Streaming audio from my computer to my TV?

[Owen]

I figure this is as good a place to ask this question as any; it's more likely to be noticed than asking on facebook, less likely to be trolled than asking on Yahoo Answers, and I don't need to get up and go talk to people like I would have to if I went to ask at an electronics store.

Basically, my laptop's built-in speakers are horrible in terms of volume; my nine-dollar ear-bud headphones are just as loud as the speakers when they are out of my ears. However, my tv has much better (and louder) speakers, with significantly better quality, so I'm wondering if I could just connect the two somehow. What I'm looking for is a way to make my tv play whatever audio (and video, if possible, but audio is my main concern) is playing on my computer. Here are the inputs and outputs of the two:

Tv inputs (as labeled on the box):
-HDMI
-Component
-S-Video
-Composite
-RF
-VGA

As far as I can tell from the online tech-specs of my laptop, the only port of use might be an ambiguously labeled "audio line out", which is probably what I plug my headphones into. However, in case I'm missing something, here's the full list of ports, with the ones that I know can't be used to export signals excluded:
-One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
-Mini DisplayPort
-Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
-SD card slot
-Audio line in
-Audio line out
My laptop is a Macbook Pro, by the way (the link takes you to the technical specs).

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.

[Shevanel]

Do you haz a Game system?

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Shevanel

Do you haz a Game system?

XBox 360 and a Wii.

[Shevanel]

Well if you want, you can find this program called Connect360 Which lets you link up your MacbookPro to your 360 as if it's a media server. Then you can use all your media (Mp3s and AVIs, at least what is supported, Ps3 has better media support I've found >_>) through streaming. That should work

There are free ways of doing it too, and I actually got that program for free somehow, but that one is one of the best ways IMO.

The software does have a trial version that allows you to at the very least test it out with a limited amount of files. So at the very least, try it.

[Owen]

While that's certainly a possibility, what I'm looking for is something that's a direct connection. For example, I could look up a video on youtube that's just a song with lyrics, and by hocking up my laptop the tv somehow, the song would play from the tv.

Head phone jack to twin phono. The jack to the laptop the Phonos in the back of the tv marked audio in. Then you need the mini display port to VGA then a VGA cable. Done and done. get the cables in the lengths you need of course.

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Head phone jack to twin phono. The jack to the laptop the Phonos in the back of the tv marked audio in. Then you need the mini display port to VGA then a VGA cable. Done and done. get the cables in the lengths you need of course.

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for.

[otc877]

Also, you can buy an adaptor that splits a 3.5mm headphone jack into the white and red audio components.

[VentinIntrovert]

A rather expensive approach is to get a Airport Express Base Station. I have one and I can't even use it. My mother gave it to me. You could use an Ipod, Iphone or MacBook to send it into a wireless wave. The Airport Express Base Station will pick up the signal from anywhere and output it to a jack that can be connected to speakers.

Originally Posted by otc877

Also, you can buy an adaptor that splits a 3.5mm headphone jack into the white and red audio components.

Thats what a Jack to twin phono is. Also called RCAs.

[otc877]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Thats what a Jack to twin phono is. Also called RCAs.

Well good. Now I know the name