MacBook Pro: How to connect to a Dolby TrueHD receiver?

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly (as your MacBook Pro can't play Blu-Ray DVD's) but you can connect the MBP Digital output to the receiver using a Toslink cable like this:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TL955LL/A

You can not use a Toslink cable for Dolby True HD, Toslink cable is only capable of carring 5.1 channels and Dolby True HD can use up to 7.1 channels. For high deffention sound you need HDMI. That is why all Blu ray player have an HDMI output.

The new MaBooks ( 2010 )are cable of sending audio and video through the mini display port to HDMI converter, so these Macs Might be able to pass through Dolby True HD ( I am not sure if they can do this or not ).

If you connect an external Blu ray player to your Mac you will have to load Windows on it as well as there are no OS X software for playing Blu ray movies.

Message was edited by: Freddie Herbst

Why not just buy a Blu-Ray player and connect it directly to your receiver? Involving your MBP in the process will just add needless complexity and expense without any benefit, and perhaps with a loss of audio quality.

Agree 100% with eww, unless you need a writer as well.

I've personally tested DTS-HD & TrueHD on the newest MBP 17" via MDP-HDMI Griffin adapter in Windows 7 via boot camp. It's a NO GO... Does not work because the boot camp drivers do not support the onboard graphics which is where the "key chip" resides. In order for the MBP to support DTS-HD & TrueHD one of two things would need to happen...

1) Apple would need to support Blu-Ray playback & support PAVP (Protected Audio Video Path) in OSX
2) Update Boot Camp drivers to recognize & Utilize the onboard graphics.

At this time neither are taking place.

I returned it within the 14 day return period. Shame..

Ok, you guys obviously know a lot about this. I have a question for you. I don't have a TV. I would like to know if I can hook up a Blue Ray player to my MBP 13" (2009) and watch Blue Ray movies on my Macbook? If so, what blue ray player, cables, accessories, etc. would I need to make that happen?

Any help is appreciated.

As Freddie Herbst has posted above, "If you connect an external Blu ray player to your Mac you will have to load Windows on it as well as there are no OS X software for playing Blu ray movies."

Your 13" MBP can't even display ordinary DVD movies at their full resolution, so there would be no point in watching Blu-Ray movies on it. To see (and hear) them as they're meant to be enjoyed, you need a stand-alone Blu-Ray player and an HDTV.

Thanks! I appreciate your quick reply.