I use Mac Mini M1 and I wanted to connect my Home Theatre Logitech z906 5.1 Dolby Digital with the mac mini for watching action movies.
Logitech z906 provides RCA / Optical / AUX inputs.
RCA / Optical = provides lossless Dolby output in 5.1
AUX = only provides 2.1 Stereo output.
No support for HDMI or USB-C inputs on my Logitech z906 (since its 10 years old system)
In Mac Mini, there is no RCA or Optical output ports. I can connect thru 3.5mm AUX cable but it will only output in 2.0 stereo.
Please suggest me how can I setup the 5.1 surround considering my situation. I am even open to buy a compatible latest Surround system which works with Mac mini as a final move if there is no solution for Z906.
Hi bro, Let me share this link with our audience to collect some input. Meanwhile, I found this cable allows macbook pro users to connect with their 5.1 home theater systems and get best audio experience. Do check the specifications of this cable too
Besides this, USB C to required adapter or converter should be used to get the high res audio out from the mac mini. then you can connect with your 5.1 sound systems. But lets hear from users too.
as per the macbook pro user in the comments who bought the same product, we can see he can get it to work with his home theater system. also getting good quality.
Price of the cable is less, and if you don’t have USB C to compatible adapter option, then you may give it a try and see whether it works out for you bro.
I did reach Apple support this morning about the issue. They shared me a complete specs of Mac Mini M1. In Audio section, its mentioned that Multi-channel output is supported and we can connect surround systems thru HDMI port for the lossless throughput.
Thru audio jack, we can still mimic the surround system but it will be a Virtual experience(not a raw Dolby codec)
What I am planning is, get a HDMI to Thunderbolt adapter for connecting the Monitor and then utilise the HDMI port to connect my hometheatre via (HDMI to Optical converter).
Please share your thoughts on this Robin & other members.
Thats an excellent choice vinay. Thanks for updating this thread. I learned a new thing today too
Go with HDMI to Thunderbolt adapter, that will be correct choice. If we have USB C monitor then the HDMI port can be used for audio out. else getting such adapter is the only way. or USB C to HDMI Cable can be considered too, if you already have a cable to connect HDMI cable directly with the audio system.
Quick update on this: No luck with the HDMI audio output… my Logitech z906 cannot play Dolby contents. it outputs only the Surround channel… Center, Rear, and Front speakers are not working…
I used VLC player to play Dolby encoded media file. Connected the home theatre with HDMI to Optical converter (amazon basics product)
I guess, Mac decodes the media file and not allowing the RAW audio output to home-theatre.
I tried the MIDI-audio setup for 5.1 as well. but no luck
@photokaarandhas thanks for sharing the reference links. I have already tried the MIDI setup as well as the VLC settings. No luck so far. I have narrowed down the findings… My 5.1 system (Logitech z906) works as expected in Apple TV app streaming. There is a hidden option under AUDIO section in AppleTV+ app in MacOS 13. I have attached the screeshot here…
In order to get the Dolby working, system must Allow RAW-AUDIO PASSTHROUGH. In this case, AC3 audio Passthrough.
If I choose “Prefer AC3 Passthrough”, my hometheatre detects the Dolby codec and plays in all 5 speakers as expected.
But I am out of luck with VLC / KODI / Infuse media players…
I can get Dolby Signal thru HDMI (HDMI to toslink) with Apple TV+ app. So we can confirm that M1 Mac mini is totally capable of outputting Dolby contents.
Initially I was thinking that Mac Mini Hardware won’t support Dolby streams to external surround system but that’s not the case. it depends on the Application.
I have tons of media files, movies encoded in Dolby surround in my hard-drive.
Now, I have to figure out how to enable “AC3 Passthrough” in VLC player and others…
