Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town

Your Mac mini cranks out its video via DisplayPort and audio via a mini Toslink. Chances are your home entertainment system doesn't like either of those. It will, however, like the Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter, which can turn a DisplayPort video signal into a 1080p signal over HDMI, and will even integrate either digital or analog audio into the mix. It's USB powered, so there's no need for a clunky power adapter, and while $70 isn't particularly cheap for a chubby cable ($50 for the USB analog audio model), it's about the cleanest way to get your Mini pumping tunes and vids through your system.

[Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 9:53AM]

If there's anyone out there who was clever enough to have checked if Macs' Mini Displayports for some reason didn't output audio before buying one please share your product research strategy.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 10:39AM]

There is a version of this cable without the analog audio for 37.20 on monoprice.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5969&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

[Mitchell Posted Oct 5th 2009 12:03PM]

what a rip and why do we need display port? uhhh Apple drives me nuts. we can have a normal connector we need a new one so everyone will buy a new monitor.

For ipod we need a "dock connector" we cant just use a USB mini plug! We will sell dock connectors for $20 and make lots on licensing the spec!

Apple drives me nuts.

mitchell

[brianbobcat Posted Oct 5th 2009 12:09PM]

We got one of the new minis a couple months ago which was quite unfortunate because we had a DVI-DVI cable to go from our old mini to our old TV, then got a new Toshiba Regza and so I bought a DVI-HDMI adapter for the cable and a mini-DVI->DVI adapter for the new mini, and now this product does it all. My Frankenstiened setup still works though, so no reason to justify spending $70 right now.

Why does this need to be USB powered though, I though Mini-DP and HDMI were pin compatible so all you'd need is a crossover cable, no adapters or boxes?

-Brian

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 6th 2009 10:09PM]

I'm curious why the USB power is needed also. I recently picked up a Mini and I'm using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from monoprice to connect to my Kuro and that needs nothing additional, except for another set of cables for audio. I'm also using the included mini-DVI to DVI adapter to connect to an LCD monitor. Maybe this adapter has a little processor that needs that power so it can combine the audio and video signals.

[JDM Posted Oct 5th 2009 12:37PM]

Mini TOSLINK can be adapted to regular TOSLINK with a very cheap adapter. I've gotten them free with some cheap TOSLINK cables.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 6th 2009 9:57PM]

I ordered 4 with a recent monoprice order and you are right, they are extremely cheap.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042301&p_id=2671&seq=1&format=2

[danhawk911 Posted Oct 5th 2009 8:23PM]

this might be what swings my descion on to get a mac.

[brianbobcat Posted Oct 6th 2009 12:39AM]

Why not male HDMI though?

-Brian

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 6th 2009 8:01AM]

Because this is an adapter. If they were to make this with a male HDMI end, how long should they make it? Everyone's setup is different.

So they keep it short and let the end user get a standard HDMI cable of the appropriate length. A male/male HDMI cable is a lot more common than a male/female HDMI cable.