Hesitating between two dream office setups… input needed!

[PsykX]

Hi guys,

Always had an iMac since 2006. Loved the minimalism. It took little room on my desk and there weren't many wires apparent.

I bought an Mac Mini M2 Pro recently. Extremely happy with it, it's a great machine. I'm looking to revamp my entire setup. I have two options in mind. I want your input!

Current setup
I currently have a LG 27-inch 4K monitor, which has bad speakers, which is certainly not as crystal clear as my "old" 24-inch iMac, I use my iPhone 14 Pro as a webcam which is far from optimal because I need to position it every time I have a meeting, and use a Jabra Evolve 65 pair of headphones, which is really... used and almost ready to throw in the garbage.

What I want ?
I want my setup to make me more productive overall of course, but I'm also looking for :

• Best overall audio output (speakers), audio input (mic), picture quality, webcam
• Minimalism
• Cool factor
• My Teams calls without having to put on a pair of headphones all the time, like when I had my 24-inch iMac.

What I do ?

• Main workflow (Work) (36hrs/week) : I do a lot of Teams. Like, a LOT. I share my screen a lot and I don't want everybody to see my meeting notes all the time. I also do a lot of Word Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (all in macOS), Power BI (in Remote Desktop). I use Apple Notes a lot side-to-side.
• Secondary workflow (2hrs/day) : I design iOS apps as a hobby. Using Sketch to design, Xcode to code, and Safari as a side reference.
• Third workflow (6hrs/month) : Final Cut Pro X to build small tutorials, either for me or for work.

I am gaming on 99% of the time on my PS5, so let's exclude that.

My Budget

Let's not consider this, I know it'll cost me like $6,000 CAD. Fine. At this point I've been thinking a long time about it and I just want to make my dreams come true.

Common in both options

• Desk : 1X SecretLab's Magnus Pro Desk - Sit/Stand - I want to hide my wires, I want sit/stand, this desk seems really practical overall Link
• Chair : 1X Herman Miller Aeron Size C - I'm 6' tall (Refurbished if I find any) Link
• Keyboard : 1X Apple Keyboard with Touch ID (already have it) Link
• Mouse : MX Master 2S (already have it) Link (the 3S is almost identical)

Option 1

• Monitor/Microphone/Sound/Webcam: 2X Apple Studio Display (Refurbished, with Tilt-only stand or with VESA-mount if I find any)
  • If VESA : 1X SecretLab Magnus Dual VESA Arm
• Webcam (maybe) : Opal C1 (depending on the quality of the Apple Studio Display, I tried it in store but not settled yet - it will destroy my minimalism and do not particularly like the design of this thing to be honest, but it performs insanely well) Link

Option 2

• Monitor: 1X Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch monitor (which is like two 32-inch 4K monitors side-to-side) (should be released around August 23 according to my source : Article Link)
  • 1X Ergotron VESA Arm (will need to do some research for that)
• Webcam : Opal C1 Link
• Sound: Sound bar without subwoofer.
  • Bose 300? 600? 900? Haven't looked much into that yet.
  • It'll be positioned right below the monitor.

Thanks !

 

[HDFan]

Sound: Sound bar without subwoofer.

Soundbars are generally designed for far-field, rather than near-field (a few feet away) listening. Something like this might be better suited as a desktop speaker:

IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Powered Monitor Review

PerformanceFeaturesErgonomicsValue

www.soundandvision.com

Was considering when my Paradigm 3.1 speakers (discontinued) were acting up.

MilleniaOne CT

Premium Compact Theater with Powered Subwoofer

www.paradigm.com

Webcam (maybe)

My Studio Display camera works just fine, although some have issues with it. You can also use your iPhone with the Belkin adapter:

Belkin iPhone Mount w/ MagSafe for Mac Desktops & Displays | Belkin US

Secure your iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12 to your Mac with this mount from Belkin. It is made with durable metal construction and premium finishes.

www.belkin.com

 

[PsykX]

Soundbars are generally designed for far-field, rather than near-field (a few feet away) listening. Something like this might be better suited as a desktop speaker:

My Studio Display camera works just fine, although some have issues with it. You can also use your iPhone with the Belkin adapter:

Speaker : Is it possible to use the keyboard to control the volume ? Quick question : Why are you using speakers rather than your Apple Studio speakers ? I listened to them and they're gorgeous.

Webcam : I thought about using an older iPhone like a XR and just leave it there all the time, but continuity is not reliable enough IMO. I've had a few problems with it. And I'd have to think to charge it.

 

[shakopeemn]

Speaker : Is it possible to use the keyboard to control the volume ? Quick question : Why are you using speakers rather than your Apple Studio speakers ? I listened to them and they're gorgeous.

Tell me again how the Apple Studio monitor are worth the Apple price tag? It makes more sense to just invest in an IMac.

 

[PsykX]

Tell me again how the Apple Studio monitor are worth the Apple price tag? It makes more sense to just invest in an IMac.

I know. Apple got all of us with their new lineup. The new iMac is too small, and not powerful enough.

I never understood people saying Macs were more expensive than PCs. The iMac was basically a fairly priced 5K display, oh and there was a free computer inside.

But the thing is, I had an M1 iMac before, and it just wasn't good enough for me. I need a powerhouse of a computer. The M2 Pro Mac Mini fulfills that requirement entirely.

I also need two monitors or the equivalent. I can't accept having different monitors either.

For the thickness, I don't know why the Apple Studio Display isn't simply the new iMac Pro. I believe it has enough room to hold an M2 Max computer inside. It's like 2-3X as thick as an iMac 24-inch, and much bigger. Oh well.

 

[StoneJack]

For Mike and webcam: you can use a Logitech camera.
For sound: for simplicity, I'd recommend USB speakers such as Edifier G2000. This setup will run like a clock (because I tested it).

 

[HDFan]

Speaker : Is it possible to use the keyboard to control the volume ? Quick question : Why are you using speakers rather than your Apple Studio speakers ? I listened to them and they're gorgeous.

Depends on the keyboard and the app. F10 and F11 adjust the volume on my Macally mechanical keyboard.

My Paradigm speakers produce an order of magnitude better sound than the the studio speakers. But they should since they cost alone about as much as the Studio Display with speakers.

Tell me again how the Apple Studio monitor are worth the Apple price tag? It makes more sense to just invest in an IMac.

Not if you need all of the ports and power of a Mac Studio.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I never understood people saying Macs were more expensive than PCs. The iMac was basically a fairly priced 5K display, oh and there was a free computer inside.

Money. Profit. I suspect traditional 27" iMac was below the Apple target profit margin. So Apple kills the 27" and then launches only the monitor portion at the old "starting at..." price for a whole 27" iMac using the same display. Apple fans gobble them up, which translates as price acceptance. Apple gives it a while and then rolls out a new iMac "bigger" (whether that's 27" again or perhaps a few inches bigger is TBD) with a PRO tag and prices it like the old iMac 27" pros (which had "Starting at $4999" pricing). That fixes Apple's problem of "not enough profit in the bigger iMac."

As to your ideal system...
I'm with the others in suggesting you NOT buy dual ASDs. I suggest a compromise between the Samsung 57" 4K and the ASD with the monitor I carefully chose for myself: the Dell 40" 5K2K ultra wide... or, in your case, perhaps TWO of them. Priced about the same as ASD with stand option, they will give you MUCH more screen R.E. and great hubs built in too. Height of screen is about the same as the iMac 27" but width is much greater. I could never go back to ASD or iMac 27" screens now. While there are some minor fine spec differences, my 20:20 eyes do not notice a difference in quality vs. the old iMac 27"... which means it should look as good as the ASD screen... just WIDER.

A bonus to a multi-input monitor like the Samsung or that Dell is your reference to heavy MS Office work. If some of that is collaborative with people using Windows machines, it is inevitable that you will- sooner or later- bump into incompatibilities between MS Office for Mac vs. MS Office for Windows. The remedy is to ALSO have MS Office for Windows. A good way to still have full bootcamp is by buying a Mac-Mini-like Windows 11 PC. I did that and it plugs into input #2 (of 4) on the Dell. So the Samsung or Dell will easily facilitate "going native" while the ASD is quite finicky and has only 1 input. Yes, emulation with ARM Windows may cover this need too, but it only takes one other Windows app not ARM Windows compatible to justify a full Windows solution vs. leaning on iffy ARM Windows hope.

If you are mentally married to 27" for some reason, perhaps stand by and pick up the Samsung Viewfinity S9. While MSRP is close to ASD pricing, they will inevitably have big discounts in third party stores (like all other Samsung screens). The S9 seems to be Samsung's crack as ASD with a much superior webcam and the same 5K resolution. Those should be hitting retailers just anytime now.

While I do use a soundbar + dedicated subwoofer for audio myself, I agree with HDFan in #2 in terms of choosing some high quality left & right stereo speakers, ideally wired for zero latency and maximum quality (Bluetooth can NOT deliver max quality due to pinched bandwidth). There are MANY possibilities for such speakers so I suggest doing a lot of research to pick some great candidates and then go listen to them with your own ears. While ASD speakers do sound good, ASD has the same problem that iMac 27" had: when any part goes bad and/or when Apple obsoletes ASD in software, you lose your speakers too. Great third party speakers will last far beyond the life of ASD.

Also consider that in a 2-screen setup, you'll have audio issues if you lean on internal speakers: use just ONE ASD's speakers? Maybe some hack that can let monitor left speakers play left stereo and monitor right speakers play right stereo through all 4 speakers? Separate speakers will need no hack to give you ideal stereo separation.

And I wouldn't be automatically (brand) seduced towards Apple HomePods either. You don't fully overcome the issue of "lockdown" and/or software obsolescence by buying a different container of lock down and/or Apple-dependent software. If me, I buy great sounding/rated, "dumb" speakers that will last for upwards of 20+ years and keep the "smarts" inside my Mac.

You could also HUB the new setup and use some great wired headphones/buds, quickly plugged into hub when you need high-quality audio. Unlike all of the other ideas, this would give you some privacy on what those on the other end are saying.

If not Viewfinity S9, I think you are on the right track thinking Opal C1 for webcam. There are many webcams far superior to the one built into ASD. Get a good one and/or use iPhone's very good camera with "continuity camera."