HDMI connection for pre-thunderbolt Macs?

[serr]

I have a gen 5,1 MBP with the mini-display port and no thunderbolt. I discovered that you cannot use the mini-display to HDMI adapter. You will get video but absolutely no audio. If you plug into the HDMI input of a surround receiver you will NOT see the device show up under Audio/MIDI Setup. OK, no surprise since this is in fact just a DVI port.


Is there a firewire to HDMI adapter solution for this?


My express34 slot is currently being used for a Wintec SSD (OS/apps) so that obvious option is not desired. And yes I use my internal data drive and my optical drive regularily.


So... firewire > HDMI?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Only 2010 Macs and later support audio out via MDP to HDMI.
For earlier Macs are adapters like the ones shown below, that combine the audio out port signal with the MDP signal and present you with an HDMI signal.

Mini DisplayPort (MDP) / Thunderbolt

Mini DisplayPort is the current digital standard on all current Macs to transfer video to an external display or TV. It has been introduced in 10/2008 with the release of the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pros and has gradually been adopted on all other Macs.
MDP is capable of transmitting video, and since 2010, audio too. MDP is a miniaturised version of DisplayPort. It is also license free and can support resolutions of up to 2560 x 1600, which Mini DVI and Micro DVI are not able to do.
Since 2011, all Macs come with a Thunderbolt port, which is meant for fast data transfer and also as means to connect to an external display device to mirror or extend the Mac's screen.

To learn more about Thunderbolt (TB) and its compatibility with Mini DisplayPort (MDP): Introducing Thunderbolt​

MDP adapters and cables can be bought online from:

Apple Online Store (or the physical Apple Store)

• MDP to VGA adapter
• MDP to DVI adapter
• MDP to Dual-Link-DVI adapter
• Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support adapter

Monoprice

• Mini DisplayPort + USB to Dual-Link DVI adapter
• Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter
• Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter
• Mini Displayport Male and USB Male/Toslink Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter
• Mini Displayport Male and USB Male Audio to HDMI Female Converting adapter - *NOTE* Will only support 2 channel stereo. Will not support 5.1 Dolby Surround like the above adapter.

• Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cables
• Mini DisplayPort to VGA cables
• Mini DisplayPort to DVI cables
• Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables
• Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cables

Also of interest: "What is "Mini DisplayPort"? Is it an industry-standard? How is it different from or better than Mini-DVI and Micro-DVI?"
​

from

How to: Connect a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro to a TV

Most common video interfaces on external computer displays and TVs

Common video interfaces on Macs and the appropriate adapters to connect to other display devices

Most common audio interfaces on external computer displays, TVs and the Mac​

 

[serr]

Only 2010 Macs and later support audio out via MDP to HDMI.
For earlier Macs are adapters like the ones shown below, that combine the audio out port signal with the MDP signal and present you with an HDMI signal.



from

How to: Connect a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro to a TV

Most common video interfaces on external computer displays and TVs

Common video interfaces on Macs and the appropriate adapters to connect to other display devices

Most common audio interfaces on external computer displays, TVs and the Mac​

Strike out on those adapters. When you read the fine print, the Mac one states only the 2010 and newer machines and the Monoprice one is simple stereo or lossy surround only. No go with any of these I'm afraid.

 

[Stetrain]

Strike out on those adapters. When you read the fine print, the Mac one states only the 2010 and newer machines and the Monoprice one is simple stereo or lossy surround only. No go with any of these I'm afraid.

How about this one that uses Toslink instead of USB audio?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6331&seq=1&format=2

Supports uncompressed 2 channel and 5.1 channel audio such as LPCM.
Supports compressed 5.1 channel audio including DTS® and Dolby® Digital.

 

[serr]

How about this one that uses Toslink instead of USB audio?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=6331&seq=1&format=2

Toslink is a 2 channel only optical connection. The only surround over this is losst dts or dolby (which are encoded into 2 channels). HDMI really is the only option for consumer surround receivers for full audio.

I might be out of luck if no one makes firewire to HDMI for audio.

The thing is the newer 15" machines are missing the express slot now and I don't want a 17". First world problems...

 

[Stetrain]

I don't think you're going to find a Firewire to HDMI cable that carries both audio and video.

I guess it depends on what sort of inputs your receiver has. You might be able to get a USB or Firewire sound card that can do surround sound output separately from the HDMI video connection.

As for expresscard, you can get Thunderbolt to Expresscard adapters that work with the newer machines:

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresscard34thunderbolt.html

I believe that I also saw one that works via USB 3 somewhere but I can't find it at the moment.