Mac Mini HMDI Chronic HDTV Refresh Problem?

After checking the user manual I can see that the HDMI-inputs doesn´t have HDCP labels (on the 2014 Yamaha models). It seems that at least HDMI AV1 input requires HDCP. So try another HDMI input instead.

(I had the EXACT same problem on a 2015 Yamaha, XX50, and changing HDMI input solved it.)

Well, thoroughly convinced this couldn't be correct 😉, I tried input 1 to 7 round the back. No change.

Begrudgingly I tried the connection at the front, the V-Aux. Lo and behold, a stable image, result. Thanks.

However, I don't want an ugly great cable sticking out of the front of the amp so at least I can report this back to Yamaha.

Thanks once again, who'd have thunk 😁

Keith

Guys, I logged in just to tell you this. HDCP is the problem.

I had the EXACT same issue you guys were all having on my iMac- blinking HDMI on my TV every 7 seconds. I looked in the Yamaha manual – HDMI ports 1-3 have HDCP, the rest don't. I tried hooking the HDMI for the iMac into one of the ports without HDCP. Boom, the problem was gone.

Check your manuals and see if any of your HDMI ports don't use HDCP, then try those ports.

Good luck.

I am having the same problem after upgrading to a new receiver with HDMI inputs, which I got to allow easy display switching between the TV and the new projector. I tried switching the TV and projector outputs to no avail. The Mac will drive either the TV or projector without problems if connected directly to any input.

Old setup:

STB: Set top box Motorola VIP 2262 subscribed to IPTV Bell Fibe

RCV: NAD T743


*no HDMI inputs

HDTV: Samsung 720p PDP-51PD450 *HDMI1/DVI native 1360x768, HDMI2 max 720p

MAC: Mini 2012 Mavericks 10.9.5 *THB Thunderbolt port, HDMI port

MON: Samsung 242MP 1920x1280 monitor

AD1: Apple HDMI to DVI adapter

AD2: Dynex MiniDisplayPort to HDMI adapter

Video:

MAC[THB] > AD2 > HDTV[HDMI1/DVI]
*correctly displays at native 1360x768

MAC[HDMI] > AD1 > MON[DVI]

STB[HDMI] > HDTV[HDMI2]

Audio:

MAC[opt] > RCV[opt1]

STB[opt] > RCV[opt2]

New equipment:

PRJ: Epson PowerLite 2040 1080p projector

RCV: Denon receiver AVR-X3100W

New setup:

STB[HDMI] > RCV[HDMI1]

MAC[MDP] > AD2 > AD1 > MON[DVI]

MAC[HDMI] > RCV[HDMI(1-6,Aux1)] ******** display flash problem any HDMI input

RCV[HDMI] > HDTV[HDMI2]

RCV[HDMI-zone2] > PRJ

Hi,

Following Wolf 1's reply, I tried the various inputs (rear 1-7 and front Aux), none labelled as being any different from the other and found that the only one that displayed correctly was the front Aux input.

Yamaha have been back to me and confirmed that they can recreate the issue and it's with their engineers. Fingers crossed, since I don't really want to have to connect the MM to the front of the amp.

Thanks,

Keith

I have been reading these posts and I to have the same issues. It's relevant to my late 2011 model mac mini. This model does not work on any of the AV ports 1-7 on the back of the Yamaha RX-A3040 but I can confirm it works on the front V-AUX input.

I also have a late 2014 mac mini that is plugged into a different system. When I tried the RX-A3040 with the late 2014 model I had no problems, therefore this must be graphics card issue on the late 2011 models. I hope that we hear back from Yamaha but I think this is an apple hardware problem and as the graphics card is built into the logic board I think it will no doubt mean that to overcome this you will have to buy a new Mac Mini. Don't you just love mac's! Just one other thing to note, I've tried a HDMI splitter to see if this interrupts the HDCP signal but with no success.

Looking forward to any positive news!

Russell.

HDMI is a mess since it´s not a mandatory standard, it´s a list of features that the manufacturers can choose from. Signalling (CEC) and HDCP adds to the complexity. For example: ARC (audio return channel) is extremely hard to get to work in the desired way between different brands, hard to set-up, hard to get to work...

In my case I also use a Mac mini mid 2011 but with the top config AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics. On a RX-A1030 this mini worked on HDMI 1, on a RX-A750 it didn´t work on HDMI 1 (marked as HDCP 2.2 input), instead I had to use HDMI 5. Over the years I have used at least 6 different Yamahas with HDMI and several Mac minis. Some combinations gave strange problems...I don´t think it´s possible to put the blame solely on either Apple och Yamaha. (Then of course the TV also needs to play along and this adds to the complexity.)

It seems to me that both Yamaha and Apple are having less than perfect HDMI implementations and sometimes, with some combinations, you get problems. But they also offer a lot of other positives that outweigh these problems (at least for me).

In your specific case I would upgrade the Yamaha to a 2015 model and leave the mini because you get more new functionality on the receiver side. (Sadly the mini has almost stood still in development since 2011 and with my own mini having 16GB RAM and a SSD upgrade I really can´t see any reason to upgrade to a newer model...)

(On a side note the Apple TV4 offers excellent HDMI CEC functionality and it seems that Apple put a lot of effort (software development) into that box. The problem is that Apple really doesn´t care about the mini as a HTPC which is a pity. I would love to see a mini with 4K support, HD audio support etc...)

Grand Waazoo wrote:

Hi Folks!

... I run the computer & media functions through my AV Receiver via HMDI, and from my AV Receiver to my Samsung HDTV. This worked just fine when my AV Receiver was a Pioneer Elite. I upgraded my AV Receiver to a Yamaha RX-1040, and have been unable to utilize my Mac Mini with my Samsung HDTV....

Warm Regards, JD

The only thing that changed was the Yamaha receiver. I would look at that for the cause of the problem.

Today I tried a friend's MacBook on the same input, and there is no problem. This tells me that the problem is specific to the Mac Mini.

Today I tried a friend's MacBook on the same input, and there is no problem. This tells me that the problem is specific to the Mac Mini.

Hi Folks - seem to have a similar problem as y'all. Just replaced my old Denon 3310 with a Yamaha RX-A850 and now my MacMini (running Plex) shows the same signs on HDMI 1-3 as you describe. My mac mini is a 2010 running Nvidia Gforce 320 - and El Capitan. Denon worked fine (till it died yesterday, hence the new Yamaha as I'm sick of Denons failing just out of warranty!). Front HDMi works fine. But it appears the HDMI 4-7 work OK in my case!! When on HDMI 1-3, the mac mini got SUPER hot. Runs cool now on 4-7 or the front HDMI. So it seems to me the Apple sw is going into some loop that chews up the mini when on these other ports. Guess old hardware doesn't help with the HDMI changes. Note - the Yamaha did update itself with a new firmware just after I powered it up, so maybe thats why HDMI 4-7 are ok for me. My firmware version on the Yamaha is 1.63. My TIVO and BluRay (Denon) work fine on HDMI 1-3. Don't know if this helps anyone, but would be pleased to check anything out that might help y'all. If you do get something back from Yamaha regarding any fixes, would be appreciated if you'd publish them here so I can follow up with Yamaha. Thanks for reporting this as it has sure saved me a lot of hassle trying to figure out what was happening and going thru the loops with Yamaha.

Hi again. Looks like I spoke too soon. HDMI 4-7 worked OK for a while, but then started showing the same slowdown problems. Back to the drawing board! Will keep using the front HDMI until Yamaha comes back with an answer to y'all, then I will follow up with them!!! Keep in touch!

Good News.

Yamaha have contacted me and they've identified a fix.

Hopefully they don't mind me quoting ...

"our designer team has created the firmware for this problem.

To tell you the truth, this problem is caused by Mac Mini fault but they made an effort to change our firmware so that the problem can be avoided by recognizing Mac mini as exceptional connection case.

Our current release schedule is from at the end of this month to early next month."

I'll keep you updated 🙂

Keith

Hi KeithRD,

Have you try the last 1.77 firmware launched on march 30 ?

Thanks,

beatloop

Hi,

I was given 1.77 to try back in mid December last year but, unforunately, it didn't make a difference for me.

I'm waiting for an email from Yamaha with a new firmware but I'm not sure when that will be.

Thanks,

Keith