Mini DisplayPort to HDMI audio?

Apple's implementation of DisplayPort _does not_ include audio. To output 5.1 audio, connect a mini-Toslink cable to the audio out (headphone) port, which is a combined analog/digital (optical) port. Note that you'll need software that supports 5.1 sound output (DVD Player does, for example).

WHY doesn't Apple's Mini Displayport support audio? Isn't that really bad, to go against a standard like that? I thought both the DisplayPort and mini variation had the same number of pins. What is so difficult about passing sound through it? I think that's a really poor showing on Apple's part.

I did not think DisplayPort is designed to carry audio at all? Or does it?

-Dima

+WHY doesn't Apple's Mini Displayport support audio? Isn't that really bad, to go against a standard like that? I thought both the DisplayPort and mini variation had the same number of pins.+

kazem77, it doesn't take extra pins to support audio. The way mDP carries audio is the same way DP carries audio, which is on the same pins the carries video. Basically audio is turned into packets and mixed in with the video. It is then recovered at the DP receiver contained within the display device and turned back into audio as we think of it, namely a continuous stream of sound.

So Apple's mDP is fully capable of carrying audio and may so someday in the future. There is nothing about Apple's implementation of mDP that would prevent that. The limitation is no doubt somewhere else.

Apple will probably make the decision to support audio via mini Display Port when they are ready. Until then you could connect a mini to your HDTV or AVR as follows:

1. Get a mini Display Port to HDMI and use an HDMI cable to connect the mac Mini video out put to your HDTV or AVR.

2. Buy an adapter to get the digital audio out of the mini and to your HDTV or AVR. In this case the adapter type should be a Toslink to Mini Toslink Cable.

This will require you to connect 2 digital cables to your HDTV or AVR. If you have no support routing 2 input to 1 output (like in the case of some HDTV/AVR models) you could alternatively use a DVI & S/PDIF Digital Coax/Optical Toslink Audio to HDMI Converter (available at monoprice dot com)... I don't know if I can post links to other sites here so I will not... just please 5369 in the search box and will show you the product in question.
Such converter will take care of gathering both digital signals for video (from DVI) and audio (from a Toslink or S/PDIF coax) and will join them to make them available via a single HDMI output so you can just run one HDMI cable from the converter to your HDTV or AVR.

I hope the info above will help those who were wondering how to go around this problem and finally get their minis connected to their HDTVs 😉


Cheers and long live to the 1st Amendment!

' While it's not something I've confirmed myself with my own two hands, I know of a bloke who has physically tested the pins of the MDP on the unibody MacBook Pros and he reports that the pins which belong to audio ARE actually connected, are "live."
' Where this SEEMS to leave us is with hardware which theoretically can or does support full digital audio-out as per the specifications, but no support for this right now in the software (OS X - and thus all applications which run and depend on that).

' I FERVENTLY hope this means a simple software and / or firmware update from Apple down the line will eliminate the shortcoming - AND that Apple actually gets around to releasing such an update!!!

' I suppose only time will tell - dependable information at this point is a little hard to come by... And we're stuck without this functionality until further notice, sadly. :-((

~Menageryl
-Jack of All Trades, Master of Some!-

Menageryl: Do all those mysterious quotation marks in your posts signify anything? Are you quoting someone?

Have you seen this: http://www.macworld.com/article/141987/2009/07/kanex_hdmi.html ?
It only does stereo, but its better than nothing

Message was edited by: nate123

' WAY off-topic, but here's yer answer eww... 🙂
' I've never yet met the forum software that doesn't automatically and forcibly delete any and all spaces that precede a sentence which begins a paragraph. Since I like to structure my replies with grouped paragraphs, I use them instead of complete blank lines between relevant sections so that the structure of the text remains intact and as intended.

' Here's hoping that was clear enough and that I've made myself understood. 🙂

~Menageryl

You might find that using a non-breaking space (option-space) provides the same result.

As illustrated here, it would be less distracting, as well.


Might I suggest that you give it a try?

🙂

+While it's not something I've confirmed myself with my own two hands, I know of a bloke who has physically tested the pins of the MDP on the unibody MacBook Pros and he reports that the pins which belong to audio ARE actually connected, are "live."+

They ought to be since they are the same pins that carry video.

There are no separate audio pins in DisplayPort. Video, audio and data are all mashed together in a big, digital mux-up. It all moves together over the same pins and wires.

I have a idea, i know they have made a USB plus MDP adaptor for HDMI, but why oh why are they not using the digital audio output S/PIF on the MBP in conjunction of the MDP too HDMI.
Walla, u get HDMI with 5.1???????????
why dont they make this instead of wasting time and money on stupid sterio!!
any have any ideas?

something like this but smaller and white!lol

http://www.buy.com/prod/dvi-audio-spdif-toslink-to-hdmi-converter-adapter/q/loc/ 111/208047492.html

erm and no power supply!