OS X Lion: Use a television as a display
Many televisions can also be used as computer displays. You’ll need a video cable that connects your computer’s display port to your TV. If you can’t find a cable that connects the ports on your computer and TV, you may also need an adapter for the cable.
If you have an HDTV and a computer with a Thunderbolt, Mini DisplayPort, or HDMI port, the cable could also let you play your computer’s audio on your TV.
Check whether your Mac’s display port sends audio
Check the icon next to the video port on your Mac. If you don’t know what the icon is, see:
If your Mac has a Thunderbolt or HDMI port, it can send audio to your HDTV.
If your Mac has a Mini DisplayPort, it may be able to send audio to your HDTV. To see if it can, open System Information (in the Utilities folder in Launchpad), and then select Audio (Built In) below Hardware in the Contents list.
A list of your computer’s audio devices appears. If HDMI Output or HDMI/DisplayPort output is listed, your computer’s Mini DisplayPort can send audio.
Connect your Mac to your TV
- Connect the video cable (and adapter, if necessary) from the computer’s video output port on your computer to the video input port on the TV.
- If you want your HDTV to play audio as well as video from your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, and then click Output. Select your HDTV or AV receiver from the list of devices. Note: If your Mac has a Mini DisplayPort, make sure you use a cable (and adapter, if necessary) that supports both audio and video.
Change the sample rate of the audio
- Open Audio MIDI Setup (in the Utilities folder in Launchpad).
- Click your TV’s speakers in the list at the left.
- Choose a new sample rate from the Format pop-up menu.