Mac Mini 2018 Audio Output

[wdwpsu]

What's the best approach to getting audio out of your Mac Mini?

I initially plugged my speakers in to my monitor which was plugged in via the Display Port. Overall, I was very happy with the sound, however I was unable to change the volume from the O/S.

I switched to plugging my speakers in to the headphone out jack on the back of the Mac Mini and I feel I'm losing quality. Even though the volume was 100% in the O/S, I had to turn up the speakers substantially, and the sound wasn't as warm.

Looking for suggestions.

 

[F-Train]

Looking for suggestions.

Spend US$100 on an audio interface.

See these posts:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-and-audio-24-bit-192khz.2158723/#post-26888620

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-and-audio-24-bit-192khz.2158723/#post-26893019

The sound card in your mini is supplying the sound via both the mini headphone jack and the jack or USB port that you're using from your monitor. I'd be very surprised if there is any difference in the sound quality.

 

[tu2thepoo]

If you're running the analog jack at 100% volume you may be overdriving it, even. I just run HDMI audio to my TV then use the optical out to my speakers (which have their own volume control).

 

[hagjohn]

I haven't noticed any real differences using analog jack vs HDMI (it may be a bit lower in volume), but I hope Apple fixes this issue in the future. I'd rather not have to use another cable and it really is really annoying.

 

[ixxx69]

What's the best approach to getting audio out of your Mac Mini?

I initially plugged my speakers in to my monitor which was plugged in via the Display Port. Overall, I was very happy with the sound, however I was unable to change the volume from the O/S.

I switched to plugging my speakers in to the headphone out jack on the back of the Mac Mini and I feel I'm losing quality. Even though the volume was 100% in the O/S, I had to turn up the speakers substantially, and the sound wasn't as warm.

Looking for suggestions.

You've already been provided with some resources on DACs, but just want to point out that you're not losing "quality". What people generally confuse with quality is volume (without distortion) which a DAC can provide.

Good luck!

 

[F-Train]

I hope Apple fixes this issue in the future.

Fix what issue?

Asus made my monitor, which is not exactly its cheapest model, to have its own volume control. Indeed, many speaker manufacturers, including the makers of some really high-end speakers, incorporate their own volume controls.

What has that got to do with Apple?

If you want to control speakers from a mini, connect them to the mini; and if you want better sound, get an audio interface that effectively replaces the mini's sound card with something better.

Also, if someone thinks that they are getting different sound depending on whether they are connecting their speakers to the mini headphone jack or a display jack, there's a 99.999% chance that the difference is in their head and has no basis in reality

 

[wdwpsu]

Also, if someone thinks that they are getting different sound depending on whether they are connecting their speakers to the mini or a display, there's a 99.999% chance that the difference is in their head and has no basis in reality

It’s volume, which I’ve been corrected has nothing to do with quality. Volume out of audio out of my monitor is almost 2x louder than headphone jack on back of mini.

 

[F-Train]

It’s volume, which I’ve been corrected has nothing to do with quality. Volume out of audio out of my monitor is almost 2x louder than headphone jack on back of mini.

Let me suggest to you why that is. The only way that this makes sense is that people who made your monitor have jacked the volume and your mini's volume control is more sensitive/has greater range.

I can tell you that the volume control on my US$2,000 Asus monitor is pretty close to the mini, which is where it should be; indeed, the range has a lower top than the mini.

You need to get it clear in your head that the sound card in the mini is controlling the audio for both. If your monitor is simply set up to drive the sound card louder, that is not in fact a good thing. By using the volume control on the monitor, you are losing volume range. If you want everything loud, cool, but this is not some virtue of the monitor.

 

[wdwpsu]

Found out the issue. I was using incorrect input port on my speakers. Thank you for the help everyone.

 

[user_xyz]

Found out the issue. I was using incorrect input port on my speakers. Thank you for the help everyone.

Glad for You!!