Mac Mini 2018 - sound is atrocious and no more IR remote control. Now what?

[MRrainer]

Hi,

I bought a 2018 Mini this week and an Eizo 3285 4K display.

It turns out that the sound in the 2018 is even worse than the 2012 Mini. Admittedly, that was not the focus of the purchase.

So, I need external speakers - and because there's no IR receiver anymore, I need speakers with a remote.

Or, I need some sort of remote control for the Mac Mini (really only to turn down or up the volume).

I do not want to use my iPhone for this.

Any suggestions?

 

[MRrainer]

On closer inspection, the sound comes out of the tiny speakers of the EV3285.
The sound of the Mini itself is a bit better. But I'm still thinking of adding external speakers.

 

[Fishrrman]

I would never consider the Mini's internal speaker adequate for good sound.
Buy a set of self-powered speakers, either with or without a subwoofer. I'm fine without the subwoofer.

For volume control, go to the sound preference pane and put in a check in the box to show the volume control in the menu bar.

Personal experience:
I use a Logitech performance mouse that has extra "buttons" on the left side.
I use two of the buttons for "volume up" and "volume down", and a third for "mute". Works great. I use "Steermouse" to set these up -- easy.

 

[MRrainer]

Thanks.

It's really sad that Apple did not want to include the IR receiver anymore in Macs.

I want to sit in bed or on the sofa to control the volume without needing to get up.

 

[getrealbro]

2018 Mini Design Team Meeting…

Engineer: Are we designing a cool looking IR Remote Control?

Manager: WHAT??? IR remotes are passe! Besides we’d miss the opportunity to up sell them a voice controlled HomePod.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[MRrainer]

I found that Satechi sells a BT remote that looks like it does work similar to the old BT remote.

Likely, not a lot of people used the IR remote, so Apple ditched it to save a few pennies. And of course, people could no longer use the Minis as home-theater controllers.
Honi soit qui mal y pence.


I don't want to use my iPhone (I have no other iDevices) because I want to be able to watch movies in bed. And I never take my iPhone to bed, I'm a bit of a germaphobe in this aspect.

Also, thanks to people's preference with large screens, it's way too bulky to be used as a remote.

The IR remote was perfect.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[MacRS4]

I do not want to use my iPhone for this.

Any suggestions?

I used to use a BOSE Soudbar thing for this as that had a remote - that worked pretty well. That's an expensive solution however - I only had one about as we'd upgraded to Sonos.

There's a few TV type sound-systems around varying in price that will take a few from a Mini and come with a remote. I guess it comes down to budget!

 

[MRrainer]

Now that the remote is here (which seems to be a bit fidgety, unfortunately - the only reason this thing can command 50 bucks is because there's few alternatives out there and they are often even more expensive, like Logitech's Spotlight), I'm thinking of getting a used Bose Companion 50. Or actually, Companion 20 would be better because I don't really need or want the big subwoofer of the 50...

 

[Nütztjanix]

Would love to use the Siri remote with a Mac …

 

[D.T.]

I thought I posted this already (must've been a similar thread), but there's a number of very good sounding, self powered speakers with remotes, talking in the sub $150 range - and the built-in speakers/audio is going to be pretty craptacular anyway, so I couldn't imagine using that for the audio for a movie anyway.

These Edifier 1280T are terrific for the price, $99, have a remote, dual inputs, 4.6/5 with over 4400 reviews.

I mean, if your primary goals are: 1) better SQ and 2) remote control for volume, that's a pretty nice solution

 

[MRrainer]

Too late. Already bid and won on a Bose Companion 50. 200 and still under warranty. But thanks anyway. They look decent.

 

[MRrainer]

Finally got everything together. The speakers are nice. But nobody said they don't come with a cable to connect to a Mac. so had to order one.
I'm not an audiophile, but I think with these speakers I can now hear when the sound (or rather the voice) recording of a YouTuber isn't up to par....

Remember when you got your first pair of glasses as a kid (maybe you waited a bit too long to get them...) and you put them on and...BOARH EVERYTHING IS SHARP!
;-)

 

[JunkFromJobs]

Bit late, but I bought one of these to replace the IR remote

SATECHI Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control - Does Not Support Presentations - Compatible with 2022 MacBook Pro/Air M2, 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch, 16-inch (M1 Pro & Max), 2021 iPad Pro M1

Introducing the SATECHI Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control, the perfect companion for your 2022 MacBook Pro/Air M2, 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch, 16-inch (M1 Pro & Max), 2021 iPad Pro M1, and more. This versatile remote control allows you to effortlessly navigate and control your multimedia content...

www.amazon.co.uk

It's a bit plasticy but it does the job and you don't have to aim it at the mini.

 

[Nütztjanix]

I still don't get why you can't pair a Siri Remote with a Mac.

 

[MRrainer]

Bit late, but I bought one of these to replace the IR remote

SATECHI Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control - Does Not Support Presentations - Compatible with 2022 MacBook Pro/Air M2, 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch, 16-inch (M1 Pro & Max), 2021 iPad Pro M1

Introducing the SATECHI Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control, the perfect companion for your 2022 MacBook Pro/Air M2, 2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch, 16-inch (M1 Pro & Max), 2021 iPad Pro M1, and more. This versatile remote control allows you to effortlessly navigate and control your multimedia content...

www.amazon.co.uk

It's a bit plasticy but it does the job and you don't have to aim it at the mini.

That's the one I got.