Mac: MDP to HDMI adaptor will disappoint many
Many are fuming. It has been 4 months since the introduction of Apple’s Mini DisplayPort (‘MDP’) and no manufacturer (at least until mid-February 2009) let alone Apple, announced the advent of a MDP to HDMI adapter. Although Apple introduced MDP to DVI and the DVI to HDMI adaptors, it has been strangely silent about the MDP to HDMI adaptor that, as many believe, would enable Unibody MacBook users to enjoy HD content over 1080p HDTVs. In a Home Theatre, a MacBook Pro in clamshell mode sitting upright on a Deskstandz must be the coolest thing.
On February 11th 2009, Monoprice.com, an IT accessory wholesaler, announced they are ready to ship the MDP to HDMI adaptor mid-March 2009. I immediately contacted a friend at Machines and placed an order for two units (the other for a buddy who also has a Unibody MacBook Pro).
My question is why has Apple themselves not announced such anticipated news. The first hint is buried somewhere in Apple’s own literature that says ‘Apple’s iteration that Mini DisplayPort supports video signals, therefore a separate audio cable will be necessary to route sound to the TV’ unless off course HDTVs and monitors are built with MDP inputs.
The second hint is that MDP is capable of higher data rates than HDMI, therefore, while MDP is able to shoehorn video through the ‘limited’ HDMI, Apple is aware the MDP is not able to squeeze in audio as well. Apple is aware that incorrect timing of such revelation would disappoint many Unibody users, not to mention affect sales in the interim.
The gist of the commentary is that given its higher pixel spread over HDMI, MDP is the future but HDTV manufacturers are not up to speed at this point, although I read somewhere that one manufacturer has introduced MDP but only in its high-end model.
The third hint, although quite unrelated, is seen through a little home experiment over the weekend.
I routed MDP to DVI and DVI to HDMI adaptors from my Unibody MacBook Pro to a 1080p HDTV. Result. Crisp text and HD video (with the help of SwitchResX Control) but off course, no audio. A 1.8 to 1.8 stereo cable from the Uniboby to the relevant HDMI channel on the TV did not help either. Now, why is that? It is because the 1.8 stereo on the Unibody emits analogue audio that its HDMI partner on the TV channel does not recognize.
Solution. I routed the 1.8 cable via an Analogue to Digital audio converter and plugged the output back into the 1.8 jack next to the relevant HDMI channel. It worked. Crisp stereo sound from the TV speakers. Current AV Receivers render this procedure archaic because they have converters inbuilt but that is subject of another post.
Now I see the limits. Firstly, MDP is higher than HDMI but when married, MDP is forced down to the lower HDMI level and because of different data rates, audio is sacrificed at the output, but that position may be confirmed in practice when the new adaptor arrives. Secondly, the 1.8 stereo is analogue audio rather than digital, hence conversion is necessary if video preference is HDMI on the same channel. The MDP on the Unibody emits digital audio while the 1.8 stereo jack emits analogue audio.
Not understanding limits of the components this over-engineered port is asked to parry with, the impending MDP to HDMI adaptor will disappoint many Unibody users. At this point, the only route to digital audio for Unibody users, is a converter or AV receiver where the 1.8 stereo jack will be the main player.
Cheers, Tommy
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