Older MacMini connected to LCDtv

[zoran]

guys im stuck

i purchased the Kanex adapter
http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3495
and i want to connect my MacMini to my Philips 8654 LCD tv but i dont have any home cinema stuff, so its only gonna be connected to my LCDtv, so i want to ask a few things:

1. Where do the usb and optical plugs should be connected to? And what are they used for?

2. Can i connect the usb plug only so i can have sound or must i use the optical too? In the kanex url it says that audio cannot pass through the usb, does that mean anything?

3. Do u think its wiser to purchase the other Kanex model
http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item-id-3323.html
since i will only be connecting the mac mini to my tv?

4. Can the optical plug be connected to the tv (http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=42PFL8654H/12&slg=en&scy=GR)

Im swamped-help!

 

[indg]

the usb plug is for power. the optical plug carries the audio from the headphone jack to the hdmi.

with the second kanex adapter you mentioned, the audio is output through the USB to hdmi (2 channel only).

if your tv has hdmi input, then you should get audio/video. you tv doesn't need optical input because with either adapter, A/V is carried through the single hdmi cable. many tv's with hdmi have optical output though to pass digital audio to a stereo.

 

[zoran]

the usb plug is for power

so USB plug is for power in both adapter versions?

the optical plug carries the audio from the headphone jack to the hdmi.

so that means that my mac mini has optical audio output? i purchased it last xmas are you sure theres sutch an output in my mini? i cant see it
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3478

you'll be able to figure out if your tv has optical inputs or not.

optical inputs? for what? i thought that the optical cable is plugged into the mini so that it transfers sound to the tv through the hdmi... no?
anyhow, these are the connectors at the back of my tv, but i cant figure out witch are the optical, can you help?
http://download.p4c.philips.com/files/4/42pfl8654h_12/42pfl8654h_12_cow_.jpg


still swamped

 

[indg]

sorry, i made some errors in my original reply and made some revisions. go back and read my post again.

the headphone jack passes optical audio. from the link you posted:
The headphone / line output jack accommodates digital optical audio output, analog audio output with a 24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz D/A converter, digital audio output up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-192 kHz sampling rate and supporting encoded digital audio output (AC3 and DTS). For analog headphone / line output, use a standard audio cable with 3.5mm metal plug. For digital audio, you can use a standard toslink cable with a toslink mini-plug adapter.

the usb is for power only in the first adapter. 6-ch audio is passed via the optical cable to the hdmi.

the second adapter uses the usb to pass 2-ch audio to the hdmi.

 

[zoran]

ok thanx, so i guess in other words that there is no problem, i can:
1. connect the USB plug in one of my mac minis USB port
2. connect the optical plug in my mac minis headphone jack output
3. connect the mdp plug in my mac minis mdp
and im ready to go, right?

p.s. what i dont understand is, why would one purchase the other kanex cable (http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item-id-3323.html) since in all mac minis there is audio digital output so pluging in the tosslink cable would be the optimum choice? am i right?

 

[indg]

p.s. what i dont understand is, why would one purchase the other kanex cable (http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item-id-3323.html) since in all mac minis there is audio digital output so pluging in the tosslink cable would be the optimum choice? am i right?

difference is 2-ch vs 6-ch audio. if you want to pass the 5.1 audio track from your the movie playing on your mini to your home theater/stereo, then you'll want the one with the optical cable. if you just want 2-channel stereo, then the adapter with usb audio is sufficient.

 

[zoran]

difference is 2-ch vs 6-ch audio. if you want to pass the 5.1 audio track from your the movie playing on your mini to your home theater/stereo, then you'll want the one with the optical cable. if you just want 2-channel stereo, then the adapter with usb audio is sufficient.

1. I dont have a home theater/stereo u think it would be best to get the 2-chan stereo adapter?
2. Does the 5.1audio sound strange in a 2channel sound system (tvs system)?
3. What would your advice be and why? The 5.1 adaptor or the 2channel one?
4. Also i must say that the toslink cable seems prety larger than the tiny hole (audio output) that the mc mini has, isnt that strange?

 

[indg]

VIDEO:
if distance between mini and tv is less than 15 feet, get a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable (third category down):
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246

for longer distances, get a mini-dp to hdmi adapter and a separate hdmi cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

AUDIO:
for 2-ch audio, just get a 3.5mm Stereo Plug/Plug M/M Cable or 3.5mm Stereo Male to 2RCA Male Cable. get a 3.5mm M/F splitter if you want to split the audio to your tv and have another jack available (like speakers for when your tv is off).

 

[zoran]

yes i see, well, right now i have the following solution, actually its with
a mini dvi adapter 2 hdmi (one that came with the mac mini)
and
a Male/2RCA cables
and it works ok, although i must say that its not a very tidy solution + the fact that it occupies my tvs audio input
thats the reason why i wanted to go for the Kanex, but if i finally go for the 2chan Kanex, then i might consider Monoprices solution intead that is a lot cheaper (http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2)
what do u think?

 

[indg]

sure whatever works. one thing with the hdmi/usb solution is that you'll need to select which output you want the sound to come out. not sure if both usb audio and headphone jack will work simultaneously.

 

[zoran]

sure whatever works. one thing with the hdmi/usb solution is that you'll need to select which output you want the sound to come out. not sure if both usb audio and headphone jack will work simultaneously.

not sure i understood what u mean exactly but in the hdmi/usb adapter solution there is no headphone jack cable, all is supposed to be working with the usb

 

[indg]

if you're using the mini with just a single display (tv) then ignore my last post.

i was talking more about a dual display scenario where you might have the tv powered off, but want sound coming out of the headphone jack. with the usb adapter you'd have to select the sound output source manually to the headphone jack. whereas if you just used a splitter in the headphone jack, there would always be audio (analog) over both 3.5mm jacks.

i know it's confusing. just go with whatever is simple and works for you.