Review: Monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter
Justin says...
on Apr 2nd, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Ever since I purchased my 13″ Unibody Macbook last year I’ve wanted to try out the new Mini DisplayPort. I decided to skip the DVI adapter and wait until I could get my hands on a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter…today Monoprice ended my long wait.
Features listed on the package:
- Support Mini DisplayPort 1.1a input and HDMI 1.3b output
- Support HDMI highest video resolution 1080p
- Support HDMI 225MHz/2.25Gbps per channel (6.75Gbps all channel) bandwidth
- Support HDMI 12bit per channel (36bit all channel) deep color
- Support uncompressed audio such as LPCM
- Support compressed audio such as DTS Digital, Dolby Digital (including DTS-HD and Dolby True HD)
- Powered from Mini DisplayPort source
The adapter works well and I didn’t notice any artifacts or other video issues while playing HD content to the TV. The adapter fully supported 1080p resolution, as stated in the features, when plugged into to my 46″ Sharp Aquos. I was nervous that using HDMI would cause overscan and not fit correctly in dot by dot mode; however, just as with the direct DVI connection port on the TV, the HDMI worked perfectly.
At first I couldn’t figure out how to get the video to play full screen on the TV. Dragging the window to the TV then going full screen didn’t work, it just slide over to the MacBook before going full. Even setting the TV as the primary monitor didn’t do the trick. Then I started digging around the QuickTime settings and navigated to the full screen options. In here there is a graphical display of the two monitors, similar to the one in display preferences. I just clicked on the TV part of the icon and was all set…easy as pie!
The only let down is the lack of audio support. Even though audio is supported by the adapter and by Mini DisplayPort specifications, it currently does not work. Hopefully in the future Apple will add audio support through a software update, but as of now there no way to know if that’s even an option.
UPDATE 5.15.09
Still no audio support with latest OSX 10.5.7 update 
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Apples & Oranges, Featured post, MacBook, Reviews
[...] but not sound support yet even though it’s supported by the adapter and the mDP specifications Review: Monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter | When Will Apple? __________________ Justin WhenWillAppple? [...]
I just got the HDMI to Mini DisplayPort adapter from monoprice for $15. The video is great, but no audio (as expected). Any suggestions for audio support directly connected to my Samsung TV?
epuccio, I think this is what you are looking for.
Toslink to Mini M/M OD:5.0mm
Hi,
Can you check audio over hdmi on Vista or XP ?
The only Mini DiplayPort “port” I have is on my MacBook.
Do you have bootcamp and legal copy of windows xp/vista ? so you can be sure where is our problem – is it adapter or just software issue of mac osx which can be fixed in future
I do not want to dirty up my MacBook with Vista
The adapter does support audio as well as the standard so there is a good chance Apple can release a software update for OSX that will see the adapter as an audio output device as well as video. We just have to wait and see, in the meantime just need to get the Toslink adapter I linked to above. I will probably get the adapter soon and do another quick review of how it works along side the Mini DisplayPort adapter.
hey justin, how does that cable work? i have a macbook and an hdtv.
do i still use the mini display port to hdmi?
thanks
Champ, sorry I missed this comment. Basically it is just a converter from the Mini-DP to HDMI (female end as pictured above). You can then use any HDMI able to plug into the adapter and your TV.
Are you able to use the macbook in clamshell (closed) mode with this adapter?
@doug – using apple’s notebooks in clamshell mode introduces the risk of overheating, as they already run hot to begin with.
however, you can use the free InsomniaX kernel extension frontend (free at http://semaja2.net/insomniaxinfo) to temporarily disable the automatic sleep of the macbook.
i’ve never had a problem, but i wouldn’t leave my mac sitting like this for too too long; five or six hours of mid-range activity max. i’d recommend DIMMING THE SCREEN first if you go for this option.