A dumb laptop-to-AVR by HDMI question

[Swerd]

I have a Denon AVR-X4500H receiver. A visitor coming for Thanksgiving loves movies and will bring a laptop loaded with movies files he downloaded from an streaming service.

• I don't know what format these files are in.
• His laptop, a Mac, does have an HDMI Output.

I plan on doing this:

• Run an HDMI cable from the laptop to the AUX1 HDMI Input port on the AVR's front panel. It is long enough to go from a listener's lap to the AVR, about 12'.
• Select it with the AUX1 button on the AVR's remote.
• Start the movie from the laptop, and watch.

Will this work? It will only be a temporary connection and I want it to be as simple as possible.

The Denon manual did say the AUX1 port can be used with HDMI devices such as video camcorders or game console. However, it said nothing about movie files on a computer.

I wasted over an hour searching the Denon owner's manual for how to do this. It told me only how to run the HDMI connections, but said nothing about how to select & play it. I wish I had that hour back.

I am trying hard to avoid pulling the AVR out to attach the laptop via an HDMI port there. I am not well enough to do this job myself. The visitor is a nice guy, but he usually leaves a path of destruction in anything he does.

 

[Trebdp83]

A connection to the front port should be fine for 1080p @60Hz and even 4K @24Hz. Check with your friend about file formats.

A Mac can also Airplay movies to capable TVs on the same network over wifi. Settings have to be made to allow it to work. Set up with a capable TV and AVR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos can be had using Airplay.

 

[-Jim-]

I have a Denon AVR-X4500H receiver. A visitor coming for Thanksgiving loves movies and will bring a laptop loaded with movies files he downloaded from an streaming service.

• I don't know what format these files are in.
• His laptop, a Mac, does have an HDMI Output.

I plan on doing this:

• Run an HDMI cable from the laptop to the AUX1 HDMI Input port on the AVR's front panel. It is long enough to go from a listener's lap to the AVR, about 12'.
• Select it with the AUX1 button on the AVR's remote.
• Start the movie from the laptop, and watch.

Will this work? It will only be a temporary connection and I want it to be as simple as possible.

The Denon manual did say the AUX1 port can be used with HDMI devices such as video camcorders or game console. However, it said nothing about movie files on a computer.

I wasted over an hour searching the Denon owner's manual for how to do this. It told me only how to run the HDMI connections, but said nothing about how to select & play it. I wish I had that hour back.

I am trying hard to avoid pulling the AVR out to attach the laptop via an HDMI port there. I am not well enough to do this job myself. The visitor is a nice guy, but he usually leaves a path of destruction in anything he does.

I have a Denon AVR-X4400H receiver, and have done this with a Windows Laptop many times. I tried a movie just for grins when I did some measurements with REW software (Room EQ Wizard). Anything you have on screen will flow via the HDMI Cable (as long as it's the right spec for the data stream) into your Denon for processing and distribution vi sound / video as per the settings. I used VLC for the Movie and some FLAC Tunes as well.

I see no reason why a MAC would be any different. I've also done my Chromebook into the front Aux input of my Denon AVR-S900W in the Man Cave /Junk Room.

It's Easy!
Have Fun!