Can the newer widescreen LED monitors play streaming video hooked up to a Apple TV? What are some of the important 'specs' that a monitor needs to have to play video back smoothly? I am assuming it won't be as nice as a HDTV, but I am guessing the newer monitors should come pretty close in providing decent play back.
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Anybody connect an Apple TV 2 to a computer monitor?
- Thread starter saintforlife
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An HDTV is just a computer monitor with different inputs, speakers and tuners.
As far as the
TV 2 is concerned, as long as there's an HDMI input it doesn't matter. The only thing to be careful about is if your monitor doesn't have speakers, you're gonna need something compatible with an optical connection for your audio.
I'm using myTV 2 with a 23" widescreen monitor via its HDMI input and for the audio I'm using a small optical-to-RCA converter from monoprice. Read the feedback about this product because it's not 100% perfect.
As far as being "as nice as HDTV", it's probably going to look at least the same, if not better. I've seen a lot of HDTVs with weird resolutions where their upscaling must really destroy the picture. Just make sure to get a monitor which has the highest HDTV resolution, i.e. 1920x1080. Also get a monitor with a true 24-bit panel, not one with a 15, 16 or 18-bit panel which does dithering in real-time.
As far as the
TV 2 is concerned, as long as there's an HDMI input it doesn't matter. The only thing to be careful about is if your monitor doesn't have speakers, you're gonna need something compatible with an optical connection for your audio.I'm using my
TV 2 with a 23" widescreen monitor via its HDMI input and for the audio I'm using a small optical-to-RCA converter from monoprice. Read the feedback about this product because it's not 100% perfect.As far as being "as nice as HDTV", it's probably going to look at least the same, if not better. I've seen a lot of HDTVs with weird resolutions where their upscaling must really destroy the picture. Just make sure to get a monitor which has the highest HDTV resolution, i.e. 1920x1080. Also get a monitor with a true 24-bit panel, not one with a 15, 16 or 18-bit panel which does dithering in real-time.
Another consideration, from what I've read, is that the monitor needs to supply an HDCP handshake.As far as the
I was under the impression that all HDMI connections support the HDCP handshake. Whether or not that handshake is implemented correctly, that's another issue. But I'm guessing that since HDMI has been around for over 5 years, even the lower tier OEMs know what they're doing by now.
I only mention it because someone was on here in the last few days that couldn't get the aTV to work with their HDMI monitor. It seemed that the conclusion was that the particular monitor didn't support HDCP handshake. I agree, though, it seems ridiculous that it could still be true.
I've connected the AppleTV 2 to an old dell 19" 1440x900 via a HDMI to dvi converter which worked fine but no sound unless there is a place to connect the optical out aka a dac or receiver.
I have also connected the AppleTV 2 to my dell u2410 via HDMI which then passed the audio to the built-in 1/8" analog output.
I have also connected the AppleTV 2 to my dell u2410 via HDMI which then passed the audio to the built-in 1/8" analog output.