Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support (where is the stereo?)

I have my 2011 MBP hooked to my Samsung HD tv. I believe I have the TV set to stereo. When I play my DVD (Avatar) it comes through as mono. I was under the impression that this adapter would supply stereo too? Help me ObiWan! thanks,

Posted on Aug 20, 2011 1:53 AM

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15 replies

Aug 20, 2011 3:43 AM in response to tjk

in the Mac Sound Preference file there is SAMSUNG HDMI (I checked). The preference file SETTINGS FOR SELECTED DEVICE: The selecter device has no output control.


When it is on Internal speakers there is there is a BALANCE bar. So seems like I am still missing something.


I know I have the TV set for stereo.


Thanks,

Aug 20, 2011 4:06 AM in response to bdaul

Open Universal Access in System Preferences. Click on Hearing tab. If the box for Play stereo audio as mono is checked, uncheck it; that was the issue. If not, read on:

bdaul wrote:


in the Mac Sound Preference file there is SAMSUNG HDMI (I checked). The preference file SETTINGS FOR SELECTED DEVICE: The selecter device has no output control.


Ok, that's correct. The Samsung is not outputting audio to the Mac.


When it is on Internal speakers there is there is a BALANCE bar. So seems like I am still missing something.


Are you in the Output tab of Sound Preferences? Both of the above sound like input coming into the Mac.


I know I have the TV set for stereo.


Good.


It sounds like the issue is with the setting in the Output tab in Sound Preferences. Select the Output tab and HDMI should be an Output choice. Select that.

Aug 20, 2011 4:10 AM in response to bdaul

bdaul wrote:


I went to some sites that demo 3D sound and I "think" they come through...not sure how to tell for sure and not hearing stereo there because I want to hear.


So...any chance it is related to the DVD Player on the MAC?


I did mean I was in the OUTPUT tab.


I edited my last post several times. I think it's time for some sleep. Check it out again, esp the first part about Universal Access, which would account for the issue.

Aug 20, 2011 5:08 AM in response to bdaul

in the Mac Sound Preference file there is SAMSUNG HDMI (I checked). The preference file SETTINGS FOR SELECTED DEVICE: The selecter device has no output control.


When it is on Internal speakers there is there is a BALANCE bar. So seems like I am still missing something.


I know I have the TV set for stereo.


When Samsung HDMI is selected as the output device, there is no balance control (or volume control, either) because the audio being sent from the MBP via HDMI is digital, and only analog output is governed by the MBP's volume and balance controls (and tone controls, in such apps as iTunes). All audio controls under those circumstances are managed by the TV set. So unless there's a problem in your HDMI connection and only one channel is actually reaching the TV, the "mono-ization" of your audio is happening in the TV and needs to be addressed in the TV.

Apr 9, 2012 12:45 PM in response to bdaul

The HDMI cable will be transferring the audio format on the DVD to the TV, for most DVDs this will be 5:1 surround-sound, not stereo. The TV will then handle the audio it receives and process it appropriately depending on the amp/speaker configuration built-in/attached. Why do you think the audio is only in mono? Play a DVD that has a sound passing across the full stereo spectrum, helicopters in war movies are good for that! 🙂

Apr 9, 2012 12:50 PM in response to Bernadette Walker

Mirror setting is not the ideal way of using an external display. Most external displays are capable of higher resolutions than the built-in display on a MBP. Mirroring will mean that the external display is operating at the same resolution as the display on the MBP. This is sub-optimal. I suggest you turn off mirroring in System Preferences ➜ Displays ➜ Arrangement. What you will probably see on the external display will be the spiral galaxy desktop. If so, then this is a good thing and the set-up is working properly. What you'll have is an extended display which can be demonstrated if you move the mouse cursor off the edge of the MBPs screen. It will appear on the external display. You can also drag windows from one screen to the other in a similar way.


Regarding your audio issue, how old is your MBP? MBPs earlier than mid-2010 do not support audio through the mini-displayport.

Apr 9, 2012 3:29 PM in response to Bernadette Walker

Bernadette: If your MacBook Pro was made before April 2010 (with a Model Identifier of 5.5. or lower in System Profiler or System Report), it doesn't output audio through its mini-Displayport. So even though your Moshi adapter would carry an audio signal if there were one, there isn't any such signal for it to carry. You need to make a separate cable connection from the headphone port of your MBP to the RCA audio inputs of your TV, and you need to connect your HDMI cable to the particular HDMI port on the TV that is linked to those audio inputs.


If, on the other hand, your MBP was made after April 2010 (in which case its Model Identifier in System Profiler or System Report will be 6,1 or higher), it does output an audio signal for the Moshi adapter to carry, and you need to select HDMI or your TV set as the output device in the Output tab of the Sound pane of System Preferences.

Apr 9, 2012 4:36 PM in response to eww

eww: my macbookpro was purchased May 25, 2011 I asume it was made around that time and should be able to play audio fine. I just could not get it to work. I will check when I get home today to see if I can find those settings on my MacBookPro


Zyriab:

I am rather new to this so the only way I could get my macBookPro to show anything on my Sony TV other than a galaxy image was to use mirror. I was able to drag my Aperature (slideshow) over to the TV screen but when I choose to play the presentation in full screen mode it went black on my TV and played on my MacBookPro screen only. There must be something I am doing wrong. I did not get any of the audio because I had no idea that was a seperate setting I have to set in the settings panel under audio?

Apr 10, 2012 2:36 AM in response to Bernadette Walker

If you're getting the spiral galaxy desktop on the TV then everything is working normally. At the moment the MBPs screen is the primary display and the TV is the secondary. You can change this and make the TV the primary display. With the TV connected go into System Preferences ➜ Displays ➜ Arrangement. You will see a diagram of two screens. At the top of the smaller screen there is a little bar, this represents the menu bar at the top of your display. Drag this little bar to the top of the larger screen in the diagram. Voila!, the TV is now the primary display and the menu bar and dock will appear there and all the main action will happen there too.


You can also put the MBP into what is called 'clamshell mode'. You should connect an external keyboard and/or mouse to the MBP first, either USB or bluetooth. Then, once the TV is connected close the lid of the MBP. It will go to sleep like it normally does when the lid is closed. Wake it up by clicking the external mouse or pressing a key on the external keyboard and the display will show on the TV.


Regarding audio, if after trying eww's suggestion it's still not working then try resetting the SMC and the PRAM:


http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

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Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support (where is the stereo?)

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