How To Connect A Mac To Tv

[ftaok]

Thx Ft

My macbook pro is the 2.33ghz intel core 2 duo using version 10.4 osx if thats what you mean. My telly is a Samsung 40" LE40N model. Hope that helps.

Appreciated

Jay

OK, I was able to check the Samsung UK website and found the following info.

Looks like you have two options.

1. Use a DVI/HDMI cable to connect from your MBP to your TV's HDMI-2 input. For audio, you'll need a 3.5mm mini-jack by RCA (L/R) adapter and a set of composite audio cable (we call them RCA in the USA). (NOTE - your TV can only accept a DVI-signal to the HDMI-2 input)

2. Use a DVI/VGA adapter (I think they are included with MBPs) and a VGA cable to connect your MBP to the TV's PC input. For audio, you'll need a 3.5mm mini-jack cable.

That takes care of your hook-ups.

The software side of it is easier. You can do mirroring or spanning. Mirror means that your MBP and the TV shows the same picture. Spanning means that your MBP and TV have separate portions of the overall desktop. This can be configured under System Preferences>Displays.

Also, for best results, set the "Picture Size" on the TV to "Just Scan". This is your TV's zero-overscan mode (aka dot-by-dot, 1:1 pixel mapping, etc). Also, set your resolution for 1920x1080 progressive (if available) or something like that. There's also an "overscan" checkbox under System Preferences>Displays that you can play with to see if it helps.

Most likely, you will not need to use DisplayConfigX or SwitchResX.

ft

 

[jayasri3]

Im a noob and Im trying to figure out this

Im a noob with computers and this is probably really easy but Im having problems with connecting my computer with my tv. I bought an Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter" and I bought an extension because their way to short.... SO I connect it to my Samsung hdtv (DVI plug) and change my tv to the DVI Setting and everything seemed perfect. After that in my Macbook pro I went to (system preferences)- (DIsplay)- cick the display in menu bar- and then clicked the dectect displays button and nothing happened. It would be very helpful if anyone could tell what im doing wrong?

 

[Defected1980]

Vlc remote for iphone

I have a macbook and i just got an iphone, i found that you can get the vlc remote for it, so i downloaded it and it works great with my macbook but i want to use it with my LG 42" Lcd tv.

Does anyone know what i need to be able to do this?

many thanks

Todd

 

[elvtnedge]

If you're using the 1/8 to RCA into receiver, do you need to change any settings on the computer to tell it to output 5.1 or will it just automatically do it?

 

[ftaok]

If you're using the 1/8 to RCA into receiver, do you need to change any settings on the computer to tell it to output 5.1 or will it just automatically do it?

I may be a dummy, but can you do 5.1 audio using a 2-lead RCA? I would think that you'd need 6 RCA plugs to do 5.1, and I've never seen a 1/8 to 6-RCA adapter.

I'm guessing (again, I'm no expert) that you'd need a 1/8 minijack optical cable to the receiver.

As for the second question, I have no idea.

ft

 

[Ttownbeast]

I remember an issue I had with video mirroring at first I had to do a reinstall of OSX after I installed my new video card in order to get the option to turn mirroring on to show up in system prefs.

 

[wazm]

Please help me people. I'm so frustrated. I bought a mini-DVI to DVI adapter for my white MacBook and a DVI to HDMI cale to connect it to my Toshiba LCD-TV. When I plug it in, the monitor preferences on my Mac show me it's correctly connected to a Toshiba-TV, but whatever I do (changing resolution, changing HDMI port or changing the refresh rate) I can't get a picture on my TV. It just stays blue, which is the normal color, when there's no signal.
I've simply no idea where the problem lies.

 

[Bugale Barnenez]

Look in the basement

It honestly sounds like you just did not switch inputs on the TV. Most TVs have an input button on the remote that permits you to step through all the connections you have (component, composite, cable, HDMI etc). The yellow RCA cable is composite and is often called AV (Audio Visual) in the input list. Your TV may even have more than one composite input, so be sure to check them all.

As another poster indicated, you will also need a mini to RCA connection to get sound from the headphone port to the TV. This will help to let you know when you are on the right set of inputs.

Be sure mirroring is on, but I think that the video adapter is mirroring by default anyway (could be wrong). Because you likely won't be able to see you display icon on the menu bar, mirroring is found in System Preferences>Displays>Arrangement

I connect my iMac to the flat screen TV no problem.
The computer is a 24 inch iMac.
THe TV is a SONY Bravia 32 inch Full HD (1080i-1080p) flat screen.

I use this set-up to show the 1920 x 1080 pixel HD videos that I have edited and stored in iMovie HD 6.

I connect using the Mac mini-DVI HDMI adaptor and a 5 metre HDMI cable.

The picture is perfect, but of course, there is no sound, and though I have tried connecting the earphones-out jack on the iMac, to the sound-input terminals on the back of the TV, I have never found a TV set-up control that lets me have
1 - the image (via HDMI), and
2 - the sound (via the separate analog sound input )
both working at the same time.

So, I rested content with the HD picture by itself on the TV.
Then I went to the basement and dug out a 40 year old 100-watt Hi-Fi stereo amplifier plus 2 massive speakers, and connected the amplifier's input to the iMac's sound output.

It works fine. The only problem is the neighbours banging on the wall.

Also, don't put these big speakers with their powerful magnets too close to the TV or any other modern electronic equipment.

 

[yehgermeister]

i just recently purchased a samsung ps2370hd tv from a friend.

i'm trying to connect my early '08 macbook pro to it. I bought a hdmi to dvi d cable on amazon as well as a toslink to mini toslink optical cable. i want to be able to use the tv speakers as my primary source of sound.

i'm getting picture, but no sound. i connected the toslink to mini toslink cable to my mbp and the optical cable jack in the back of my tv. no sound. any ideas on how to get the sound working?

 

[tbayrgs]

i just recently purchased a samsung ps2370hd tv from a friend.

i'm trying to connect my early '08 macbook pro to it. I bought a hdmi to dvi d cable on amazon as well as a toslink to mini toslink optical cable. i want to be able to use the tv speakers as my primary source of sound.

i'm getting picture, but no sound. i connected the toslink to mini toslink cable to my mbp and the optical cable jack in the back of my tv. no sound. any ideas on how to get the sound working?

My guess is that with the hdmi cable plugged in, the tv is expecting to get sound from the HDMI cable. I have the same setup for my Mac Mini but the hdmi and optical cable are routed to my Sony Soundbar and I can specifically select sound separately through the Toslink. You may want to try this cable instead.

 

[ftaok]

i just recently purchased a samsung ps2370hd tv from a friend.

i'm trying to connect my early '08 macbook pro to it. I bought a hdmi to dvi d cable on amazon as well as a toslink to mini toslink optical cable. i want to be able to use the tv speakers as my primary source of sound.

i'm getting picture, but no sound. i connected the toslink to mini toslink cable to my mbp and the optical cable jack in the back of my tv. no sound. any ideas on how to get the sound working?

Is THIS what you have?

If so, the Toslink port on the back of the TV/monitor is an output only. You need to use the mini-jack port for running audio from the MB to the TV. You might have to go into the TV's menu to set that audio port active.

 

[fuzulu]

Mac Mini to Tv Problem

hi i need some help regarding the same issue ...

i have a mac mini and i want to connect it to my tv using the normal rca input . i have a mini DVI to video adapter ... but when i connect using this i dont gety anything on my tv ... complete blank . i use mini DVI to VGA adapter to use fo my monitor and that works just fine but i cannot get this tv thing going and its really bugging me . Also i dont see this mirror option . Do i need this option because im using only my monitor or tv and not both at once .... please somebody help soon

 

[el-pidge]

I have no problems connecting my macbook to my LG TV 26LC2R using an RGB cable. I use an audio jack that goes into my home cinema system - however its not very bright! I would like to watch films on my TV through the mac but at the moment its not worth it. I've increased the brightness as much as I can on both the mac and on the TV but this doesn't make much difference. Could it be the rather cheap RGB cable I bought? Is there a better way to connect?

Any suggestions?

 

[Theicelands]

hi,
i have mac book pro n i hv bought Svideo cable and audio cable to connect with the TV.
however the TV only showed up my wallpaper on the desktop. The files on the desktop disappeared...
Also i was watching realplayer files on full screen, but there was nothing on the Tv screen i.e. js black screen.

Wondering if anyone knows whats going on?
Thanks!

I had this exact same problem, except I was using mini display port to dvi and then a dvi to hdmi, but I fixed it!

Get a connectible computer mouse

then try turning your tv on first, and then your computer, close the laptop and let it go into sleep, plug in the cable to your computer, then wake it up by clicking with the mouse.

so, that's what worked for me, I hope it was helpful good luck

 

[knew2mack]

I'm sure to many of you, this is the question only a newbie would ask.....So here goes.....
Does connection to your TV only work if you have a MacBook Pro?? I have 13" MacBook Uni-body

Thanks

 

[baybay24]

Completely new/at a loss

I have never hooked my MacBook (2007) up to any TV. I am looking to get a new TV and I know I need cables but I do not know which ones to buy. Help please Also does it matter what operating system I have? I still have OS X 10.4 thanks!

 

[ftaok]

I have never hooked my MacBook (2007) up to any TV. I am looking to get a new TV and I know I need cables but I do not know which ones to buy. Help please Also does it matter what operating system I have? I still have OS X 10.4 thanks!

Depending on which Macbook you have, you'll need an adapter that gives you an HDMI port. I'm pretty sure that your model of MB has a mini-DisplayPort onboard, so buy a miniDP-HDMI adapter from Monoprice.com. While you're there, buy an HDMI cable of the right length.

For audio, you'll need ot buy a mini-jack adapter, but what you get at the other end depends on your TV. For instance, my TV allows auxillary audio inputs (RCA, aka Red/White) on the HDMI4 input. I run a mini-jack>2xRCA adapter from my MB to the TV using a standard 2xRCA cable.

Make sure your TV accepts auxillary audio on at least on set of HDMI inputs.

Alternatively, if your TV has DVI or VGA, they almost always come with an audio input.

ft

 

[s15119]

Woah - after reading this thread I am so glad I have a new Mac Mini - HDMI to HDMI couldn't be simpler. I really hope that Apple starts putting HDMI on it's notebooks.

 

[peterjcat]

Woah - after reading this thread I am so glad I have a new Mac Mini - HDMI to HDMI couldn't be simpler. I really hope that Apple starts putting HDMI on it's notebooks.

They almost certainly won't; but at least the recent notebooks carry audio plus video over Mini DisplayPort so you just need a single adapter.

 

[hAwKeM]

Why did my iMac stop mirroring all of the sudden?!?!?!

I have an iMac running 10.6.7 and a Panasonic LCD that were getting along great...all of the sudden I tried to use my mirroring again (which is connected with a miniDVI to HDMI) and NOTHING! Black screen!...What's up with that...if anyone can bring some enlightenment to this issue it will be greatly appreciated...Thanx!

 

[NRY]

Mac screen on Samsung TV thru Kanex HDMI cable?

The apple store sold me a Kanex mini displayport to HDMI cable with audio support to send my Macbook computer screen to the Samsung plasma TV. I have been unable to make it work, can anyone help me?

 

[CylonGlitch]

The apple store sold me a Kanex mini displayport to HDMI cable with audio support to send my Macbook computer screen to the Samsung plasma TV. I have been unable to make it work, can anyone help me?

1. Turn on TV
2. Plug in HDMI cable end into to TV
3. Set TV input to that HDMI Input
4. Turn on Computer
5. Plug MiniDisplayPortCable end into computer

Should work. Big if it doesn't.

 

[ftaok]

The apple store sold me a Kanex mini displayport to HDMI cable with audio support to send my Macbook computer screen to the Samsung plasma TV. I have been unable to make it work, can anyone help me?

Well, it'll be hard to assist you as you have left out a lot of details.

What Mackbook do you have?
What OS are you running?
What Samsung TV do you have?
When you say "unable to make it work", what does that mean? Do you get video, audio, or neither? Is the resolution wrong?
What have you tried?

OK, so here are some basic things to try.

Make sure you have your TV set to the correct input. I know it's basic, but sometimes the easy things get overlooked.

What does the display system pref say? Does the Macbook even detect that an external display is connected?

Is the HDMI cable good?

Perhaps the Kanex is defective.

 

[raflalo]

Hi.
I'm having the hardest time to connect my old macbook pro to an old tv.

The specs are:

MacBook Pro 2.2.ghz (aluminium model 3.1) with MacOS 10.6.8 on it.
A Sony Triniton 27" that looks pretty much like this http://images02.olx.com/ui/2/68/08/40246008_1.jpg

I have the following cables:
Apple DVI to VGA cable http://store.apple.com/us/product/M8754G/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MTA4NDU1MzE
A VGA to RCA cable like this fellow http://www.netserv19.com/ecommerce_site/arquivos1598/arquivos/1305317227_1.jpg
And a bloody RCA cable http://taiwanconnector.com/RCA 3m 2 pic.jpg

Putting them all together should be a blast right? That doesn't happen. The Mac does change its resolution by itself upon inserting the DVI/VGA cable and you can definitely hear a minor audio crack when you plug the red/green rya cables on. But the TV remains black and the mac audio won't come out through the tv speakers.

I guess should say that I have used this DVI/VGA cable on projectors before and it did work on all occasions.

Can anyone help me on that??

Is there any software that can detect the display besides going through system preferences??

thanks

 

[stephiehajos]

Having trouble finding the right cable!

Hi guys,

I am also trying to connect my macbook pro 13" to my Tv which only had a S video & audio headset connections (no Hdmi). I recently went to the Mac store and was told to buy a s video cable, an audio headset cable and the Mini Dvi to Video adapter which I did. I came home to try them and the Dvi adapter doesn't fit anywhere on the mac... so which one am I meant to buy that will fit to connect the S video cable to the Tv?

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!