How would I connect and would the Mac Mini be able to handle projecting images onto a 50 inch HDTV? I'm thinking about getting a MacMini and making it kinda like a Apple TV, so I want the picture to be as clear as possible. Would this work well? Thanks in advance for your help!!!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Mini connected to 50' HDTV
- Thread starter pilotkid
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Dude, there's hundreds of users in here that have their minis as HTPC. Go with mini displayport to HDMI.
Thanks for your quick reply! Would the Mini Display Port to HDMI give me a good enough quality to witch iTunes content on the tv?
That is my exact setup--Mini serving as HTPC connected to 50" 1080p Samsung Plasma via mini-DVi to HDMI and picture quality is great.
Would the optimal viewing distance really be 225 feet for a 50 foot TV? How did you calculate that?
On a more serious note, most home theater items such as a DVD player or cable TV box have multiple audio outs which makes it easy to connect to both a TV and a receiver for surround sound.
For example, my DVD has:
-HDMI (audio)
-Toslink / optical
-Coaxial / digital
-standard red/white analog audio
The challenges with a Mac Mini:
-How do you get digital audio into the TV?
-How do you get audio into a TV and a receiver simultaneously?
Since some (most?) TVs do not have digital audio inputs, your choices are either analog, or some complex adapter that combines audio and mini display port into HDMI such as this KANEX adapter. But then if you use the audio out port on the Mac Mini for this adapter, how do you get audio into a receiver?
So let's say you use the USB audio KANEX adapter. Can you get audio from both the audio out jack and the USB port at the same time?
Has anyone tried the KANEX adapter or something similar? How did you get audio to your TV?
On a more serious note, most home theater items such as a DVD player or cable TV box have multiple audio outs which makes it easy to connect to both a TV and a receiver for surround sound.
For example, my DVD has:
-HDMI (audio)
-Toslink / optical
-Coaxial / digital
-standard red/white analog audio
The challenges with a Mac Mini:
-How do you get digital audio into the TV?
-How do you get audio into a TV and a receiver simultaneously?
Since some (most?) TVs do not have digital audio inputs, your choices are either analog, or some complex adapter that combines audio and mini display port into HDMI such as this KANEX adapter. But then if you use the audio out port on the Mac Mini for this adapter, how do you get audio into a receiver?
So let's say you use the USB audio KANEX adapter. Can you get audio from both the audio out jack and the USB port at the same time?
Has anyone tried the KANEX adapter or something similar? How did you get audio to your TV?
So now this brings up the question, am I going to have issues getting surround sound from my Mac Mini? My set up goes as follows. Everything is plugged into a receiver via HDMI and digital audio cables. The TV, PS3, DVD Player, and Cable Box are all plugged into the receiver. I think I'm out of inputs on my receiver so I was going to plug my Mac Mini into the tv and have the tv carry over the sound but what do I use to get the Mac Minis sound to the tv. The DVI-HDMI connector wont do the sound as well as the video will it?
Well, what kind of audio inputs does your TV have? Does it have a toslink / optical input? I know mine doesn't.
If yours does, then you need a mini-toslink adapter such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002MQGRM and a toslink cable.
If yours does, then you need a mini-toslink adapter such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002MQGRM and a toslink cable.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I don't know 300, he's trying to power a 50 foot HDTV. That may have higher resolution.
His TV is bigger than my house!!!
I'm using the previous model 2.26 Mac Mini with the 9400M on a Pioneer Elite 60" Plasma. Works perfect with no additional software to set the display mode.
It offers 1920x1080, 24 Hz (24p blu-ray uses this mode) as well as two different settings of 1920x1080 60 Hz. The difference between these two duplicate entires is not apparent in the display menu or control panel, but the TV correctly shows one as 1080i and the other as 1080p.
Long story short, it works perfectly. The only thing I bought was a mini-Toslink to Toslink cable for the audio to my stereo and a DVI to HDMI cable.
It offers 1920x1080, 24 Hz (24p blu-ray uses this mode) as well as two different settings of 1920x1080 60 Hz. The difference between these two duplicate entires is not apparent in the display menu or control panel, but the TV correctly shows one as 1080i and the other as 1080p.
Long story short, it works perfectly. The only thing I bought was a mini-Toslink to Toslink cable for the audio to my stereo and a DVI to HDMI cable.
I don't know 300, he's trying to power a 50 foot HDTV. That may have higher resolution.
Its 50 inch's I just put the wrong symbol after the 50
Cheaper and does the same thing.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2
I think I'm trying the same type of connection as yours, but just need to confirm.
I currently have the mini connected (video wise) via the mini's provided cable to an HDMI adapter and then connected to my LCD TV.
For the audio portion I'd like to connect to my Onkyo HT-S790 receiver, which has optical. I've read from here and keep seeing this cable: Toslink to mini, 3.0m.
I'm currently looking at this cable from monoprice, http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1557&seq=1&format=2. Is this the right cable?
Thanks!
Just a word of warning, as with any plasma do not leave static elements on the screen for a long period of time. Like the menu bar or dock. You can get short term image retention, but if you use it like a desktop for several hours you can burn the phosphors with bright images that will take a very long time to fade.
I use my mac mini only to watch online tv shows and streaming movies in full screen. If you want to use it to browse the web in your living room you might want to consider an LCD TV instead. I may be overly cautious with image retention and burn-in but its one of the few ways that can damage the amazing picture these sets have.
I made a screensaver using Quartz Composer that cycles full screen solid Red, Green and Blue like the recommended break-in slides from AVSForum. If you would like that I can post a link to it later today if you want.
Hi zero,
thanks for all the great info.
I'm planning to use to watch streamed video, or videos stored on the mini. Not planning on using it as a monitor. Although I have an LCD, so hopefully that will be better.
I'll take that link when you get a chance, but do explain.
THanks!
thanks for all the great info.
I'm planning to use to watch streamed video, or videos stored on the mini. Not planning on using it as a monitor. Although I have an LCD, so hopefully that will be better.
I'll take that link when you get a chance, but do explain.
THanks!