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Two displays for mini

2

2sa

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 10, 2011
26
0
I am looking to purchase a mini soon and would like to be able to use two LED TVs in my home as a display. This will not be a dual monitor set up. More of a either/or. I have found a HDMI splitter and pigtail switches on monoprice.

Basically I want the option of using the computer in two seperate rooms on existing LED TVs. Anyone have experience with a simular set up? Will this work?

The mini would be mounted in the closet behind the wall pictured below. Ignore the reflection of the window behind me. :D

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You do not need to get splitters. (maybe appropriate adapters) Just use the 2 outputs on the Mini. If you want them the same, put it in mirrored mode. But this also gives the option for dual if you ever want it.

I use a standard 19" monitor and my 1080p TV as 2 monitors. Hardly even had to think when plugging them in. When I am not using the TV, the Mini just shows it as one monitor. No big deal.

That said, Monoprice has pretty decent HDMI switches, I own one of those, too. (not the one you linked) If you do go this route, get the switch, not a splitter.
 
Thank you for the information. Using 2 LED TVs as my monitors, I am assuming I will have to put a switch on the HDMI port to feed both. Comforting to know it will work without too much too much trouble. Wish I had a thunderbolt connection on one of my TVs. Thanks again.
 
That should't be a problem. Personally I run dual displays on my 2010 Mac Mini. I use the HDMI and Mini DisplayPort to run two DVI monitors and they run rather well. No issues, glitches, etc. I can even run a game on one monitor and use Safari, Pages, and Mail on another. I'm very pleased.

I hook up my monitors by using the HDMI to DVI adapter included with a Mac mini purchase, and I use a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter that I bought on Monoprice.com. The Monoprice adapter (as well as the DVI cable I bought at the same time) has worked flawlessly for the last year. I would definitely make a cable/adapter purchase from them again. Their prices are extremely cheap in comparison to Apple's, and yet they are of the same quality. And the way I look at it, you could buy six of the Mini DisplayPort adapters from Monoprice ($5) before you pay the price for one of Apple's ($30). Luckily I don't think you'll have to worry about purchasing another, as Monoprice's accessories are of good quality.

For your setup, you'll want to use an HDMI cable from the HDMI port to one TV, and a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter+HDMI cable for the other. The Mini DisplayPort carries audio and video just like HDMI, so no worries on other audio cabling on the TV using the Mini DisplayPort+HDMI combo.
 
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I'm having audio issues with the following setup:
Mac Mini, HDMI output to receiver to 50" plasma, and then thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, HDMI to 19" LED TV. I am mirroring the displays for the either/or option. However, I can only get the audio to come out of the receiver setup, unfortunately, I usually use the 50"/receiver for watching tv, and will primarily be using the LED as my main monitor, when doing so, I can't get the audio to work with the 19" LED.
Please help, any suggestions?
 
I have the same issue with the only-one audio output option than mini seems to come with.

I have the mini connected via HDMI to a AV receiver, and through a HDMI-splitter attached to a Sanyo projector and a Pioneer 50" Kuro display, and via TB-HDMI adapter to a Panasonic 42V20 plasma in the bedroom.

So, if you need to be able to have audio input in both sets, you have to use a HDMI splitter from the main HDMI output.

But HDMI splitters are very special gadgets. They tend to switch down the resolution to the lowest of both displays!
It doesn't matter if both TV sets have the same resolution...

Finally, be aware of puting a new mini in a closed container. It needs ventilation badly
 
I appreciate the replys as I continue to think through how I want to accomplish my original goal. Since the mini is due a update at some point, I am waiting to purchase for now. The feedback about the lack of sound is appreciated. I am also investigating wireless HDMI options since the second display will be relatively close. That would save me having to navigate quite a few difficult walls and areas to run cable.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011011&p_id=8087&seq=1&format=2
 
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