Belkin PureAV Miniplug to RCA Y Audio Cable (7 Feet) Review

If you are interested in having your Mac Mini be an HTPC (home theater PC), then these cables are pretty much the best option out there for getting sound. The Mac Mini is very limited when it comes to connectivity to a home theater. One of the missed opportunities Apple made in creating the Mac Mini was coming to realize the potential of the Mini as an HTPC. HDMI connectivity would have been the best and easiest means as a form of connecting the Mini to a receiver. Instead, you either have to buy a separate video cable, as well as a separate audio cable.

This is where the Belkin cables come into play. I have the Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH receiver. To connect the Mac Mini to the receiver, I connect the Mac Mini to an HDMI port using a DVI/HDMI cable. That covers the video end, now for the audio, I have to connect the Belkin Cables into a stereo audio port. I use the DVD port for this. The rest involves going into my receivers menu and assuring that the correct audio signal is connected to the right video port.

Because these are RCA plugs, don't expect 5.1 audio sounds. You're going to get stereo, and only stereo. However, this can be countered by using your receiver's preset stereo settings. I use Ext. Stereo to give me illustrious sound from my rear channels. It's not true 5.1 audio, but it mimics it good enough.

All in all, they're just simple cables. However for their price and build quality, which isn't that bad, I would have to suggest these as the best option for people who desire using their Mac Mini as an HTPC.

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