If you’ve got a Mac with a Mini DisplayPort, you could connect it to Apple’s gorgeous but super-pricey 24-inch LED Cinema Display ($899, apple.com). Or you could pick up an adapter and connect that puppy to the flat-screen TV or third-party monitor you already own.
Dr. Bott's adapter is for video only.
Dr. Bott’s Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter II is a 13-inch-long adapter with a Mini DisplayPort plug on one end and a female HDMI jack on the other. You supply your own HDMI cable, which you can then connect to a TV, monitor, or other display with an HDMI input.
Dr. Bott’s adapter works beautifully, but since it only connects to your Mac’s Mini DisplayPort, it outputs just the 1080p video signal to your display, not the audio. If you can settle for getting audio from your Mac, that’s fine; otherwise, you’ll need a separate audio cable. This seems like a drawback, but it might be a plus if, say, you want to send the Mac’s video output to your HDTV but run the audio through your home stereo.
Kanex's iAdapt 20 can send both video and audio to your TV.
However, some TVs don’t accept a separate audio source when the video source is HDMI--typically, an HDMI cable delivers both audio and video. If that’s the case--or you just don’t want to mess around with a second cable for audio--the Kanex iAdapt 20 is the solution. The 3-foot adapter has a Mini DisplayPort plug as well as a USB plug, and you connect both of those to your Mac. The other end has a female HDMI port, and again you provide your own HDMI cable. Then open your Mac’s Sound Preference panel and set the Output to USB Audio Device, which is the Kanex adapter. The iAdapt 20 then sends both the audio and 1080p video from your Mac to your display--piece of cake! The USB plug provides two-channel audio, but if you need surround-sound audio, Kanex also sells the iAdapt 51 ($69.99, kanexlive.com). It’s similar to the iAdapt 20 but has a third cable for your Mac’s digital audio output. Between the Mini DisplayPort, the USB connector, and the audio cable, you’ll get full HD video and 5.1-channel surround through your display’s HDMI input.
Both the Dr. Bott and Kanex adapters work great. Which one is best for you depends on your particular setup. For simplicity’s sake, we prefer the convenience of the Kanex because it’s nice to have one adapter that handles both audio and video. But if you’ve got a display that will accept separate audio and video inputs, save some cash with the lower-priced Dr. Bott model.
iAdapt 20
COMPANY: Kanex
CONTACT: www.kanexlive.com
PRICE: $59.99
REQUIREMENTS: Mac with Mini DisplayPort, display or TV with HDMI input
Outputs your Mac's audio and video to HDMI. Self-powered. Supports up to 1080p resolution.
Gets warm with use. HDMI cable not included.
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter II
COMPANY: Dr. Bott
CONTACT: www.drbott.net
PRICE: $29
REQUIREMENTS: Mac with Mini DisplayPort, display or TV with HDMI input
Inexpensive.
Only outputs your Mac's video, not the audio. HDMI cable not included.
