How to connect audio + video to a Sony STR-DA5300ES receiver?

Sure, you can make both the video and audio connection from the mini to the receiver. That receiver has 6 HDMI inputs, so you would connect the mini's DVI port to one of them. Hopefully the receiver is capable of passing through the mini's output without needing to process it in any way. That's what you want ideally...just a digital pass-through of the mini's video output without any tampering.

That's true. But I thought the mini and the receiver were close to one another and the TV was far away. So what's the down side of running two cables from the mini to the receiver? The audio would be over an optical digital cable ideally.

I don't really see that it is any different connecting up a computer vs. any other box, like a set top box, DVD player, game console, etc. Basically, the receiver always becomes the stopping point for audio and only video is sent beyond the receiver to the TV. So if you know how to hook up any of your other boxes and make this work, it should be just the same for the mini.

Yeah, I hear you. Setting up my JVC receiver was a nightmare. It didn't help that the user manual was written by the tech writers from he**. And that was before it was translated to English. Here is a link to a group specific to your receiver at the AVS Forum. Maybe you can get some good tips there. Good luck.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=880352&highlight=5300

I'm currently trying to get my Mac Mini to play nice with my Sony STR-DG910. The problem I'm having is that the Mini doesn't output HDCP encrypted signals. The STR-DG910 only accepts HDCP signals through the HDMI inputs. My thought was to route the audio out of the MIni with a mini toslink to toslink cable into one of the optical inputs on the back of the receiver and use a DVI to HDMi cable for the video. Well that setup is a no go. My second idea is to use the Mac's analog output with a DVI to component cable along with the optical cable. Then let the STR-DG910 do the upconverting to HDMI. My though is I might have a problem with loosing the resolution settings of the Mini so something like this might also be needed.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011003&pid=3048&seq=1&format=2

This isn't the ideal solution but it might be the only one for right now. I almost positive you'd have the same issue if you haven't already encountered it yet.

Dear Mobopro,

I have Sony STR-DA5300ES connected to 46" Bravia. Components connected to the receiver are: Mac mini, PS3, Sony Blue-Ray DVD, Dish Network VIP 722 DVR, and B & W speakers. Everything connected with optical audio and HDMI video, and only 1 HDMI cable is connected to the TV.

In my set up, the Mac mini audio is connected to the receiver's MD/DAT optical port, and HDMI 4 assigned to the same port. You can use other ports too and assign those ports in receiver's settings. I always use my receiver for audio output. As of video, it gives me full 1080p picture from Mac mini, DVD and PS3.

Other components used: 1.5TB Maxtor hard drive connected to the mini (with all the media stored on it), Logitech Harmony 880 (replaces all the remotes except the PS3) and Remote Buddy which eliminates the keyboard and mouse usage.

Let me know if you need more information.

Good luck!

Could you please be more specific on the audio part. What kind of cable do you use to connect to the receiver and to which of the receiver's input ports?

Sorry for being so pushy, I just cannot find any reference on it. Thank you for your help.

Kirill

Kirill

I use optical cable for the audio. You need Toslink to Mini optical cable or mini to Toslink adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nbsse/104-9792227-7362366?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=mini-toslink +adapter&x=0&y=0

In my set-up, the audio is connected to the MD/DAT port and HDMI cable is connected to the HDMI4 port of the receiver, however you can connect to other ports as well and reassign the HDMI and optical ports to each other.

I think what I did was as follows: I chose the MD/DAT input on receiver's GUI screen and assigned the HDMI4 to that optical input and renamed the input name to Mac mini (optional).

You should be fine now. Let me know if you have more questions.

Yegor

Kdawggie - did this work for you? I have the same setup, and can't get any good resolutions through the STR-DG910. When I used to have the Mini plugged into the TV through VGA, I had a beautiful 1380x760 picture. I'm not sure how this would work through the receiver, since it seems to tell the mini what resolutions it will accept. Let me know if it worked!

Yegor,

This is a little bit different question on your mac mini's setup: do you have any problems with the HD video playback (with mkv files)? My mini (2GHz/2GB RAM) definitely has problems with that, I blame its pretty weak video card for now.

Kirill

I just got the 5300ES.. the connection to the mini was not too bad, same setup as Yegor. The video quality is pretty bad though, seems like the sony isn't advertising the resolution options to the mini. Turning off overscan fixed the sizing, but looks like the resolution is very low. When I connect the mini directly to the Bravia over DVI it looks great.

How did you guys set up the video?