Optical Audio connection from a MacMini
Discussion
I'm having difficulties in obtaining a working optical connection from the back of a Mac Mini. I've been searching for the answer (seems a lot of people have the same problems) but not been able to find it yet and am hoping that someone can assist with additional suggestions.
First of all, I have 3 stereos that I've tested the Optical input with, 3 cables I have tried (the one I'm using is the one I bought from the Mac store when I asked them if they could help with the answer) and I have a MacBookPro that I've used to test (and compare settings). From this I know that the stereo works, the optical lead works and I know the settings that work on a MacBook, however I am not getting any audio from the stereo.
A few images, incase I'm doing something silly (which I hope I am!):
Connection to the back of the stereo (white lead)
Connection to the back of the MacMini
Light coming out of the cable
In the sound applet, output selected to Digital Optical out
In the MIDI setup applet, the Digital Output is set for the default for outputting audio and is the correct format
Something else I tried after finding as a suggestion - setting up a new Multi-Output device and selected the Optical output as the only option.
I've exhausted what I can find from internet searches and am a bit stuck of where else to try.
Stereo is a Bose Lifestyle 28 and the MacMini is a mid-2011. My workaround is pushing HDMI to the TV, and then Optical from there to the stereo. I'd be happy with this workaround except it's 2 channel only (and I can't figure out how to change that to 5:1).
Connecting it to the MacBook "just works" and it seems this should be what happens with the Mini. There is the chance that the hardware's faulty but I'm not aware of any facility to confirm that.
Cheers
Ben
First of all, I have 3 stereos that I've tested the Optical input with, 3 cables I have tried (the one I'm using is the one I bought from the Mac store when I asked them if they could help with the answer) and I have a MacBookPro that I've used to test (and compare settings). From this I know that the stereo works, the optical lead works and I know the settings that work on a MacBook, however I am not getting any audio from the stereo.
A few images, incase I'm doing something silly (which I hope I am!):
Connection to the back of the stereo (white lead)
Connection to the back of the MacMini
Light coming out of the cable
In the sound applet, output selected to Digital Optical out
In the MIDI setup applet, the Digital Output is set for the default for outputting audio and is the correct format
Something else I tried after finding as a suggestion - setting up a new Multi-Output device and selected the Optical output as the only option.
I've exhausted what I can find from internet searches and am a bit stuck of where else to try.
Stereo is a Bose Lifestyle 28 and the MacMini is a mid-2011. My workaround is pushing HDMI to the TV, and then Optical from there to the stereo. I'd be happy with this workaround except it's 2 channel only (and I can't figure out how to change that to 5:1).
Connecting it to the MacBook "just works" and it seems this should be what happens with the Mini. There is the chance that the hardware's faulty but I'm not aware of any facility to confirm that.
Cheers
Ben
Just to close this one out, I bought another cable from ebay and it solved the problem.
The cable I bought had a TOSLINK connection at one end and an SPDIF at the other - ie. no adapter.
So even though the lead with adapter that I bought from the Apple store worked with the MacBook Pro, it didn't quite work with the Mac Mini (but almost).
When I plugged in the new cable, it all 'just worked', just like it's supposed to.
The cable I bought had a TOSLINK connection at one end and an SPDIF at the other - ie. no adapter.
So even though the lead with adapter that I bought from the Apple store worked with the MacBook Pro, it didn't quite work with the Mac Mini (but almost).
When I plugged in the new cable, it all 'just worked', just like it's supposed to.
Hi 
,
Thank you very much for your post. It is very useful.
Could you please help me out telling me what is the cable brand/model you are using now that works?
I see the Belkin on your pictures didn't worked out for you.
Thank you very much for your help and for your posts on this thread!
Kind regards,
Pedro
said:
,Thank you very much for your post. It is very useful.
Could you please help me out telling me what is the cable brand/model you are using now that works?
I see the Belkin on your pictures didn't worked out for you.
Thank you very much for your help and for your posts on this thread!
Kind regards,
Pedro
said: Just to close this one out, I bought another cable from ebay and it solved the problem.
The cable I bought had a TOSLINK connection at one end and an SPDIF at the other - ie. no adapter.
So even though the lead with adapter that I bought from the Apple store worked with the MacBook Pro, it didn't quite work with the Mac Mini (but almost).
When I plugged in the new cable, it all 'just worked', just like it's supposed to.
The cable I bought had a TOSLINK connection at one end and an SPDIF at the other - ie. no adapter.
So even though the lead with adapter that I bought from the Apple store worked with the MacBook Pro, it didn't quite work with the Mac Mini (but almost).
When I plugged in the new cable, it all 'just worked', just like it's supposed to.
Hi Pedro,
Sorry, no idea. The one that didn't work was from the Apple Store (Belkin) and was rather pricey. The extra one I tried was seeing after it had worked for someone else - so bought a cheap thing on ebay (which did). Having a look, it's not branded so there's nothing I get from looking at it.
Sorry, no idea. The one that didn't work was from the Apple Store (Belkin) and was rather pricey. The extra one I tried was seeing after it had worked for someone else - so bought a cheap thing on ebay (which did). Having a look, it's not branded so there's nothing I get from looking at it.
Hi ,
Thank you very much for your help.
All the best!
Pedro
said:
,Thank you very much for your help.
All the best!
Pedro
said: Hi Pedro,
Sorry, no idea. The one that didn't work was from the Apple Store (Belkin) and was rather pricey. The extra one I tried was seeing after it had worked for someone else - so bought a cheap thing on ebay (which did). Having a look, it's not branded so there's nothing I get from looking at it.
Sorry, no idea. The one that didn't work was from the Apple Store (Belkin) and was rather pricey. The extra one I tried was seeing after it had worked for someone else - so bought a cheap thing on ebay (which did). Having a look, it's not branded so there's nothing I get from looking at it.
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