How do I play sound through my TV from my iBook 3,1?

Question

How do I play sound through my TV from my iBook 3,1?

I am streaming Eurosport Player content to my Sony 403 TV through the iBook's DVI port via a DVI to HDMI convertor lead (HDMI to the TV). The picture transfer is perfect but the DVI/HDMI cable is not carrying any sound to the TV speakers. I realise that while HDMI should carry sound it may not with the configuration I'm using. So to get sound to the TV I presume I should use the headphone output on the iBook, and connect this to my TV via either the composite inputs or the specific L an R inputs provided on the TV. However I have tried both types of connections and neither work, so I am left listening to the sound through the laptop's speakers. Very unsatisfactory. I have changed the output in preferences to headphones but to no avail. Can someone advise me what I am doing wrong and what I need to do to achieve sound output through the TV's speakers.

iBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jul 3, 2011 12:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 3, 2011 5:40 AM in response to margaretfromdundee

Hi, Margaret. Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

Check out Douglas McLaughlin's User Tip on the subject:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1908

I don't find any specs for an iBook 3,1. In addition, no iBook can run Mac OS X 10.6, which you have listed in your specs. Is it possible you have a MacBook instead of an iBook?

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Answer 2

Jul 3, 2011 11:08 AM in response to Ronda Wilson

Sorry. It says on the "About this Mac" that it is a iMac (I assume this is the same as a Macbook). The Douglas McLaughlin's User Tip doesn't unfortunately address my problem. I am already getting perfect video via the DVI to HDMI convertor. What I'm not getting is sound from my Macbook (from the headphone jack in the laptop) to the Sony Bravia TV. It is this I need some help with.

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Answer 3

Jul 3, 2011 11:40 AM in response to margaretfromdundee

An iMac is not the same as a MacBook.

An iMac is a desktop computer; a MacBook is a notebook (laptop) computer.

If "About This Mac" is telling you that it's an iMac computer when it isn't, maybe you have the wrong version of the system software installed? This can happen if the system software was installed from iMac discs.

Below the display (on the bezel), it should say "MacBook" if it's a MacBook or "iBook" or "iBook G4" if it's an iBook. Assuming you have a laptop (because you said so), what does it say there?

This discussion may help:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2402185?answerId=11411887022#11411887022

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Answer 4

Jul 3, 2011 11:45 AM in response to Ronda Wilson

Sorry again. It is a Macbook Intel dual core. Now that's sorted are you able to help with my sound to TV issue? Thanks

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Answer 5

red_menace

Level 6

17,030 points

Jul 3, 2011 12:01 PM in response to margaretfromdundee

A straight DVI output doesn't carry sound (even if the other side is HDMI). I've always used the headphone output for my TV, so make sure the plug is seating all the way (a large plug and/or laptop cover may not be letting the plug go all the way in). Do regular headphones work?

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Answer 6

Jul 3, 2011 12:12 PM in response to margaretfromdundee

Here is another discussion of the subject:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2760392?answerId=13118439022#13118439022

Here is a link to a YouTube video on how to do it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBMOisbsmlY

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jul 3, 2011 12:55 PM in response to margaretfromdundee

Margaret,

See this article: iMac (Late 2009), MacBook Pro (Mid 2010), MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)- HDMI audio doesn't work with some adapters. If your computer does not support audio through the HDMI cable, then you will need to run a separate audio cable between the computer and the audio input jacks on the TV.

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Answer 8

K T

Level 7

23,865 points

Jul 3, 2011 12:59 PM in response to margaretfromdundee

Disconnect the video cable and use just the headphone out to test from your computer to your TV. Does that work alone?

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Answer 9

Jul 3, 2011 2:53 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy,

If the MacBook is a Core Duo (and not a Core 2 Duo), it's older than the ones to which that article pertains.

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