Connecting your Mac to your TV

bobtomay · Sep 8, 2011

ceege111:

Sorry, I really have no idea what it is you're attempting to convey using the term clean.

If video is fine and your issue is with text only - I'd suggest you just may not remember what your last MBP looked like on a large screen small resolution display. And yes, 1080p is a small resolution on a 32" screen for a computer display. I dislike text so much from a Mac that I went back to Windows for connecting a computer to a TV over 3 years ago.

Read this article to see if this is what you're seeing. If so, the only way you're going to fix it is by switching to Windows. If you're looking for sharp crisp text from OS X on a large screen TV, not going to happen.

ceege111 · Sep 8, 2011

bobtomay said:
I'd suggest you just may not remember what your last MBP looked like on a large screen small resolution display. And yes, 1080p is a small resolution on a 32" screen for a computer display. I dislike text so much from a Mac that I went back to Windows for connecting a computer to a TV over 3 years ago.

Read this article to see if this is what you're seeing. If so, the only way you're going to fix it is by switching to Windows. If you're looking for sharp crisp text from OS X on a large screen TV, not going to happen.

Thanks for the reply. I see what you mean about text but this is not the issue - I mean that the text has artifacts that appear when the display is at a mismatched pixel resolution. Seems to be horizontal only - the artifacts are on vertical lines in text. I'll try it on windows, as well as some other macs when friends come over to see if I can get a good image to show, maybe take some pictures to show the difference. I'll try VGA too I guess. It was a little big but it still worked reasonably well.

I think it's because of the video processor on the TV. Somehow before I was bypassing it.

bobtomay · Sep 8, 2011

Do you have the option of 1080p in Displays preferences? Not 1920x1080. I've seen some Macs that have both options and they do not do the same thing - don't really know why. Make sure you scroll all the way to the top.

Not much in the TV menu but possibly try this if you haven't already:
Picture menu - Picture Mode - set to Standard
Setup menu - noise Reduction - set to Off - shouldn't hurt to try it both ways.
PC Setup - Don't bother, this is for VGA only

What you're describing almost sounds like a clock/pitch issue, which shouldn't be an issue at all with a digital connection.

Nighthawk4 · Sep 10, 2011

FWIW, I tried the Component cable with the Blu-Ray Player and it downgraded to 720p. I changed back to HDMI with the same Blu-Ray disk and it gave 1020p.

I googled and found that Sky HD seems to be 1020i but not 1020p. Is 1020i better than 720p?

Anyway, I ordered the upgrade from a basic Sky box to Sky+ HD with the HD channels. Not fully convinced the HD channels are worth it as the digital picture on my new TV is awesome anyway. Still, it is due to be installed next Saturday, so then we will see

Edit - I meant 1080p and 1080i of course. I got the numbers mixed up

bobtomay · Sep 10, 2011

??? Never heard of 1020.

What you found is why I have not suggested you use component on your Blu-ray player. Blu-ray is progressive. Blu-ray commercial movies are 1080p The players output 720p and 1080p.

Component will downgrade to 720p because it is not capable of carrying 1080p, but it can do 1080i.

Over-the-air TV (assuming yours is the same as here in the states) is broadcast in either 720p or 1080i, which is why component can be used on these boxes and not lose anything. It is not yet technically possible to broadcast over-the-air in 1080p.

Here's a youtube video that's not too bad at explaining it all.
Generally speaking, most would say that 720p is better for fast motion - such as football, while 1080i is better for watching things like nature shows.

butchsa · Sep 18, 2011

How do I connect my MBPs to my TV?

I have a SONY KDL-40V4000. Here's the link to download the manual:

KDL-40V4000 (KDL40V4000, KDL40V4000U) : Manual : TV & home cinema : Sony

I have two MBPs and would like to find out how I can connect these to my TV via HDMI IN (or other options if HDMI is not possible) and have the sound on the TV. Here are the details of my MBPs:

2011 MBP 2.3 (more details below)
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
2006 MBP 2.16 (more details below)
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,2
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB

I more or less have an idea that the set up for each MBP will be different. Just need confirmation on what can be achieved and the cables/adapters required for each.

If you can provide links to the cables/adapters needed that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

bobtomay · Sep 27, 2011

butchsa:

2011 MBP has a thunderbolt (mini-displayport or mdp) and will carry audio over that connection

2006 MBP has a DVI connection and will require a separate audio cable

For the '11:
you'll need the mdp to HDMI adapter
you can use any of the 3 HDMI ports

For the '06:
you'll need a DVI to HDMI adapter for the video.
you'll need a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug for the audio
you must use HDMI # 2 with this set up in order to get sound on your TV

And you'll need an HDMI cable. If Amazon has their Amazon Basics HDMI cable there in the UK, they're decent cables at a good price, not real stiff like some are. If you get one that's not Amazon branded, make sure it is a "high speed" HDMI cable.

Those are examples - you can search Amazon for others now that you know what you're looking for. I just picked some that had decent pics.

(Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.)

butchsa · Sep 27, 2011

bobtomay said:
butchsa:

2011 MBP has a thunderbolt (mini-displayport or mdp) and will carry audio over that connection

2006 MBP has a DVI connection and will require a separate audio cable

For the '11:
you'll need the mdp to HDMI adapter
you can use any of the 3 HDMI ports

For the '06:
you'll need a DVI to HDMI adapter for the video.
you'll need a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug for the audio
you must use HDMI # 2 with this set up in order to get sound on your TV

And you'll need an HDMI cable. If Amazon has their Amazon Basics HDMI cable there in the UK, they're decent cables at a good price, not real stiff like some are. If you get one that's not Amazon branded, make sure it is a "high speed" HDMI cable.

Those are examples - you can search Amazon for others now that you know what you're looking for. I just picked some that had decent pics.

(Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.)

Thank you so much for the info and recommendations bobtomay! I'll let you know how I get on.

Davidn408 · Oct 4, 2011

vga to hdmi probelms

Hello MACFORUM! Nice to meet you all. SO! i have a macbook pro 13inch late 2011 with the i7 intel core processor. Now I have hooked it up to my 52inch SAMSUNG HDTV using apples moshi vga to hdmi adapter and have had no problems whatsoever. Now just recently whenever i try to play world of warcraft there is black on both sides of my screen. It use to always be fullscreen. I have it on correct resolution and my underscan setting is off which it should be. Does anyone know if there was a software update that affects this? Anyone else have this problem? please help! very frustrating! In short world of warcraft use to run fullscreen. Now it only shows about 4:3 ratio. PLEASE HELP I MISS MY FULLSCREEN SO MUCH!!!

bobtomay · Oct 4, 2011

If your only issue is with WoW, would suggest you look at your settings in WoW. Just uninstalled WoW this past weekend, so I can't take a look.

And just as an FYI: Apple and Moshi are 2 separate companies - that could be a Moshi adapter bought from Apple - but, neither one of them make a VGA to HDMI adapter.

Davidn408 · Oct 6, 2011

Thanks for the reply. So I've tried all the resolutions before except that ONE! lol. But I surely remember my tv being fullscreen instead im stuck with these boarders around my whole screen. I have messed with both MBP and HDTV settings better now that i have WOW running on 1280x720x32. So thank you very much for that! i wouldnt have gone back to check WOW. But the other case with these black boarders. Anyone know? I'd like to add that i have tried all correct resolutions, obviously 1080p and the stretched version of lower resolutions is a bit fuzzy. Before it was clear 1080p fullscreen. Thanks for the hep bobtomay! RIP STEVE JOBS!

gilbertdowding · Oct 11, 2011

Macbook Pro to TV + Receiver

Hi, I have recently finished installing my home cinema set up and now want to connect my macbook pro to listen to music and watch films.

I have a mid 2009 macbook pro: MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.26 13" (SD/FW) Specs (Mid-2009 13", MB990LL/A, MacBookPro5,5, A1278, 2326*) @ EveryMac.com

and a panasonic G20 tv:
Panasonic TX-P50G20B 50" Freesat/Freeview HD Plsma TV (TX-P50G20B) - dabs.com

also a pioneer reveiver:
Pioneer VSX-1020K 7.1 Channel AV Receiver

this is all connected to a 5.1 surround system.

So i'm wondering how i play a movie on the tv with the sound coming through the surround speakers?

Any help would be really appreciated as although i'm far from a technophobe i do tend to get slightly bewildered by the extent of my ignorance compared to what its possible to achieve by being tech savvy.

Cheers people!!

bobtomay · Oct 11, 2011

Are you already using the Pioneer as a HDMI switch for all your other devices and know how to set that up?

gilbertdowding · Oct 11, 2011

Yep thats what i'm using it for at the moment.

bobtomay · Oct 11, 2011

gilbert:

Option 1
This is not the cheapest way to do it, but is the easiest.

This adapter will combine the audio and video into a single HDMI output - link.
That one will give you 5.1 out when you're playing 5.1 content.
Then add a high speed HDMI cable and run it through the Pioneer just like any other piece of equipment.

Option 2
The cheap way if your Pioneer allows you to assign any audio port to any HDMI port is going to be with individual connections.
mini displayport (mdp) to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable
along with a mini toslink to toslink cable
Then you'd have to head into the Pioneer menu and assign the Opt # 1 to HDMI # 5 - as an example - naturally using whichever ports you actually use. Can save $20 this way if you get them from monoprice or Amazon.

I use the 2nd option with my Onkyo and works fine - only because I don't have a choice as my old MBP has DVI instead of the mdp.

gilbertdowding · Oct 12, 2011

Cheers for such a thorough response. What level of HDMI cable would you recommend?

I may go with option 2 as you suggested.

bobtomay · Oct 12, 2011

HDMI cable - just make sure it's called "high speed" HDMI.

I have several of the Amazon Basics HDMI cables. The price is right and they're fairly flexible, not real stiff like some of the ones I've bought elsewhere. Haven't checked the UK site, but would think Amazon is carrying them over there also.

jack_cf · Oct 13, 2011

Hi, im having a slow day and need a hand.

I have just bought a Toshiba 22"BV501B with HD and all the rest which i want to connect to my 15" macbook pro born in 2006 with a DVI port.

Are these the two cables i need to buy?

1.this

2.this

thanks in advance

gilbertdowding · Oct 13, 2011

Looks like i'll be getting me one of them then. Thanks a lot for your help.

Bmwilko · Oct 25, 2011

Kanex iadapt 20

Hi,

I am currently running what I think is a Kanex iadapt 20 to my my MacBook Pro, early 2008, 2.66 GHZ, V. 10.6.8. I have the Kanex hooked up to an HDMI cable in to my Pioneer Elite VSX-50. Here's the problem I can't get my Mac to output 5.1 audio. 2 Chanel audio and video is no problem. When I go to the Audio Midi setup it will only recognize a stereo/2 channel audio. The multi channel/5.1 choices are grayed out. I would appreciate any advice that you have.

Thanks,