keep playing with it for a little while and will let you know if it works, but thanks again so much for all your help with this!!

I was all set to buy one of these to use with my 24" Cinema Display, so this is super helpful to hear (and also a huge bummer). At the end of the day, I'm looking for an easy way to watch TV from bed without having to swap out my Cinema Display. It just looks beautiful on my desk, even though a TV (which could still work very very well with my Mac) could do the job better and for less.

Are there any other similar products that would allow us to connect aTV 4 to the 24" Also, if I have an Apple TV 3rd gen lying around, do we think that would work better? I'm confused by the thread slightly since the MacBook Pro wasn't working either...

 

[Draeconis]

To clarify the issue we're currently talking about in this thread;

Attaching a Kanex XD to a 24" ACD should work at 1920x1200, but it seems 1080p sources aren't working, despite the fact I'm sure the Kanex used to be advertised for this (this seems suspiciously lacking from their website these days).

Testing mine on my 27" ACD, it seems the vertical resolution is the issue; 720p or other resolutions with a 720 pixel height value are accepted. 1920x1200 isn't much use to anyone, so I don't know why they would design the XD this way?

 

[boston04and07]

To clarify the issue we're currently talking about in this thread;

Attaching a Kanex XD to a 24" ACD should work at 1920x1200, but it seems 1080p sources aren't working, despite the fact I'm sure the Kanex used to be advertised for this (this seems suspiciously lacking from their website these days).

Testing mine on my 27" ACD, it seems the vertical resolution is the issue; 720p or other resolutions with a 720 pixel height value are accepted. 1920x1200 isn't much use to anyone, so I don't know why they would design the XD this way?

Hi there again! Old thread I know but I recently had time to look into this a little more, and apparently, my old assumption was correct - the 24" ACD can *only* accept resolutions of 1920x1200, if my sources are correct. At the same time, the Apple TV *can't* output to that particular resolution. If only there were some way to get the Apple TV to do that, I think this would work! Really too bad, as I have a now-unused display that would be perfect for this use. I'll keep looking into this, and if I figure out a way to get the Apple TV to output to that resolution, I'll let you guys know. There's gotta be some way, right? I'd even be willing to jailbreak my extra Apple TV if it would get this setup working.

 

[Draeconis]

The only way I can think of which is a bit insane is using a presumably expensive advanced scaler that you could set 1920x1200 output on.

A bit like this.

 

[boston04and07]

The only way I can think of which is a bit insane is using a presumably expensive advanced scaler that you could set 1920x1200 output on.

A bit like this.

Hmm, yeah, I figured. Too bad! Hopefully someday the Apple TV will be able to output to that resolution. Ah, well.

I'll probably just end up buying a new TV at some point myself, but all this has got me thinking - any idea if hooking up an ATV to one of the old silver Cinema Displays would work? I'm preeeetty sure there might be an old one of those somewhere in storage at my parents' house still...I'll have to look. If there is it might make a good kitchen TV or something for them. And plus, now I'm in the mood to tinker around and see what I can do! I love reviving old tech and giving it new life if I can and this could be a fun project, just not sure what hardware I'd need. Those old ones use DVI, right? Any thoughts if something like this would work?

 

[Draeconis]

I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work, although you'd get no sound (unless you can tell the ATV to send the sound elsewhere?)

 

[boston04and07]

I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work, although you'd get no sound (unless you can tell the ATV to send the sound elsewhere?)

Ah true, didn't think about that. I'll probably just hook it up to a Bluetooth speaker or something - I don't use native speakers for any of my TVs anyway. Don't know if this is something we even still have, and finding the thing will be a project in itself! I'll post back though if I ever do find it!