I can't buy an Apple TV?

Question

Level 1

10 points

I can't buy an Apple TV?

I have a Sony Wega 42 inch flat screen TV, but it only has DVI inputs. And no optical audio input. The guy at the store said there was absolutely no way to connect the new Apple TV to my Television and he could not sell it to me.

Is there no workaround for this?

iMac intel core duo, MacBook Pro 2Ghz Intel core duo, iPhone 4, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Oct 4, 2010 9:15 PM

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Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:05 AM in response to Phil Rogers

Phil Rogers wrote:
Is there no workaround for this?

short of buying a TV set with HDMI jack, no.

J GG

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Answer 2

HeyJP

Level 4

2,399 points

Oct 5, 2010 12:17 PM in response to Phil Rogers

Phil,

You can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable to connect the video portion of the ATV2 output to your Sony. However, you will have to have some kind of amplifier to handle the digital sound out of the ATV2 optical sound-out. There are Optical Audio-to-Analog audio converters available for $50-80.

Kind of a pain, but I assume your Sony has analog audio inputs. And I assume you are not using a stereo and external speakers for audio?

Jim

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Answer 3

Phil Rogers Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 5, 2010 1:04 PM in response to HeyJP

Jim
No I'm not. I'm just using the regular television speakers for audio. Thank you, by the way, for your kind and polite reply, as opposed to the rather curt and abrupt one above. My TV's only five years old. I understand that in the world of some people that's a real relic, but for my family, such an item was a big purchase, and replacing it now seems kind of absurd. It's an HD television and it gets a great picture. Who knew Apple was going to come up with something which would have no downward compatibility at all?

Many thanks

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Answer 4

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Oct 5, 2010 1:48 PM in response to HeyJP

Is one able to route the audio via the TV? My receiver is analogue but I was thinking of having the audio go through the tv (by HDMI) and then to the receiver.

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Answer 5

Oct 5, 2010 1:54 PM in response to vazandrew

If your TV has rca audio outputs then you can send the signal to a line-level input on the receiver.

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Answer 6

Oct 5, 2010 1:58 PM in response to Phil Rogers

There are HDMI to DVI switches on the market

( http://www.markertek.com/Routers-Switchers-DA's/HDMI-Switchers/Unique-Product-Solutions/44-555.xhtml)

With this device you could plug the AppleTVs HDMI into one side, then route DVI and RCA Audio to your HDTV.

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Answer 7

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Oct 5, 2010 2:26 PM in response to Ho Lee MACkeral

Yes my TV does have RCA. I would be plugging HDMI into ATV (which would output the audio to my TV) and then RCA from receiver to my HDTV

It's a very good receiver and I didn't want to get an expensive converter when this seemed like a viable option. Thanks for the clarification.

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Answer 8

HeyJP

Level 4

2,399 points

Oct 6, 2010 10:49 AM in response to sneirbo2k7

Sneirbo,

Careful. The HDMI/DVI switch you referenced is strictly a passive box. It will pass HDMI to HDMI, DVI to DVI and/or Digital Audio to Digital Audio, Analog audio to analog audio.

It will not convert HMDI Digital audio to the analog Audio outputs. It is just a set of passive 2-to-1 selectors.

It will not solve the original problem posted here. Albeit a nice box to know about.

Jim

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Answer 9

Oct 6, 2010 4:38 PM in response to HeyJP

My apologies - I didn't read that last line! SORRY!

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Answer 10

Phil Rogers Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 7, 2010 5:23 AM in response to sneirbo2k7

Thanks to everybody here. Looks like I'm going to have to just keep reading about Apple TV, but I won't get to use it.

I do have an iMac, a Macbook Pro, an iPad, and I'm on my 3rd iPhone. But it looks like Apple doesn't want me to have this!

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Answer 11

Oct 8, 2010 11:17 AM in response to Phil Rogers

Apple is delivering very poor information on this topic...

If your TV has a DVI input you could get video through a HDMI to DVI cable, right?
Is that cable delivering audio too?

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Answer 12

Oct 8, 2010 11:24 AM in response to ciao_alexisb

It might be an idea to wait until Apple sort out the Home sharing issues before anyone considers getting an ATV2. It just doesn't work with your iTunes library (most of the time).

Bob.

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Answer 13

tgibbs

Level 1

70 points

Oct 8, 2010 2:07 PM in response to HeyJP

People are reporting problems with HDMI-to-DVI cables. Better wait for the dust to settle a bit before trying this.

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Answer 14

Phil Rogers Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 20, 2010 9:45 PM in response to ciao_alexisb

My understanding is the HDMI to DVI solution would give you video but no audio

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Answer 15

Martin_UK

Level 2

150 points

Oct 21, 2010 1:28 PM in response to Robert Farthing

My Apple TV 2 works just fine with Home Sharing, as does many other people's. Some people may have issues but let's not mislead peopel into believing there's some massive inherent issue affecting all units.

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