Hi folks.

Sorry to bother you, but I just got a Samsung LN46A650 about a month ago and it is becoming clear to me that I should connect it to my iMac. I'm thinking about getting Netflix and ripping movies and streaming them to the TV. That's the primary application.

I need help in determining how to connect the iMac to the TV.

This TV has a VGA input (and accompanying audio input), no DVI input, several HDMI inputs, and analog inputs.

I talked to Apple and they tell me that I need a mini-DVI adapter. I can convert it to VGA and then send VGA all the way to the TV or I can connect to DVI and from there, to HDMI and run the HDMI all the way to the TV. The former proposal involves one adapter and the latter two adapters. This does not include audio, and I am confused about that as well.

1) video. What do you think I should do? Is it even an option to use HDMI and separately connect the audio and somehow get them to sync as an input? Or should I just go with VGA and use that input on the TV, along with the audio input it has next to it (on the rear)?

2) audio. I presume that I need to use the headphones jack as the sound output on the Mac, since there isn't any other audio out. Maybe there is a USB option that people have tinkered with. Any thoughts?

But then how do I connect the stereo cable from the Mac to the TV? The input on the rear of the TV next to the VGA input looks like a stereo cable input, but I cannot tell. Will somebody kindly explain to me what type of cable I need to use to connect stereo output of the Mac to the audio input next to the VGA port on the rear of the TV?

Finally, assuming some of you know about this stuff (and are kindly willing to help me-), where do you think I should go to buy the cables at the most reasonable place, cost-wise (maintaining quality, of course).

Apple sells the mini-DVI-to-DVI or mini-DVI-to-VGA adapters at reasonable prices for me because I get an educational discount, so maybe I should buy from them. But I will take your advice if you know of a better option.

I really want to go ahead with this project, but I need some expert help here. I hope somebody or some people here will chime in with their experience and knowledge and give me some pointers.

Thanks so much for your help!

Brad

On page 7 of the manual (pdf found at :
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/......pdf (http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/EM/200803/20080312190657109_BN68-01430B-00L02-0225.pdf)

you see the PC hookup.

Get cables from monoprice :

Audio :
I need to use the headphones jack ... yes - I believe you may only be able to use the stereo jacks for audio ... ie mini to RCA ... in combination with the DVI, the manual notes "you must use the HDMI IN 2 on the TV " .... so might not be able to use the digital toslink.

Digital ...= best http://www.monoprice.com/... Toslink to Mini (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=2833&seq=1&format=1#largeimage) at $5.26 for 12 feet.

or Analog .... http://www.monoprice.com/...3.5mm Stereo Plug/2 RCA Plug cable - 6ft (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=1#largeimage) at $0.66 for 6 feet. You could also get an adapter and buy whatever length RCA to RCA cable.

Video
http://www.monoprice.com/ ... Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4851&seq=1&format=2) @ $9.96
plus
http://www.monoprice.com/.... HDMI DVI cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023102&p_id=2285&seq=1&format=1#largeimage) 15ft ... @ $14.58 ... various lengths available.

for video, I have used up to 75feet of DVI-HDMI cable with success.
for audio, you could also split the audio in order to run to a stereo as well as the TV. A splitter is cheap at Monoprice ... you can test that out. length should not be an issue at 50feet or more.

Good luck !
cheers
Steve

Thanks, dimond!

Yeah, when I spoke with Apple, they recommended a "WXGA" VGA cable. I looked at monoprice and they have a "Super VGA" cable, but not a WXGA cable, from what I can tell. Will there be a difference in quality here, from the signal my computer can generate and what I will see on the TV (i.e. loss in quality over the cable/adapter)?

How much of an advantage is there by going with two adapters to HDMI over VGA? The audio quality will be the same under either option. To use HDMI, I need to convert the mini-DVI to DVI and then from DVI to HDMI. Using VGA, I only need to use a mini-DVI to VGA cable and then the VGA cable.

Is this a good way to watch movies? What do you think? I'm thinking that a hard drive full of ripped movies will be far more convenient than stacks of slimline DVD cases to flip through when deciding. That's why I plan to use the computer. How much poorer of signal quality will I see versus an upconverting DVD player like the Oppo?

Thanks for your help!

Brad

How much poorer of signal quality will I see versus an upconverting DVD player like the Oppo?
It will depend upon the upconversion capability of your TV versus the Oppo. The Oppo is likely better, but it's debatable how much this may be noticeable in normal viewing. As the CNET Oppo review http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/oppo-dv-980h-dvd/4505-6463_7-32577127-2.html?tag=mncol;txt stated "Despite what you may have read elsewhere, upscaling generally only yields slight increases in picture quality, and the degree of those increases depends on your HDTV". The only way to really know would be to compare the two on your TV.