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Best way to get audio to TV from Mac Mini?

chosenwolf

chosenwolf

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2006
507
0
Los Angeles
Hey Guys,

What is the best method to getting audio to my TV from my Mac Mini? My TV has 2 HDMI ports. So far, the only thing I can think of is a minijack (headphone audio connection on mini) to stereo RCA cables. Is there a minijack or adapter to HDMI?

How is it being done with the Apple TV?

Thanks!
:D
 
Go with a headphone to rca (red and white) cables. Only other way is headphone or optical, but with the headphone odds are the connection is on the front and with optical you won't gain anything because the tv speakers are stereo.

However if you have a surround sound system, use the digital connection to the receiver so you can use 5.1.

Right now I use a dvi to HDMI, but you lose the sound as it was from dvi. You have to use a second connection for sound.
 
kellen said:
Go with a headphone to rca (red and white) cables. Only other way is headphone or optical, but with the headphone odds are the connection is on the front and with optical you won't gain anything because the tv speakers are stereo.

However if you have a surround sound system, use the digital connection to the receiver so you can use 5.1.

Right now I use a dvi to HDMI, but you lose the sound as it was from dvi. You have to use a second connection for sound.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I was planning on doing the Headphone to RCA. I just took a look at the back of the Apple TV unit and it looks like there are 2 RCA (red/white) audio connections built in. I take it there is no other way to get sound out of the mac mini besides the 2 minijack audio ports?
 
wickedG35 said:
Thanks, I was planning on doing the Headphone to RCA. I just took a look at the back of the Apple TV unit and it looks like there are 2 RCA (red/white) audio connections built in. I take it there is no other way to get sound out of the mac mini besides the 2 minijack audio ports?
Click to expand...

The ATV has an optical-out port, just like your Mini does. What audio inputs, besides R&L RCA, does your TV have?
 
Cave Man said:
The ATV has an optical-out port, just like your Mini does. What audio inputs, besides R&L RCA, does your TV have?
Click to expand...

Only R&L RCA, unless you count HDMI :cool:

I do have a Toslink Digital Audio out on the TV, but that won't do any good in this situation.
 
Cave Man said:
Sounds like you need a new 5.1 sound system to go with your TV. :)
Click to expand...

I've got a 5.1 surround sound system, but all the inputs are used up =(

My TV has a built in speaker and that's all I really need for audio from my mac mini. The TV itself has 2 available RCA inputs so I might just go that route. =)
 
please help!! :(

hi all,

i have got an adapter to connect my macmini to my tv so i can get sound, but it doesn't seem to b working. My adapter goes in the headphone port and has a yellow and white plug in which goes into my tv, but once its all connected i still have no sound :( can anyone help???
 
pbooth11 said:
hi all,

i have got an adapter to connect my macmini to my tv so i can get sound, but it doesn't seem to b working. My adapter goes in the headphone port and has a yellow and white plug in which goes into my tv, but once its all connected i still have no sound :( can anyone help???
Click to expand...

I'd be suspicious of the Yellow connector, as this colour is generally used for composite video. It's possible that you have the wrong type of lead. RCA analog jacks are normally Black+Red or White+Red (Red=Right).
 
oops

millap said:
I'd be suspicious of the Yellow connector, as this colour is generally used for composite video. It's possible that you have the wrong type of lead. RCA analog jacks are normally Black+Red or White+Red (Red=Right).
Click to expand...

oops ye sorry, i have the red and white cables. I dont understand where im going wrong. I have got the DVI cable to connect my macmini to tv, i have to go onto PC-INPUT format on my tv to receive the mac signal, could this be why? once i connect the red and white cables to the tv then connect the other end to the headphone port in the macmini i get no sound at all?!?!?!
 
Cave Man said:
If you connect headphones to your Mac's audio port, do you get sound? If so, then the problem is (1) a bad cable or (2) an issue with your TV's audio input.
Click to expand...


yes if i connect headphones i get sound, it cant be my tv because when i plug my playstation in through the same ports i get sound, so therefore it must be the wires, are my assumptions right? if so what lead would you reccomend me getting?
 
Depending on your TV, some inputs have dual duties. for example, one input might take RCA video or sVideo plus R/L RCA audio. Another example might be DVI or HDMI + RCA R/L audio. Manufacturers do this for flexibility when connecting different inputs. When you have this kind of setup, you have to go into the settings for the TV and tell that particular input to use audio over the HDMI feed or use audio over the RCA (composite) feed.

You might need to check if your TV handles or arranges inputs this way.
 
mcavjame said:
Depending on your TV, some inputs have dual duties. for example, one input might take RCA video or sVideo plus R/L RCA audio. Another example might be DVI or HDMI + RCA R/L audio. Manufacturers do this for flexibility when connecting different inputs. When you have this kind of setup, you have to go into the settings for the TV and tell that particular input to use audio over the HDMI feed or use audio over the RCA (composite) feed.

You might need to check if your TV handles or arranges inputs this way.
Click to expand...

how do i know if my tv does this??

im really confused i just want to get sound from my minimac to tv, but i just dont seem to be able to get this :(
 
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