Can I use the HDMI Out on my macbook pro retina for audio without connecting a video device?

Question

While the MBP has TOSLINK output from the headphone jack, TOSLINK does not have the bandwidth to carry the high resolution audio from many blu-rays and DVD-Audio disks. I would like to hook my MBP to an audio-only HDMI sink so I can pipe the multichannel output to my surround speaker setup.
My concern is that the MBP will get "confused" and do one of the following things - both of which are "bad":
1) It will decide that a video device is there, and put the desktop on the nonexistent HDMI display OR
2) It will decide to send no signal at all (no video, no audio) because it sees no video device.
Any thoughts on this?
In short - thinking of using something like this: http://www.ambery.com/2hddodtsdihd.html
with the HDMI out of the MBP and then piping its 6 discrete analog outputs to my old (but excellent for computer speakers) Logitech Z680 setup.
But I want any movie video to remain unperterbed on my Thunderbolt display. And if I am not watching a movie and am just listening to multichannel FLACs or something, then I'd like to run the media player normally and have the usual desktop on my MBP or Thunderbolt display.
Any thoughts?
Thanks to all!!
-L

Answer 1

nopenshaw3 wrote:
I have searched through the forums relentlessly of both Mac and third party, but I seem to never find a good, well thought out answer for my specific question. Every answer is filled with snobby know-it-alls who either respond with sarcastic answers or post links to other threads that don't answer the question in an attempt to make the asker feel like an idiot.
Not the best way to get started frankly but ...
nopenshaw3 wrote:
QUESTION 1: Is there anyway that I can buy a new logic board with upgraded graphics card and it will work?
Not from Apple, you can go to the grey market if you choose but it is most likely that the only MB that will work is the one you already have.
nopenshaw3 wrote:
I have also read a little bit into using the Thunderbolt port as a means to run an additional graphics card through, the hardware for it being built by a company named Sonnet.
QUESTION 2: Is this an option that will actually work with my Macbook Pro setup and give me better graphics card capabilities?
Maybe, if the Sonnet is properly Thunderbolt compatible it should.
nopenshaw3 wrote:
So with that said, please, If you're going to respond, just do so in a manner that will actually help me out. I know it's a lot to ask, but please, PLEASE DON'T BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!
Yes, well ... you have a nice day now.