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Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Does the Mini DisplayPort on the new 13" MacBook Pro (OCT '09) put out an audio signal as well as the video signal, or is it 'video-out' only?

I Need to connect my new 13" MacBook Pro to 32" Philips HDTV. I have Apple Bluetooth wireless/keyboard. I hope to use the MacBook as a desktop with the display closed, using the Philips HDTV for display and audio. My TV has 3 HDMI ports and 1 USB 2.0 port.
Online AppleStore salesperson told me that for the VIDEO signal I needed an adapter to convert the Mac's Mini DisplayPort to DVI, then plug into a cable with DVI on one end and HDMI on other, to then plug into the TV's HDMI port. To get AUDIO signal from the Mac to the TV she told me I needed a "Y" cable to plug into the Mac's 'Audio-out' Headphones Jack. Said without this cable the TV's speakers wouldn't work, and I'd only get sound from the MacBook Pro's built-in speakers.
Descriptions for HDMI cables at several online stores claimed they were all-in-one cables carrying both video and audio signals. Will the HDMI cable do everything, or do I still need the "Y" cable from the Mac's headphone jack to power the TV speakers?

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2 Answers from the Community

  • The mini displayport, as its name suggests, only provides video output. So even if you were to fit adapters and result in an HDMI cable connection to your TV, only video will be produced.

    Audio output from your MBP only comes from the audio in/out jack, therefore the Apple Store guy was right in that you have to get a Y-adapter cable to connect to your L/R audio input on your TV.

    However, you have to check that your TV is able to play video through HDMI input AND audio through L/R input simultaneously, otherwise it will not work out after all.

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  • Right. Some TV's do have HDMI inputs with separate audio inputs (for this very reason i'm assuming), but more than likely - you'd need to have the laptop run audio separately to a stereo receiver in order to make it happen. Hope this helps!

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