Macbook to Wallplate to TV Question

[tyreal78]

This is tough to explain but I'll try.

Last weekend I installed a couple 2 gang 5.1 wall plates for my surrounds, sub, and zone 2 patio speakers.

On the rear wall plate (not the one behind the receiver and TV), only the sub and 2 surrounds are connected...the other half of the plate isn't being used. But the other half of the wall plate behind the TV is being used for my zone 2 patio speakers. I'd like to be able to use the other half of the rear plate to connect my Macbook for mostly audio, and maybe video.

What's the best way to do this? HDMI for video, but what about for audio? Optical? I can't seem to find a single gang plate with both HDMI and optical. I have found a plate with an HDMI and 2 RCA's at Parts Express. Will that work? Are there adapters to convert a digital coax cable to 1/8 so I can connect it to my Macbook's 1/8 audio out port? Or do I even need digital coax? Should I just go with the analog RCA's? I'll be using the Macbook to listen to music, browse the web, and watch movies/TV shows.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Adam]

Hi. A have a comment and a question.

The audio output from the MacBook is either stereo analog (for headphones are two RCA connectors if you use an adapter cable) or optical digital audio. It doesn't have a digital coax output. You could buy an optical-to-coax adapter for about $20, though.

You want to connect the MacBook to the rear wall plate, but where are you planning to connect the other end? Just curious.

 

[tyreal78]

You want to connect the MacBook to the rear wall plate, but where are you planning to connect the other end? Just curious.

I ended up doing something a little different. I really only wanted to connect my Macbook to the receiver for listening to music while sitting on the couch and writing papers or browsing the web--just a quick connection for casual use.

When I use the Macbook to watch movies or television shows I connect it via HDMI and optical and hide the Macbook in the TV stand/stereo cabinet. I use the Apple wireless keyboard and a bluetooth mouse to navigate. I decided I didn't need a video connection on the rear plate, especially considering we don't use the Macbook all that much for shows/movies.

So the way I'm going about it...

The other half of the wall plate behind the display and receiver has 3 sets of speaker connections. 2 of them are being routed to the outside patio speakers (Polk Atrium 45's arriving on Monday). I'll be swapping out the third unused set with a couple RCA connections. I actually ended up purchasing a wall plate with 5 RCA connections (3 component, 2 RCA - same brand and style as the original 5.1 plates I purchased). I'll be doing the same for the wall plate on the back wall--swapping out two of the unused speaker connections with a couple RCA's. Since I'll only be using it to listen to music I figured analog would be ok. [shrugs]. For parties or prolonged use I'll probably just connect the Macbook in the cabinet.

Anyway. It probably sounds more complicated than it really is, but I think it will work for what I'm using it for.