Mac Mini (Late 2009) connection to LCD Television

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
My brother has a Dell computer with a 5.1 audio out single RCA jack.

Look at my post.

I first said... "I have never heard of a TV having a coaxial digital audio input"

Followed by "the MacMini certainly does not have an coaxial digital output."

The output(s) on a Dell have no relevance to either comment.

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
The one RCA jack is for S/PDIF audio. The name stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (more commonly known as Sony Philips Digital Interface).

Google it.

If you were to Google it, you would know what I know: That SPDIF is a protocol, not an interface. A SPDIF signal can be carried by either a coaxial or optical interface.

I suspect it's stereo and neither mono nor 5.1 surround. Most TV's have a single 3.5 mm input associated with their VGA or DVI connection which allows one to get stereo sound from the computer to the TV using a single 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable from the headphone/stereo line out on the computer. My Sony HDTV has it for it's VGA input.

The original poster said that it's a single RCA jack.

You can still go from the line out on the Mini to the single 3.5 mm input associated with the video connection on the TV and get stereo sound. In theory it's like using headphones but in this case the output is connecting to the TV and using it's stereo speakers for sound. This sound is available when the VGA or DVI connection is chosen on the TV as the input source.

MacProCT wrote:

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
My brother has a Dell computer with a 5.1 audio out single RCA jack.

Look at my post.

I first said... "I have never heard of a TV having a coaxial digital audio input"

Followed by "the MacMini certainly does not have an coaxial digital output."

The output(s) on a Dell have no relevance to either comment.

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
The one RCA jack is for S/PDIF audio. The name stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (more commonly known as Sony Philips Digital Interface).

Google it.

If you were to Google it, you would know what I know: That SPDIF is a protocol, not an interface. A SPDIF signal can be carried by either a coaxial or optical interface.

I was implying that a single RCA jack does not mean mono audio, especially in this day and age. If, for example, my brother's Dell has an RCA digital coax S/PDIF output there must be something with an RCA digital coax S/PDIF input, like maybe a TV? The single RCA jack has to be for digital coax S/PDIF audio, and if John would list his TV we could all look it up and end this part of the discussion.

Tracy

I can't edit my reply above. I re-read the OP. John is using a 22" LCD. While most TVs should be able to pass 5.1 audio from HDMI in to a digital out to a home theater receiver set up with the necessary speakers, a connection requiring separate audio probably isn't capable of 5.1 audio (but my brother's Dell computer is...). So I could see that a single audio input jack is possible. My LG 55" LCD has a single audio input, but it is a 3.5mm mini stereo jack, like mentioned above. So I guess only home theater receivers would have an RCA digital coax input for S/PDIF audio, like my brother's Sony receiver (which will be connected to his Dell computer).

BTW, the digital coax RCA jacks are orange.

Tracy

Mr.C UK wrote:
You can still go from the line out on the Mini to the single 3.5 mm input associated with the video connection on the TV and get stereo sound. In theory it's like using headphones but in this case the output is connecting to the TV and using it's stereo speakers for sound…

Again, I point to the fact that the OP said single RCA jack, not single mini headphone jack (a.k.a 1/8" aka 3.5mm).

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
I was implying that a single RCA jack does not mean mono audio…

You keep missing a significant point. The Mac Mini has NO coaxial digital output. The OP is using a Mac Mini. Therefore, the connection in question is not coaxial digital.

Tracy Reynolds wrote:
…While most TVs should be able to pass 5.1 audio from HDMI in to a digital out to a home theater receiver…

Some do. However, a good percentage of HDTVs provide only 2 channels through their digital audio output. No matter what the original source is.

You keep missing a significant point. The Mac Mini has NO coaxial digital output. The OP is using a Mac Mini. Therefore, the connection in question is not coaxial digital.

The RCA jack is on the TV, not the Mac mini. Therefore the connection in question could be coaxial digital. And, yes, I do get it that there is no way to connect the Mac mini to this jack.

Tracy

I give up on this conversation. You are not thinking logically.

The Mac Mini, well at least the Late 2009 model, has a 1/8" to Optical Output.

This is a link to the actual Audio cable
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2001&sku=27015


This is a link to the mini Displayport to HDMI cable
http://www.amazon.com/Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter-female-Cable/dp/B0025V2VO0/ref=pdbxgy_e_imgb

So,if you connect your Mac Mini mini displayport to your TV(HDMI)/and your seperate Audio to an A/V reciever via your mac mini w/the Tosslink to Optical mini plug, you should be good to go.

If your plugging Audio into your TV get a 1/8" stereo mini to RCA Stereo cable going out of your Mac Mini audio output into audio In on your TV.
You should have one HDMI on your TV with RCA inputs.