HT204388: Mac computers: Frequently asked questions about using HDMI

Learn about Mac computers: Frequently asked questions about using HDMI
geordidog

Q: Why does the Mac Mini Late 2012 output only 24 bit 96 over HDMI and not the 24 bit 192 that http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4214 says it does.  Also does the Thunderbolt port output 24/192?

Even though http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4214 says the Mac mIni supports 24/192 over HDMI my late 2012 does not.  What is the problem?  My laptops all do 24/192 over the mini display port to HDMI.  Apple needs to fix this or the mac mini is useless as a HTPC and/or music server.

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Late 2012 model i7 2.3ghz

Posted on Jan 24, 2013 8:04 PM

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Q: Why does the Mac Mini Late 2012 output only 24 bit 96 over HDMI and not the 24 bit 192 that http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4214 say ... more

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  • by Michael Bowyer,

    Michael Bowyer Michael Bowyer Nov 20, 2013 4:49 PM in response to geordidog
    Level 2 (335 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 4:49 PM in response to geordidog

    Just noticed this too. Came here looking for a solution. There isn't one :-(

    Apple, please fix 24/192 over HDMI on the Mac Mini!

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Nov 21, 2013 2:07 AM in response to geordidog
    Level 5 (5,505 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 21, 2013 2:07 AM in response to geordidog

    FWIW, it seems that this is an OSX or perhaps app limitation and not a

    Mini limitation.  My 2010 Mini is a dual boot system with Win7, 64bit

    in a Bootcamp partition.  I boot into Win7 if I want to watch BluRays

    with TrueHD or DTS-MA and use PowerDVD.  It has the codecs

    necessary to decode these formats.  The result is, in a Windows

    environment, the resulting audio is 24bit, 192 kHz.  It also will

    upsample other formats to this bitrate.  The choice is also available

    in Device Manager.

     

    So, the Mini hardware does support 24/192, it seems OSX or perhaps

    the API for apps doesn't.  iTunes itself definately only supports up to

    24/96.

  • by lilneige,

    lilneige lilneige Mar 1, 2014 11:28 AM in response to Michael Bowyer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2014 11:28 AM in response to Michael Bowyer

    Appearently, Apple don't want us to use Mac mini as HTPC for 2CH audio. Unless we are going to using it with Windows. Funny eh?

     

    I don't get it why Apple isn't trying to fix this problem.

  • by lilneige,

    lilneige lilneige Mar 1, 2014 11:44 AM in response to lilneige
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2014 11:44 AM in response to lilneige

    Furthermore, in my case, the late 2012 Mac mini running 10.9.2, can't reconized the external DAC properly and cannot set the ouput volume in the System Preference-Sound with HDMI and Thunderbolt.

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Mar 3, 2014 9:17 AM in response to lilneige
    Level 6 (9,240 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Mar 3, 2014 9:17 AM in response to lilneige

    Apple take the point of view that with digital audio connections which includes HDMI, the final device in the chain i.e. the actual device that outputs the audio sound should be responsible for controlling audio settings including volume. This is because if you alter the signal at the Mac end you are actually changing the digital values before they get sent out the HDMI connection and Apple's (presumed) view is they don't want to be guilty of degraded the signal by altering it.

     

    Saying this, it is in theory possible to have the first device in the chain i.e. the Mac mini still send the digital audio signal unaltered but also to send separate commands down the HDMI link to tell the final device in the chain to adjust the volume on behalf of the Mac mini. This is via a standard called CEC - Consumer Electronics Control, unfortunately Apple do not support this standard.

     

    There is a device which can 'insert' CEC signals in to a HDMI connection, see http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx

  • by lilneige,

    lilneige lilneige Mar 3, 2014 2:17 PM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:17 PM in response to John Lockwood

    On my sound setting, the volume of HDMI output to TV can be adjustable.

  • by irakliy,

    irakliy irakliy Mar 3, 2014 2:36 PM in response to geordidog
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:36 PM in response to geordidog

    I am puzzled too. My friend's 2010 Mac Mini does 192/24 over HDMI on Maverics like it means it. My acquired last year late 2012 Mac Mini does only 96/24. OK, I downgraded from Mac Pro, which had a 5440 card and used to output 192/24, and I CAN HEAR THE DIFFERENCE!!!

     

    It's common knowledge that Apple people officially do not read this board (at least they do not respond to posts). So, this is a cry for help to whoever has enough knowledge to tell whether this is a newly introduced hardware limitation, or something Maverics needs to be hacked into. Please?