How to Connect or Mirror a Mac device to a Sony TV

You can connect your Mac to a Sony TV via wired (HDMI) or wireless methods (Apple AirPlay, JustStream, AirBeamTV, or MirrorMeister). Wireless options offer convenience but may face latency issues, while a wired HDMI connection ensures high resolution and no latency. Each method has specific steps for setup and pros and cons, catering to different needs. Stay tuned for a detailed tutorial in the next forum post.

Best Ways to Connect Mac to Sony Bravia/Android/Smart TV :star2:

Hey folks! Looking to hook up your Mac to a Sony Bravia or another smart TV? Whether you’re eyeing a wireless setup or going old-school with an HDMI cable, I’m here to lay out all the options and pros/cons.

Wireless Connection :satellite:

User Situation:

‘I want to use my smart TV as a monitor, can I connect through Bluetooth or WiFi?’ — Apple Support Community

Totally! Connecting wirelessly is super convenient, although a wired connection might give you that crispy high-res video you’re craving. Let’s break it down!

How to Connect Your Mac to Sony TV Using Apple AirPlay :green_apple::fire:

Apple AirPlay is hands down the easiest way to link your Mac to a Sony TV. You can cast anything—photos, videos, you name it—from your Mac straight to the TV.

A few things to check before diving in:

  1. Make sure both your Mac and Sony TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Ensure they’re running the latest software versions.
  3. Configure AirPlay on your Sony TV.

Getting AirPlay set up on your Sony TV:

  • Press Source on the TV remote
  • Select Edit
  • Select Add AirPlay
  • Choose AirPlay and Homekit Settings and Enable AirPlay

How to connect :desktop_computer: :arrow_right: :tv:

  1. Connect Mac and Sony TV to the same Wi-Fi.
  2. On your Mac, do the following:
    • Photos: Hit Share and select AirPlay.
    • Videos: Click the AirPlay icon during playback.
    • Music: Select the AirPlay Audio icon during playback.
    • For Fullscreen Mirroring, open Control Centre and hit the Mirroring icon.
  3. Pick your Sony TV from the device list.

Drawback: Not all devices support AirPlay. Here are some compatible Sony models:

2023 series:

  • XR-X95L, XR-X93L, XR-X93CL, XR-X90L, XR-X90CL

2022 series:

  • XR-Z9K, XR-X95K, XR-X90K, XR-X90CK, XR-X85K

2021 series:

  • XBR 800H series, XBR 900H series, XBR 950H series, XBR A8H series, XBR A9S series, XBR Z8H series

If your model isn’t listed, check Sony’s detailed list.

Fun Fact: AirPlay started as AirTunes in 2010, and its successor AirPlay 2 rolled out in 2017.

Connecting Mac to Sony TV with JustStream :popcorn:

JustStream is pretty rad for wirelessly linking your Mac and Sony TV. It lets you cast to Chromecast, Apple TV, or any Smart/Android TV and supports loads of video formats like AVI, FLV, MKV, 3GP, MP4, and more.

If your Sony TV doesn’t support a particular video format, JustStream’s got your back by converting it on-the-fly. With Apple’s silicon support (M1, M1 Pro, etc.), it keeps the CPU cool and avoids overheating.

Extra perks of JustStream:

  • Supports various subtitle formats.
  • Handles external and embedded audio.
  • Lets you set output to Auto, 720p, or 1080p.

Pros :+1:

  • Compatible with most DLNA devices.
  • Handles a wide variety of formats.
  • Converts unsupported file formats for streaming.

Cons :-1:

  • The free version only gives you 20 minutes of streaming.

Here’s a quick guide on how to get started:

  1. Step One: Go to the App Store and download JustStream.

  2. Step Two: Once it’s installed, open the app and set up your account.

  3. Step Three: Click the JustStream icon in your Mac’s menu bar.

  4. Step Four: Select the media file you want to stream to your Sony TV.

  5. Step Five: Pick your Sony TV from the list of available devices.

Mirror Mac Screen to Sony TV via AirBeam TV :sparkles:

Need to mirror your Mac screen to your Sony TV? Check out AirBeam TV!

With AirBeamTV, you can easily mirror your Mac screen, but heads up—there’s a 2-second lag, so it’s not great for gaming. Oh, and iTunes movies are a no-go due to Apple’s HDCP DRM protection.

Using AirBeamTV: Step-by-Step

  1. Make sure your Mac and Sony TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. If you can, use a LAN cable to connect your TV to the router.
  3. An ‘AC’ router is best, but an ‘N’ router will do.
  4. Don’t bog down your network with large file transfers while mirroring.

Pros and Cons of AirBeam TV

Pros:

  • Works with most Sony TVs.
  • Streamlined mirroring process.

Cons:

  • Some network latency.
  • Can’t mirror iTunes movies.

How to Mirror Mac Screen to Sony TV with AirBeamTV

  1. Step One: Download and install AirBeamTV from the App Store.
  2. Step Two: Open AirBeamTV and select your Sony TV. Ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  3. Step Three: Choose the video file you want to mirror to your TV.
  4. Step Four: Enable sound by downloading an additional audio driver for free here.
  5. Step Five: Enjoy your content on the TV! Just give it a moment due to network latency.

Mirror Mac Using MirrorMeister :desktop_computer:

Another awesome tool is MirrorMeister. This one lets you view two different windows at the same time. It’s great for casting videos from sites like YouTube and Facebook or showing off photos, movies, spreadsheets, and more. You can even watch a YouTube video on your Mac while casting a website on your Sony TV.

MirrorMeister isn’t just for Sony TVs; it works with Samsung, Roku TV, LG, and others, plus streaming devices like Chromecast and Amazon FireTV. But, it does have a latency of about 3 seconds, so gaming is a no-go.

Pros and Cons of MirrorMeister

Pros:

  • Compatible with many Smart TVs.
  • Supports streaming devices.
  • Allows simultaneous viewing of two windows.

Cons:

  • Network latency can be an issue.

How to Mirror Screen with MirrorMeister

  1. Step One: Download and install MirrorMeister from the App Store.
  2. Step Two: Open the app. Ensure your Mac and Sony TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  3. Step Three: Go through the simple setup process.
  4. Step Four: Follow the in-app guide to connect MirrorMeister with your TV.
  5. Step Five: Download the latest audio drivers for free to enable sound while mirroring.

Wired Connection via HDMI :electric_plug:

User situation:
‘Super Mac-noob here. So I have an iMac that I wanna connect to my TV, but what do I need? Which cable?’ — Reddit

Connect Mac to Sony TV with HDMI

An HDMI cable offers high-quality audio and video through one cable. It’s perfect for gaming because it eliminates network lag. The downside? The cable restricts movement, and you might need an HDMI adaptor.

Pros:

  • No network latency.
  • Highest possible streaming resolution.
  • Supports most Smart TVs.

Cons:

  • Restricts movement.
  • Additional cost for an HDMI adaptor.

If your Mac lacks an HDMI port, you’ll need a Thunderbolt to HDMI adaptor or a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI converter. Once you have the right adaptor:

How to Connect via HDMI

  1. Step One: Connect one end of the HDMI cable to your Mac. If there’s no HDMI port, use an adaptor to connect to the Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort.
  2. Step Two: Connect the other end to your Sony TV.
  3. Step Three: On your Mac, go to System Preferences via the Apple logo.
  4. Step Four: Navigate to ‘Displays’ and select ‘Default for Display.’
  5. Step Five: If needed, choose ‘Scaled’ to adjust the display size.
  6. Step Six: For audio, go to System Preferences, navigate to ‘Sound,’ and select your output device.

Conclusion

These are some of the best ways to connect your Mac to a Sony TV. AirPlay is super convenient, but if it’s not your thing, you’ve got plenty of other options. Run into any issues? Just drop a comment below, and we’ll help you out! :v: