First review about sound... fan noise

[Gezellig]

How is a little fan noise from a computer an issue for music production?

You must be making music in some unique way I’ve never seen before

a) no need for the attitude, really
b) I’m a mix and master engineer, but I also specialize in audio repairs. I’m not gonna go into specifics, but let’s say that a fan noise could be annoying at times.
c) i specifically said I just needed to investigate a bit more. There are scenarios where a bit of fan noise is not an issue at all, and some other scenarios where this is critical.

Anyways.
Still need to refresh that side of the studio. So will probably still pull the trigger and set it up to the right activities.
Thanks for everyone documenting. Helps a lot.

 

[nathansz]

Reel to reel? Yes I've heard of that!

And, my bedroom suffers 'bass amp fan' issues.

Only took a few edits to nail that joke

Now I get it!

 

[nathansz]

a) no need for the attitude, really
b) I’m a mix and master engineer, but I also specialize in audio repairs. I’m not gonna go into specifics, but let’s say that a fan noise could be annoying at times.
c) i specifically said I just needed to investigate a bit more. There are scenarios where a bit of fan noise is not an issue at all, and some other scenarios where this is critical.

Anyways.
Still need to refresh that side of the studio. So will probably still pull the trigger and set it up to the right activities.
Thanks for everyone documenting. Helps a lot.

No attitude intended

Just didn’t/don’t understand the issue

Unless it’s going to replace something silent in a silent room ?

 

[shambo79]

No attitude intended

Just didn’t/don’t understand the issue

Unless it’s going to replace something silent in a silent room ?

I am collecting a Mac Mini M4 Pro tomorrow from my local Apple store. I record live instruments and use a lot of virtual instruments and synths. I expect some degree of minor fan noise. Been using macs since 2000 doing recording, sequencing etc still scarred with the TiBook G4, still got a few! Currently using a 2013 Mac Pro which you can deffo hear but not offensive. Will post here over the next couple of says my results. Reality is a whole lot of power in a very small device, in addition all these reviews initial Youtube reviewers are pushing them to the limits with mental stress tests that the average person is not going to do. If it goes south after testing I will just return. Will keep an open mind. For the record had a Studio M1 Max with the coil whine but just got used to it when they first came out. Cheers.

 

[Gezellig]

No attitude intended

Just didn’t/don’t understand the issue

Unless it’s going to replace something silent in a silent room ?

My current machine, the MBP M1Pro is silent. Probably heard the fans once.

The AudioRepair portion of my work is a bit demanding. And tracking issues in audio files (hums, hisses, etc) requires a quiet environment.
And fan noises can be quite annoying - no need for a silent room.
Audio Repair, tracking, mixing, etc…it is better in a (mostly) quiet environment.

You go to the extremes but clearly never had to spend 8 hours working with sound.
I’m sometimes annoyed by my phone vibrating or the faint noise of the mouse against its mat.

To each his own.
Fan noises on these machines is probably not a deal breaker.
But it’s one of these tiny things that I like to keep to a minimum.
I’ll wait for some more feedbacks. Although I will still probably pull the trigger at some point.

 

[Gezellig]

Will post here over the next couple of says my results.

I’ll be on the look-out! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

This kinda blows when you can almost never hear the fan on the older design, no matter how hard you push it

No, it does not "...kinda blows when you can almost never hear the fan on the older design, no matter how hard you push it." The M4 is much more powerful. If you ran it at the same performance output as "the older design" it would probably be similarly quiet.

 

[nathansz]

My current machine, the MBP M1Pro is silent. Probably heard the fans once.

The AudioRepair portion of my work is a bit demanding. And tracking issues in audio files (hums, hisses, etc) requires a quiet environment.
And fan noises can be quite annoying - no need for a silent room.
Audio Repair, tracking, mixing, etc…it is better in a (mostly) quiet environment.

You go to the extremes but clearly never had to spend 8 hours working with sound.
I’m sometimes annoyed by my phone vibrating or the faint noise of the mouse against its mat.

To each his own.
Fan noises on these machines is probably not a deal breaker.
But it’s one of these tiny things that I like to keep to a minimum.
I’ll wait for some more feedbacks. Although I will still probably pull the trigger at some point.

I've def spent more than 8 hours in the studio

but not doing audio repair...

Seems like a great machine

If I were in your position I would grab one and simply return it if the noise is an issue for you

Should be pretty obvious right away if it’s going to bother you or not

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Exactly why I never understood the excitement about the case being way smaller

This is the result of that

Smaller case = less materials used in production, less materials used in shipping materials, much less space in shipping, much less space in inventory storage, etc.

Now do you understand?

 

[torana355]

How quiet are you listening to music?

Do you think that recording studios have been silent for the past 50 years?!?!

Have you ever heard a reel to reel, maybe a bass amp fan?

In the context of the thread I don't think they are using a Mac Mini in a recording studio, most likely in a home studio where I dare say there are no reel to reel machines.

I listen to music up quite loud but if you listen to music with dynamic range there are very quiet parts of the music where you need a low noise floor to hear the details. In a professional studio they will often use headphones for critical listening for this very reason.

 

[klasma]

How quiet are you listening to music?

I can absolutely hear even faint fan noise when listening to music, in particular during quieter passages. It's one reason I've been using home-built silent PCs for the past ~twenty years.

Case volume is an important factor. The larger a computer case, the easier it is to dissipate heat, and hence the quieter it can be made.

 

[Macalway]

I have an fanless Akasa Turing case for a Nuc 12. Hopefully this Mac Mini will work out. I will know tomorrow.

 

[Cape Dave]

My current machine, the MBP M1Pro is silent. Probably heard the fans once.

The AudioRepair portion of my work is a bit demanding. And tracking issues in audio files (hums, hisses, etc) requires a quiet environment.
And fan noises can be quite annoying - no need for a silent room.
Audio Repair, tracking, mixing, etc…it is better in a (mostly) quiet environment.

You go to the extremes but clearly never had to spend 8 hours working with sound.
I’m sometimes annoyed by my phone vibrating or the faint noise of the mouse against its mat.

To each his own.
Fan noises on these machines is probably not a deal breaker.
But it’s one of these tiny things that I like to keep to a minimum.
I’ll wait for some more feedbacks. Although I will still probably pull the trigger at some point.

I know the Studio is silent because my dad has one and I could not hear it. So, if the mini is not quiet, I think it will be, then I get the Studio. Except for that M2/M4 thing, LOL!

 

[ravenofdoom]

I plan to use this in my media center cabinet to replace an intel NUC (attached to TV / receiver). It would be really useful if somebody has a dB comparison of the m4 be m4pro. I’d like TB5 ports and the extra power, but if the idle fan noise is worse on the pro, that’s the deciding factor. Also, I’ve read there’s an exclusive High Power Mode which I’m assuming is what new reviews (predominantly with the m4pro) is saying accounts for the louder sounds:

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/07/high-power-mode-for-m4-pro-macs/

What’s unclear to me is if this higher RPM and louder fan mode is effectively absent on the m4 base model or if the m4pro can be locked to low power mode which disables that audibly loud fan mode.

None of these distinctions between the two options are clear to me yet.

 

[TallManNY]

From Six Colors Review today:

Apple also says that the Mac mini includes a redesigned thermal system where all air flows through the foot. In my tests, I tried maxing out both CPU cores and, separately, GPU cores and in either case I had to literally hold the mini up to my hear to maybe hear something that could have been a fan. We’re a long way from having a machine nicknamed “Wind Tunnel”.

Note review model:

The review model Apple provided me is the $799 configuration with the base M4 chip (10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

So this wasn't the M4 Pro chip.

 

[turbineseaplane]

So this wasn't the M4 Pro chip.

I think the m4 Pro is only offered here to ensure they have full SKU coverage all the way up to the bottom of the Studio line and can induce the Tim Cook Special

(getting customers to think ... "hmm...MAYYYYBE I should just go up to a Studio?")

 

[MichaelDroste]

Using in a recording studio - I think 🤔 not sure - that it will be fine… BUT we shall see.. it is twice the speed of my Intel Mac Pro tower and I doubt- unless software changes - I will use it to its full potential… perhaps most sessions would be running half the resources…

 

[ignatius345]

Yes, that is why I still have this unopened M2 Max Studio in a box that I can return to Costco if I decide not to go with the M4 Pro. You still don't get my point, there was no need to compromise. I've never heard someone say they wish the Mini was smaller.

"I wished the previous Mini was smaller." -- me

There, now you've heard someone say it.

 

[ignatius345]

However, when I started running Cinebench's multithreaded benchmark, the fan kicked into high gear and the Mac mini sounded like it was getting ready to take off.

You kind of buried it in your post, but you're using High Power Mode and it would definitely appear that fan noise is a "feature" of that:

In his Mac mini review, Cunningham said High Power Mode performance gains were "essentially negligible" despite "considerably increased" fan noise. However, he acknowledged that his tests were short and that High Power Mode could be more beneficial "over many hours of activity." As mentioned, Apple said the feature is for "sustained" workloads.

Apple Expands High Power Mode to MacBook Pro and Mac Mini Models With M4 Pro Chip

High Power Mode is available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models with the M4 Pro chip, according to Ars...

www.macrumors.com

 

[EugW]

Mac mini M4 Pro, análisis: un titán de rendimiento en un tamaño casi imposible

Análisis a fondo del Mac mini M4 Pro: batería, pantalla, procesador, diseño y acabado, software y relación calidad precio. Todos los resultados de las pruebas...

www.applesfera.com

Translated:

In addition to the size, the M4 Pro introduces a more efficient ventilation system, improving the inlet and outlet of air thanks to the elevation of its base, which allows better heat dissipation even in intensive tasks. Unlike the M2 Pro, which sometimes needed to activate the fans on heavy loads, the M4 Pro is extremely quiet and is barely perceived in operation. This aspect is key for environments where noise can be an annoying factor, such as offices or recording studios, and brings the M4 Pro closer to the work experience that Apple offers with Mac Studio, optimized for constant airflow and discreet operation.

With the fans at maximum performance, about 52 decibels are reached at this distance. With normal use, the sound is practically imperceptible.

 

[TechnoMonk]

My AmD thread ripper and Nvidia 4090 workstation is like jets taking off when they are fired up with consistent load. I am considering Mac mini base model as a utility machine for backup file system and other dev tools.

 

[TechnoMonk]

From Six Colors Review today:

Apple also says that the Mac mini includes a redesigned thermal system where all air flows through the foot. In my tests, I tried maxing out both CPU cores and, separately, GPU cores and in either case I had to literally hold the mini up to my hear to maybe hear something that could have been a fan. We’re a long way from having a machine nicknamed “Wind Tunnel”.

Note review model:

The review model Apple provided me is the $799 configuration with the base M4 chip (10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

So this wasn't the M4 Pro chip.

The problem with benchmarks is they are going to push both configurations to maximum. For stuff that may push regular M4, may not even make M4 Pro sweat let alone push it to max for fans to start going. Benchmarks are like stress tests in many ways. Higher the power rating of chip, more heat it will generate at higher loads.

 

[ravenofdoom]

The excerpt about the m4pro having a more efficient ventilation system is likely not isolated to the pro — I’m sure it was in general to the chassis / body and fan. The units i believe identical aside from the metal used on the heatpipe.

What I want to know is what the max db level is for stress tests on the m4 vs the m4pro. Does the m4 basically never hit the highest fan setting by design (basically — is the fan is locked at a lower max rpm only reserved for the m4pro / High Power Mode)?

If I can change the user setting on the Pro to never engage at that higher rpm and basically lock it down to the same max Db as the m4, that’s worth considering… but I don’t know if that’s the case / you can set that with low power mode / auto (disabling High Power mode)

 

[Chancha]

The excerpt about the m4pro having a more efficient ventilation system is likely not isolated to the pro — I’m sure it was in general to the chassis / body and fan. The units i believe identical aside from the metal used on the heatpipe.

I am positive that sentence is contrasting the new chassis to the M2 Pro mini, since it says "elevation of its base" which as you noted, is supposed to be the same between M4 and M4 Pro.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I can absolutely hear even faint fan noise when listening to music, in particular during quieter passages. It's one reason I've been using home-built silent PCs for the past ~twenty years.

Case volume is an important factor. The larger a computer case, the easier it is to dissipate heat, and hence the quieter it can be made.

Quiet is easy as long as one does not overwork an intentionally underpowered Mac. Just build more Mac power and RAM than you need. Fans will never kick in, easy-peasy quiet Mac.