MacBook + VGA Cable + HDTV = Mono Sound?

Mr Jones · 7 Nov 2007 at 22:00

Hi guys,

I've recently purchased a Belkin VGA cable so I can connect my MacBook to my HDTV. I've got the official Apple mini-DVI to VGA, connected them up, running it at 1280x720 - no problem there.

The problem is the sound. I've got an LG (all connected up the the LG surround sound system that came with it). The only place I can see to connect my sound line-in is into the "VGA Sound Port" under the VGA input socket.

However, the sound out-put is mono - well, it only comes out of the left side speaker. Anyone have experience with that or know how to correctly set it up to have at least stereo?

Thanks

Mr Jones · 7 Nov 2007 at 22:18

a 3.5mm like them normal earphones lead?

I am using them - I used the a 1.8m set that came with my Aego M 2.1 sound set... you think that's what's causing the mono sound?

Edit: I've tested the cable, works fine playing my iPod to my Aego M speakers

Mr Jones · 7 Nov 2007 at 23:05

Ry@n said:
Also sounds like maybe one of the sockets/jacks somewhere 'could' be loose. Try wiggling them around.

I've tried wiggling, not working.

Here's the low down of what I've tried:

Played Red Vs Blue (episode 1) which has brilliant Left and Right conversation from the start:

-Connected my MacBook to my Aegos M, left and Right comes out correct.
-Connect my MacBook to my Aegos M with the 3.5mm cable (to be used with the LG TV), Left and Right comes out correct.
-Connect my MacBook to my LG HDTV with the 3.5mm cable, only the Left comes out (when the TV is on normally, 5.1 sound system works beautifully) - even with the Xbox360, 2.1 works well (due to components not able to hold 5.1 sound).

I don't have any other system to test with

Looks like it's £5 down the drain for now with the VGA cable - wanted to play movies straight out of my MacBook than spending the time burning DVDs for certain format of media (mkv)

Mr Jones · 7 Nov 2007 at 23:16

As posted, no problem with my Aegos.

And I've looked around my LG Surround Sound System and there's no input apart from those Red/Yellow/White ones (RGB?) and Component or SCART. Shame there's no optical in-put, I know the MacBook does out-put that...

It would seem like my LG HDTV is being gay...

Least that VGA cable weren't that expensive, was on promotion for a fiver.

Mr Jones · 8 Nov 2007 at 10:34

I'm plugging the "extra" Aegos cable that came with it; cable for you to plug your iPod in through the front of the Sub.

I plugged my 3.5mm-3.5mm, from my MacBook output to the 3.5mm input at the back of the TV - where there is an input tagged: VGA Sound Input

AFAIK, if I use the RGB for sound, when I run the screen under VGA, it wouldn't pick up the sound, would it? LG classed all inputs under one menu, where you'll have to choose VGA, HDMI, Component, RGB, SCART e.t.c. so if I sound input in RGB, technically I wouldn't hear anything when I'm viewing under VGA input, no?

Mr Jones · 8 Nov 2007 at 10:45

WotDa said:
Yellow cable in a phono lead is video, get a Phono -> Scart and it should work fine. (Get someone to check that first though...)

I'm hoping someone can correct me if I'm wrong with my last post assumptions.

Is there any other cable that can connect my MacBook directly to the HDTV? I've got HDMI, Component, VGA, S-Video, SCART inputs...

Mr Jones · 8 Nov 2007 at 10:55

WotDa said:
Mini DVI > VGA.

That's the one I've got, official Apple's - and I link it up with a Belkin VGA cable (as the apple's only 4inch long)

Mr Jones · 8 Nov 2007 at 11:10

I'm out in Uni now - scamming off the fast uni line to download some apps. I'll try and link it tonight.

And as said above by someone, it's no longer a "Mono sound" issue, it's actually playing the left side audio only - with all sound settings on my MacBook set on default (I play music and videos thru my Aegos via my Macbook, no problem)