Using Mac Mini with Bose Lifestyle V25 Home Theater System - cant achieve 5.1

At no place in Apple's marketing content for the 2018 Mac mini, nor in its technical specifications does Apple state that the HDMI 2.0 port delivers 5.1 channel audio. In the 2018 Mac mini Tech spec, Apple has this to say under audio:

HDMI 2.0 port supports multichannel audio output.

Apple could still conform to that statement if they only implemented two-channel sound. The HDMI 2.0 spec allows for up to 32 audio channels, including a 5.1 and 7.1 channel configurations — if Apple chose to implement them. It seems if they had, they would be marketing that fact for all its worth, and instead — silence.

Hi, jitz48 !

It could be the Mac Mini. It could be the Bose is knocking the 5.1 down to stereo. It could be the HDMI cables. It could be the Bose not being configured correctly. It could be the TV. It could be the NVRAM on the Mini needs to be reset. There are so many things it could be, it's nearly impossible to offer up sound advice as to a starting point.

I fear you will just have to pick a target and start blasting away.

Good luck !

The Bose Lifestyle V25 HDMI version, like the parent unit, is outdated (discontinued 2013). Which is why the mini is unable to detect its 5.1 capabilities (mini requires HDMI 1.4 minimum which Lifestyle doesn’t have). However, you can feed 2 channels into all 5 using the Lifestyle menus. Yes it’s fake 5.1, but better than nuthin’!

First question I have is what apps are you using for playback?

First are they properly configured to deliver either encoded 5.1 or decoded PCM 5.1 or

which ever you desire?

Next, what are your settings in Audio Midi setup?

I was easily able to send 5.1 encoded or decoded audio to my Sony receiver

with either iTunes, KODI, or VLC after some manipulation of Audio Midi

setup for the HDMI interface. And it seems, different Mini models

and the devices they attach to may require some slightly differing settings.

FWIW, the MacMini hardware has the capability of delivering a full

7.1, 24 bit. 192 kHz PCM via HDMI. macOS on the other hand may not be so

generous. Actually, there are a lot of things that the Mini hardware

is capable of, but is limited by macOS.

I have a 2011 MacMini Server that I use as a home entertainment

center and for years was told that it simply cannot deliver the

HD formats (DTS Master Audio and TrueHD). However, since High Sierra

was end of line for it, I decided to install Win10 on it and guess what,

it does allow these HD formats to be passed through to a capable

receiver. It can also deliver decoded 7.1,24 bit, 192kHz PCM. So, the

powers that be at Apple for what ever reason decide to not always

allow full capabilities to be used.