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Horrible colors on external monitor using macbook air(2012) with mini dp to hdmi

I have one of the new macbook airs (2012) hooked up to an external monitor (Dell SR2320L) using a mini display port to hdmi adapter.


The dsiplay shows up fine on the external monitor, except for the colors and contrast being terrible. Any color grey on a white background doesnt even seem to render. However if I look at that same image on the airs screen, I can see all of the grey colors perfectly. I have tested the hdmi cable and monitor on different computers and they work perfectly. I have tried three different adapters all with the same problems, leaving me to believe that there is something wrong with the macbook air itself and its ability to output a mini display port signal.


Does anyone know why I would be having a problem like this?

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 4, 2012 1:55 PM

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Posted on Jul 5, 2012 1:15 AM

I have exactly the same problem:


Laptop: MacBook Pro 13", Mid 2012


External Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster SA550 (HDMI input)


Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter: Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support (H1824ZM in the Apple Store)


Colors are generally washed out, very low contrast, very high brightness, some fonts are distorted.

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Question marked as Best reply

Jul 5, 2012 1:15 AM in response to jtehlert

I have exactly the same problem:


Laptop: MacBook Pro 13", Mid 2012


External Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster SA550 (HDMI input)


Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter: Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support (H1824ZM in the Apple Store)


Colors are generally washed out, very low contrast, very high brightness, some fonts are distorted.

Jul 10, 2012 10:03 AM in response to jtehlert

Same here. Checked with my Samsung Syncmaster 27" and an older Philipps 37" TV.

Color, fonts, nearly everything looks like crap on external devices.


However I'm using this adapter http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B003ORJOX0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00 and this one might cause the trouble, I don't know. I'll try to check another adapter and another cable and will report back then.

Jul 11, 2012 8:25 PM in response to jtehlert

Same here: mid-2012 MBA 120G/8G RAM


WhenI connect my Air to external BenQ 24" HD screen [GL2440 HD] with Apple HDMI cable - picture quality is poor (being kind here) but when connected using DVI cable, picture is crisp - NO comparison in picture quality - HDMI image quality ex Air is garbage. Text is soft/fuzzy and colours washed out, colour profiles make minimal to nil difference to picture quality. Swapped to DVI cable and image is HD crisp and colours spot on.


Firmware issue re HDMI calibration perhaps?

Jul 13, 2012 3:29 AM in response to jtehlert

Yup, I also have the same problem. So glad I found this post! Was searching a fews days back to see if others had similar issues and found nothing. Slightly schadenfreude, but I'm glad this is happening across a range of monitors. Definitely implies and internal calibration issue......


MacBook Air 13", Mid 2012, Core i7

External monitor: BenQ VW 2420h


The problem is particularly bad with whites and greys - in gmail for example with the standard theme it is impossible to discern the greys of the read and undread messages, nor the action buttons across the top.


Tried the apple calibration tool that helped a slightly, but in no way solved the problem. Also tried various other online calibration tools. No good.


My monitor worked fine and looked stunning on my old mid 2009 15inch MacBook pro. Simply plugged it in and bang, perfect image with the standard calibration settings.


Going in to the Apple store nect week to dusciss a separate issue, so will raise this issue and show them this thread and see what advice, if any, they can offer. If it can't be resolved somehow.


I'll report back what they say.

Horrible colors on external monitor using macbook air(2012) with mini dp to hdmi

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