Apple Mac Mini TV Connections

Rhymsta

I have been told that the new mac mini has a mini dvi output which comes with an adapter into which I can plug another cable which would terminate in an HDMI plug. All OK so far BUT I am presuming that only the VIDEO would be output via this method and I know I could output the AUDIO via the jack plug method and feed it into an external amplifier but I would like to use the speakers in my TV. I have a Panasonic viera HD LCD TV which has HDMI and component inputs. The problem is that I have to choose either the HDMI or COMPONENT input. Anyone any ideas how to get round this?

Rhymsta

almillar

No is the fast answer! Most computers without HDMI will be like this. My MacMini connects with VGA to my Samsung TV, and it has a minijack in for 'PC sound', but you don't appear to have that option with the Panasonic. Check if the Pana has a DVI or VGA input, then it should also have a sound input for them too, which you can connect the MacMini's sound to.

Rhymsta

Actually it looks as though I could set things up the same was as you but I just thought HDMI was 'better' than VGA. After lots of searching I have now placed an order for a mini display port to HDMI cable - looking forward to trying it out!

almillar

HDMI is actually pretty much DVI plus digital sound built into 1 plug.
HDMI is technically better than VGA as it's a digital signal so there should be no loss of quality in the cable, but VGA is capable of very high resolutions, and doesn't have some of the wonderful content protection that HDMI has to confuse people with!