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Displayport to HDMI dissappointment

P

prism

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 6, 2006
1,091
451
Just tried out the Dr. Bott displayport to HDMI II adapter and I get absolutely no sound despite manufacturer claims to the contrary. What has your experience been?
 
I bought a mini displayport to hdmi cable from china (ebay) for £8 incl shipping and it works flawlessly. i really love it. the downside is, you cant have your macbook opened and have 1080p displayed on your plasma tv. for 1080p on your tv you need to close your macbook (clamshell mode).

also to get sound over your tv you have to change your audio output settings.
 
If you have one of these

you will have no audio, unless you have a very new (less than a few months) computer

from Griffin's mini display to HDMI
Note: The Apple Mini DisplayPort supports audio and video on all MacBook Pro mid 2010 models as well as all 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs. For other Apple computers with Mini DisplayPort outputs, you'll need to connect it to your stereo receiver using an additional audio cable.
Click to expand...


you need something like this if you want multichannel sound, or this if stereo is fine.
 
One of two things. Either the dr Bott doesn't work or there is a bug with your computer. Sooo spend 10-20 on anew adanter return the old one. Or exchane your MacBook. Pretty painless. Maybee a firmware update may help in the future.
 
Do a search. There is a huge thread on this topic discussing which adapters work and which ones do not. There are a lot of older adapters that will not support audio on the new MBPs despite their sellers saying otherwise.

FWIW I have found the Griffin and OWC (macsales.com) adapter to work 100% w/ audio and video.
 
There is some minor configuration that needs to be done after the cable is plugged in to turn on the Audio output through the MiniDP:

1. Open "System Preferences" on your Mac, open the "Sound" option in the "Hardware" category.
2. Click on the "Output" tab and change selection from "Internal Speakers Built-in Output" to "Built-in HDMI Output ".
3. Open the "Displays" option in the "Hardware" category to select the appropriate display resolution and arrangement setting.

I purchased the Moshi cable and it works just fine for audio.
 
machiabelly said:
There is some minor configuration that needs to be done after the cable is plugged in to turn on the Audio output through the MiniDP:

1. Open "System Preferences" on your Mac, open the "Sound" option in the "Hardware" category.
2. Click on the "Output" tab and change selection from "Internal Speakers Built-in Output" to "Built-in HDMI Output ".
3. Open the "Displays" option in the "Hardware" category to select the appropriate display resolution and arrangement setting.

I purchased the Moshi cable and it works just fine for audio.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thanks, but what do you do when there is no "Built-in HDMI Output" to select?
 
prism said:
Just tried out the Dr. Bott displayport to HDMI II adapter and I get absolutely no sound despite manufacturer claims to the contrary. What has your experience been?
Click to expand...

exactly the same over here, brand new i5 and brand new Dr.Bott 2 ...but no sound output...

i read somewhere else that we're not alone on this and that Dr. Bott acknowledges some problems, the guy basically called them and he was promised a new cable at the end of the month...

i'm sure there are others?

comments?
 
Same Problem

I bought a mdp to hdmi from amazon and i can't get audio out either. I don't even have an option in the system prefs > audio > output to switch to hdmi out or anything. all it says is internal speakers.

http://amzn.to/cMGX6Y
 
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Solution?

I have the same problem. When I go to System Preferences->Sounds->Output, the only option I have is the Internal Speakers - Built-in Output option. There is no Built-In HDMI option.

I bought my macbook pro in June 2010. Should I have this option? If so, how can I access it?
 
braggbear said:
I have the same problem. When I go to System Preferences->Sounds->Output, the only option I have is the Internal Speakers - Built-in Output option. There is no Built-In HDMI option.

I bought my macbook pro in June 2010. Should I have this option? If so, how can I access it?
Click to expand...

If you bought a 2010 model then yes it will work.

Though the adapter must support audio for this to work.

*Make sure you pay attention to steps 1+2 or else the settings won't show up*

Here's the step by step process I went through.

1. Connect the HDMI cable and the MDP Adapter to your TV and Macbook Pro.
2. Turn on your TV.
3. Open "System Preferences" on your Mac, open the "Sound" option in the "Hardware" category.
4. Click on the "Output" tab and change selection from "Internal Speakers Built-in Output" to "Built-in HDMI Output ".
5. Open the "Displays" option in the "Hardware" category to select the appropriate display resolution and arrangement setting.
6. Once configured, you should be able to feed both video and audio streams to your TV.

Enjoy
 
Three things are needed for this to work...

prism said:
Just tried out the Dr. Bott displayport to HDMI II adapter and I get absolutely no sound despite manufacturer claims to the contrary. What has your experience been?
Click to expand...

Well, everybody seem to forgot about the third party: TV or whatever you are trying to connect your MBP to. The problem could be there...

I would take the cable and MBP to a family member/friend/TV shop and try it on something else preferably something relatively new.
Try to Google/MRoogle for people's experience with your particular TV.

What is the make/model/spec of the display you are trying to use?
What is the detailed specification of the HDMI port you trying to use?

I have vague memory that some TVs do not offer sound on every HDMI
connector, have you consulted user manual for yourTV?

Hope this helps.
 
TreborM said:
Well, everybody seem to forgot about the third party: TV or whatever you are trying to connect your MBP to. The problem could be there...

I would take the cable and MBP to a family member/friend/TV shop and try it on something else preferably something relatively new.
Try to Google/MRoogle for people's experience with your particular TV.

What is the make/model/spec of the display you are trying to use?
What is the detailed specification of the HDMI port you trying to use?

I have vague memory that some TVs do not offer sound on every HDMI
connector, have you consulted user manual for yourTV?

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

All HDTV HDMI ports will carry audio, just a fact of life. Well unless they are faulty but that's not likely.

The adapters on the other hand can be iffy especially when some of them are not designed to carry audio. Not surprising since the 2010 models are the first to do so, not all manufacturers are up to date and/or are selling off the old stock.
 
Works now

Thank you for your help. Turns out I had the wrong cable. When I first went to the apple store, they said i needed a HDMI to DVI cable as well as the adapter. The next day when I went in and said the sound wasn't working they then told me I just needed a HDMI cable and the adapter.

Long story short, I couldn't see Built-in HDMI option on my system preferences because i didn't have the right cable. Sound now works!
 
braggbear said:
Thank you for your help. Turns out I had the wrong cable. When I first went to the apple store, they said i needed a HDMI to DVI cable as well as the adapter. The next day when I went in and said the sound wasn't working they then told me I just needed a HDMI cable and the adapter.

Long story short, I couldn't see Built-in HDMI option on my system preferences because i didn't have the right cable. Sound now works!
Click to expand...


And what brand cable do you have?
 
I'm not sure which HDMI cable I have since I just had it laying around my closet. I think it might be Monster.

The adapter is a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter from Moshi. $35 bucks at apple store. I know there are cheaper ones you can find online.

I have a 2010 macbook.
 
prism said:
Yeah, thanks, but what do you do when there is no "Built-in HDMI Output" to select?
Click to expand...

Sorry to bring back an old thread as a first timer, but I have been asking myself this very same question and having very few results. I have the Moshi adapter and the video works beautifully, however the audio is non existent. I have gone through the audio steps in the system preferences but there is no "Built-in HDMI Output" option to be found. Please help

Also if it helps, I have a 2008(i think) MacBook Pro OS 10.5.8
 
Last edited:
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