Mini DisplayPort to HDMI

I didn't.
I guess I don't know what that means exactly but I thought that meant optical or digital audio. So you are just letting me know I could run an optical cable vs my rca cable? Not that I could run video out of there?

Well at any rate - that is good a good thing to know. I have optical cable I'm not using - might as well hook that up for the audio feed.

Thanks.

check the apple website, there are several mini dvi to hdmi cables out now, including Belkin.

BigSkyBorn wrote: "From what I have read and from other posts in various forums - the mini display is ONLY capable of video. So regardless if they get a Mini to HDMI - it will only be the video. You will have to run the audio out of the headphone jack."

CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THAT THIS IS TRUE? (preferably citing a source)

Wikipedia's Mini DisplayPort page says this: "Current Mini DisplayPort adapters do not support audio (+*although the port itself does*+). But it also says "citation needed."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_DisplayPort

Why is Apple making it so hard to get this information? Very frustrating.

Right, I'm just saying that a mini-toslink (optical cable) will give you digital surround sound and an analog RCA cable will not. It has to be a mini optical, or a regular toslink with a mini adapter.

From what I read, the MDP-HDMI adapter will not carry audio. It's just a matter of plugging in a separate audio cable, no big deal.

My question is, will we have all the headaches that users of the dual link display cable are having? (distortion, ratio, etc.)

I can confirm that this is true. According to the pinout provided on the Wikepedia Article, Pins 16 and 18 are for Aux_CH positive and negative, respectively. Those are the two pins needed to deliver the SPDIF digital audio connection, and are the same pins used to deliver digital audio over the Mini DisplayPort connector to the LCD Cinema Display. Hooked my own connector up to a digital oscilloscope and confirmed the same.

If you can't wait for a connector that carries audio and video on the same cable for the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI solution, simply do the following:

1) Mini DisplayPort to DVI from Apple
2) DVI plus SPDIF Digital Audio to HDMI 1.3 Converter from AudioAuthority ( http://www.audioauthority.com/product_details/1311/All/30/4)
3) Any 1/8" to RCA SPDIF digital audio cable
4) Any HDMI 1.3 compliant M/M cable

Granted, the total cost for this solution due to the conversion from DVI+SPDIF to HDMI is expensive at roughly $200, but this is the only way that I have found to reliably convert the audio, using a "single" connection to the LCD display, and ensuring that HDCP is preserved in the entire distribution of signal.

Yes. Apple needs to get with the program and market a combined A/V Mini DisplayPort to HDMI 1.3 cable. They could price it at $99 and still be cheaper than the alternatives. I would also recommend that they close this thread, since the solutions have been posted until such time that Apple manufactures their own cable.

Monoprice is selling this cable now (just ordered one):

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&pid=4852&seq=1&format=2

You may want to double check your order. According to your link this is a Mini-DVI to HDMI Adapter.

Xinram is right, the cable you are looking for this this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&pid=5311&seq=1&format=2

Which doesn't seem to be available until March 15th.

So will the monoprice cable also carry Audio? That would be sweet!

Also... c'mon apple... MDP -> DP... way to drop the ball on that one!

guys no one will know if it will work, monoprice should do the right thing and let people out of their misery. they are trying to keep the first order sales up by keeping it hush hush. disgraceful. i wouldn't mind if apple made a component that fits nicely into mini display and headphone jack for the Pros. common we use this machine for video editing, why have they done this to use.

So what is your point exactly? What is the relevant use of that extra bandwidth?

I just bought a 6' HDMI cable from a retail store for $5.99, doubt you will find an MDP adapter for that price.

monoprice's business model is based around cheap, but quality, honest goods. And with that they've posted the following in their "Mini Display Port to HDMI Adapter" products description:

" NOTE AUDIO: This adapter will support audio only if your source device allows audio output through the Mini DisplayPorts interface. If you're not sure, please check with the manufacturer or website, to confirm if your device allows audio out through the Mini-DP interface."

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&pid=5311&seq=1&format=2

So in reality, it's Apple who is keeping things "hush hush". While we all know a Mini DisplayPort can carry audio, it isn't required to do so and none of Apple's products explain whether or not they pass audio through it.

Thanks for posting that monoprice update, henry thehorse.

henry thehorse wrote:
So in reality, it's Apple who is keeping things "hush hush". While we all know a Mini DisplayPort can carry audio, it isn't required to do so and none of Apple's products explain whether or not they pass audio through it.

*It is simply astonishing to me how poorly informed Apple's own employee's are on this issue.*

I went to an Apple store in NYC a week ago and asked them this specific question:

*I am aware that there is not yet a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter available, but when there is, is it even possible for the Mini DisplayPort to carry audio? In other words, does the port support audio in any way, or is it video only?*

The employee said "video only." I asked if he was sure. He said he was nearly certain but went to get a (supposedly) more knowledgeable manager who came and confirmed "video only."

W.T.F.?

It's one thing to not have an adapter for such a clear need upon launch, and even for employees to not know everything when a product is brand new, but the MDP was released with the new MacBooks many months ago.

*TO APPLE:* Doesn't anyone from the company monitor these discussions? Someone surely was when you deleted a disparaging comment about Apple that this frustrated but +*dedicated Apple user of 13 years made*+ in another thread. CAN'T YOU PUT THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS?

i'm very new to the computer game so i ask many related questions when knowledgeable people are around. i just bought a sinotec 47" lcd hdtv. at the shop i asked the sales person if and how i can connect my macbook pro with the tv i'm buying. she gentleman then told me that it won't be a problem and he showed me all the ports on the back of the set. "impressive" i thought. i had my macbook pro with me to make sure i get the right cables etc. they didn't have the right cables in store so i went all over, searching, searching... at the i-store one salesman told me that they just sold the last one (mini display to hdmi). that was enough confirmation that the right cable is out there so i went back to the shop and bought the set. i traveled about 100km to buy the set because it was on special and i saved around R3500. at home i started googling looking for a place with such a cable in stock. boy was i upset when i found that they don't exist (or at least not until march 15 and then many months before they are in south africa) i phoned apple in the U.S.A to get more details. the gentleman on the other side was very friendly and went out of his way to help me. what i did find out is that the MINI DISPLAY PORT DOES SEND AUDIO. not just sterio but also 5.1 (i only asked about 5.1). i lost signal before i could ask my 2nd question so i'm asking it now, to everyone and anyone who may know. my tv has a USB2 port, will that not do the trick? many thanx

I was a bit skeptical of this comment...

+the gentleman on the other side was very friendly and went out of his way to help me. what i did find out is that the MINI DISPLAY PORT DOES SEND AUDIO. not just sterio but also 5.1 (i only asked about 5.1).+

...so I made a phone call to Apple. The phone rep told me Mini DisplayPorts are reserved for video only, no audio. Perhaps "gsx-r 1000 k4" and/or the rep they were speaking to became confused over the question at some point and they explained what a Mini DisplayPort or its cable are capable of doing rather than what the port can actually do on a specific Apple product. I believe Mini DP can output up to 8 audio channels, but again the number of channels and audio in general are optional.

+i lost signal before i could ask my 2nd question so i'm asking it now, to everyone and anyone who may know. my tv has a USB2 port, will that not do the trick?+

If you're looking for where the Mini DP will output to then USB is no good. Look for a HDMI, DVI or VGA input. Then buy a Mini DP to whichever aforementioned port your TV has. You can find all three of those at the bottom of the following page...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?cid=104&cpid=10428

...the concern in this thread was how Mini DP could potentially output audio, neither DVI or VGA are capable of passing it, but what if it was paired with HDMI since that connection can handle audio. The answer unfortunately seems to be that Apple is currently implementing Mini DP strictly for video only purposes and none of their products are setup to output audio through it. But I'd count on this changing in the next one or two product refreshes in order to reel people in again.