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Trying to hook 13"MBP to HDTV

noobinator

noobinator

macrumors 604
Original poster
Jun 19, 2009
7,419
7,135
Los Angeles, CA
I have some tv shows downloaded that I'd like to watch on my HDTV. I currently have a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and a 3.5mm male to male audio cable that I plug into the TV and the headphone jack on my MBP.

1. The audio does not work. Is there a setting somewhere I must enable?

2. Would I be better off buying some other sort of cable?

3. What are my options for displaying my MBP screen on the TV and where do I access these options? When I hook up the adapter it just extends my screen to the TV.

Perhaps I need a MBP to TV guide of some sort. I can get this done easily with my old PC but I"d really like to do it with my MBP.
 
Which adaptor do you have in terms of brand? Where did you buy it? Only a few mini displayport-HDMI cables/adaptors carry audio.

edit: Sorry, didn't read that the OP is using a separate audio cable. In System Preferences-Sound, select the OUTPUT tab and make sure that the output audio cable you are using is selected.
 
noobinator said:
I have some tv shows downloaded that I'd like to watch on my HDTV. I currently have a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and a 3.5mm male to male audio cable that I plug into the TV and the headphone jack on my MBP.

1. The audio does not work. Is there a setting somewhere I must enable?

2. Would I be better off buying some other sort of cable?

3. What are my options for displaying my MBP screen on the TV and where do I access these options? When I hook up the adapter it just extends my screen to the TV.

Perhaps I need a MBP to TV guide of some sort. I can get this done easily with my old PC but I"d really like to do it with my MBP.
Click to expand...

Assuming you have a 2010 MBP which supports audio through HDMI (older models do NOT, i believe)...

However, after reading a discussion on the Apple Support Discussion board, I called Apple and they confirmed that there is indeed an issue in the 10.6.4 update that disabled the audio output option through HDMI. The Apple customer service rep said that they were aware of the problem, were working to address it but could not give a time frame for its resolution.

Bottom line, anyone on Snow Leopard 10.6.4 will no longer be able to output audio via HDMI until Apple addresses the problem.
 
spinnerlys said:
What port on the TV do you plug the male 3.5mm connector in? Is it an audio-in port? And what specific TV model do you have?

How to: Connect a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro to a TV
Click to expand...

I plugged it into the side of my Sony Bravia Z series into the port simply labeled "Audio" and it's a black port right below the RGB and above an HDMI port.

I have the generic monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter that does not work with audio.

And yes, it's a 2010 MBP.
 
noobinator said:
I plugged it into the side of my Sony Bravia Z series into the port simply labeled "Audio" and it's a black outlet right below the RGB and above an HDMI port.

I have the generic monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter that does not work with audio.

And yes, it's a 2010 MBP.
Click to expand...

Since there are many Bravia Z series models, could you be more specific?
Have you taken a look at the manual that came with your TV, as I've never seen a 3.5mm audio input on a TV, mostly RCA (white/black and red) plugs are used.

Does the audio port look like this?

20090622072501cont.jpg


If so, than this is the wrong port, as it is a female RCA port.

Have you already taken a look at the guide I linked to?
 
spinnerlys said:
Since there are many Bravia Z series models, could you be more specific?
Have you taken a look at the manual that came with your TV, as I've never seen a 3.5mm audio input on a TV, mostly RCA (white/black and red) plugs are used.

Does the audio port look like this?

If so, than this is the wrong port, as it is a female RCA port.

Have you already taken a look at the guide I linked to?
Click to expand...

It's a 40z5100
The audio port is actually in the "PC In" section and it just says "audio" and I plugged it into there. I may be going about this totally the wrong way. On my other laptop I use the RGB to connect the video and the 3.5mm cable works for the audio. I've looked over the guide but I'm a total noob to this and it seems like I'm going about the audio the wrong way.

I'm looking through my TV manual also to try and find something.
 
noobinator said:
It's a 40z5100
The audio port is actually in the "PC In" section and it just says "audio" and I plugged it into there. I may be going about this totally the wrong way. On my other laptop I use the RGB to connect the video and the 3.5mm cable works for the audio. I've looked over the guide but I'm a total noob to this and it seems like I'm going about the audio the wrong way.

I'm looking through my TV manual also to try and find something.
Click to expand...

I haven't had a TV since 2002 or so, so maybe they changed many inputs on those. Maybe the PC IN is the audio in for 3.5mm, but you may have to select it or at least use the adjacent ports for video in.

The manual should clear things up, as they are quite descriptive, at least some of Sony's professional broadcast equipment manuals.
 
DoFoT9 said:
HDMI cables for video + 3.5mm->RCA cables for audio (if you arent fussy about audio) or mini optical->amp (if you are fussy about audio) and you are set :)
Click to expand...

So I pretty much need to ditch the 3.5 to 3.5 for a 3.5 to RCA cable?

(still reading the manual and will try the option click speaker)
 
noobinator said:
It's a 40z5100
The audio port is actually in the "PC In" section and it just says "audio" and I plugged it into there. I may be going about this totally the wrong way. On my other laptop I use the RGB to connect the video and the 3.5mm cable works for the audio. I've looked over the guide but I'm a total noob to this and it seems like I'm going about the audio the wrong way.

I'm looking through my TV manual also to try and find something.
Click to expand...

If you don't plug in the video and audio to the same input area, they both won't work at the same time. If you want to use that port for audio, you have to use the same type of video cable that you do with your other computer.
 
DoFoT9 said:
HDMI cables for video + 3.5mm->RCA cables for audio (if you arent fussy about audio) or mini optical->amp (if you are fussy about audio) and you are set :)
Click to expand...

Can anyone link me to a mini optical to amp ? I can't find what I'm looking for online.

I'll probably end up getting the Y adapter mentioned above but I'm curious.
 
noobinator said:
So I pretty much need to ditch the 3.5 to 3.5 for a 3.5 to RCA cable?

(still reading the manual and will try the option click speaker)
Click to expand...
thats what i did, easy option. :)

noobinator said:
Can anyone link me to a mini optical to amp ? I can't find what I'm looking for online.

I'll probably end up getting the Y adapter mentioned above but I'm curious.
Click to expand...

sure thing. check this out. will work perfect for you!
 
I bought a 3.5 to RCA hooked up the 3.5 to my MBP headphone jack and the RCA audio into my TV. I still cannot get sound. I option click the speaker and the only option under output is headphones. I unmuted it too and still no luck.

Any suggestions?? This is driving me nuts.
 
noobinator said:
I bought a 3.5 to RCA hooked up the 3.5 to my MBP headphone jack and the RCA audio into my TV. I still cannot get sound. I option click the speaker and the only option under output is headphones. I unmuted it too and still no luck.

Any suggestions?? This is driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

i cant speak for Sony, but i know that on my Panasonic TV i must have the RCA plugged into a port that produces the sound from the HDMI port. go to a specific HDMI port and try all possible RCA combinations and see if one works. it SHOULD work *fingers crossed*
 
DoFoT9 said:
i cant speak for Sony, but i know that on my Panasonic TV i must have the RCA plugged into a port that produces the sound from the HDMI port. go to a specific HDMI port and try all possible RCA combinations and see if one works. it SHOULD work *fingers crossed*
Click to expand...

wooohoooo
It worked! I just had to move my HDMI plug closer to the RCA plugs and it works now. Thanks a lot for your help everyone. :D
 
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