Late 2007 MBP dvi out to hdmi tv...sound?

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Late 2007 MBP dvi out to hdmi tv...sound?

I have a late 2007 MacBook pro with a dvi output port. A friend has a 2011 MacBook pro and swears he has a min dvi to hdmi converter...though I am wondering if it is a thunderbolt port. Point is, he has the converter cable to hdmi and hooked up to the tv, video and sound work fine.

I though Dvi and mini dvi wouldn't do sound?

If I get a converter, or if I get a dvi:hdmi cable....will I need to use something for sound also or might it work?

Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 6:47 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 3, 2012 6:52 PM in response to bradykp

The good news: HDMI carries sound!

The bad news: DVI does not carry sound.

So if you have to convert from DVI, you do not get sound on the HDMI interface created by the converter. Typically, users pick up the headphone output and wire that to the TV.

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Answer 2

bradykp Author

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Sep 3, 2012 7:05 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

SAme would be true for mini-dvi right? So my friend's 2011 MacBook pro must be connected with a thunderbolt converter to hdmi? I don't see how his could work and mine wouldn't. He showed me on FaceTime. The port looks like a larger USB port...

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Answer 3

Sep 3, 2012 7:12 PM in response to bradykp

DVI and Mini-DVI are Display standards that did not allow for pins for sound.

Later ports may have dedicated pins for sound. ThunderBolt may look like a USB, but is NOT just a stretched USB, it is hugely more capable.

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Answer 4

bradykp Author

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Sep 3, 2012 7:14 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

AO, if he did have thunderbolt and had a thunderbolt to hdmi converter cable..he could be using that? Definitely not a mini dvi to hdmi though if there is sound?

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Answer 5

Sep 3, 2012 9:07 PM in response to bradykp

From Apple's website:

These Apple computers supply multichannel audio (up to 8 channels) and video signals over Mini DisplayPort:

iMac (Late 2009) and later
Mac mini (Mid 2010) and later¹
Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
MacBook (Mid 2010) and later
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) and later
MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)¹
MacBook Air (Late 2010) and later

¹No additional adapter is necessary if you are connecting directly to the HDMI port on your Mac mini (Mid 2010) and later or your MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012).

These Apple computers supply only video signals over Mini DisplayPort:

iMac (Early 2009) and (Mid 2009)
Mac Mini (Early 2009) and (Late 2009)
Mac Pro (Early 2009)
MacBook (Late 2009)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum Late 2008)
MacBook Pro (late 2008), (Mid 2009), and (Early 2009)

To connect your television or other HDMI devices to your Mac, use select third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters that conform to the VESA DisplayPort Dual-Mode Standard. The following adapters are are known to adhere to this standard:

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