Mac mini+Studio Display for Hi-res Lossless?

[victorruan360]

Hi,

I'm considering a desktop setup with an M2 Pro Mac mini and the Studio Display. I'm curious on one audio question: If you simply hook up the Mac mini and the Studio display with Thunderbolt, can you play hi-res lossless (192 kHz) via the Studio display's speakers? It would be great if someone can share a screenshot of the MIDI setup, to see whether the 192 kHz option is available for the Studio display.

Thanks!

Victor

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're interested in quality audio, NO built-in computer or display speakers are going to give that to you.

What you want is a decent pair of powered external shelf speakers.

 

[gigatoaster]

I agree. You need an amp & speakers & can use Roon if you want. It’s a bit pricey, though.

 

[4wheelcycle]

I don't know what level of hi-fi buff you may be, or what level the two commenters above may be, but when I got my new M2 Pro and Studio Display I found the audio from the Display was every bit as good as my previous 27" iMac setup, which used two Tivoli Model One radios. Now I just use the Studio Display's speakers.

As far as hi-res lossless (192 kHz) audio, this is the range of audio Apple Music uses. I'm sure the M2 Pro and a Studio Display can do a great job with any music Apple Music provides. I suggest you buy the M2 Pro and Studio Display and see what you think of it, for audio, before you buy any additional equipment.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

As 2 out of 3 have offered, if audio quality is dominating your thinking, the weakest link in the planned chain would be leaning on those built-in speakers. As #4 posted, they sound quite good- even great for monitor speakers- but if quality of sound is paramount, buy the best speakers you can get and a great amp.

Apple people will probably pour in here behind me and push HPs. We’re a very biased crowd and to some, only Apple speakers can be good speakers. HPs should sound better than monitor speakers too. But you can do even better than HPs. Do some objective research to identify some high quality speakers and then find a local dealer(s) to go listen to whatever you like to hear on them. Ideally, identify a couple of good speakers and go test them all.

One more tip: while we Apple people won't think twice about spending relative fortunes on Apple products, we seem to have a habit of "cheaping out" on A/V equipment like speakers. And yet, speakers in particular are a tech product that will typically last 10-20 or more years with no loss of quality. As such, I encourage you to go at this purchase like you are buying a PRO something from Apple, with a commensurate budget.

By the time a good speaker purchase might be conking 10-20+ years out, you'll likely have been through 3-6 or more iPhones and/or 2-3 Macs. Allocate your overall tech budget accordingly and you'll end up with some speakers that will be sounding fantastic on perhaps the Mac you buy in 2038-42 too.

I hope this is helpful!

 

[victorruan360]

I don't know what level of hi-fi buff you may be, or what level the two commenters above may be, but when I got my new M2 Pro and Studio Display I found the audio from the Display was every bit as good as my previous 27" iMac setup, which used two Tivoli Model One radios. Now I just use the Studio Display's speakers.

As far as hi-res lossless (192 kHz) audio, this is the range of audio Apple Music uses. I'm sure the M2 Pro and a Studio Display can do a great job with any music Apple Music provides. I suggest you buy the M2 Pro and Studio Display and see what you think of it, for audio, before you buy any additional equipment.

Thanks very much for the info! Just curious, when you hook up your M2 Pro and Studio Display, what sample rate (kHz) can you select in the MIDI app? Can you indeed select 192 kHz for the speakers for the Studio Display?

 

[tonmischa]

I'm considering a desktop setup with an M2 Pro Mac mini and the Studio Display. I'm curious on one audio question: If you simply hook up the Mac mini and the Studio display with Thunderbolt, can you play hi-res lossless (192 kHz) via the Studio display's speakers? It would be great if someone can share a screenshot of the MIDI setup, to see whether the 192 kHz option is available for the Studio display.

To connect the display to the Mac I would like to recommend a very special cable, that is especially designed to minimize any audio distortion and jitters. According to the leading experts, it is the best sounding monitor cable on the planet. It is optimized for all formats: CD, HighRes, DSD, DXD, MQA, eg: 16/44.1, 24/96, 24/192, 32/384, 64x DSD, 128x DSD
Only $499.95. PM me for details!

 

[arw]

To connect the display to the Mac I would like to recommend a very special cable, that is especially designed to minimize any audio distortion and jitters. According to the leading experts, it is the best sounding monitor cable on the planet.

Care to share a link to (one of) those reviews?
I'm asking because I always assumed a single Studio Display receives a bit-perfect data stream and the actual audio decoding/processing happens in the displays DAC. The Atmos/Spatial Audio part speaks for that.
On the other hand, it's possible to include it in an aggregate device but then I'm uncertain if Atmos/Spatial Audio still works.

 

[4wheelcycle]

I have never used Apple's Audio MIDI Setup app. I thought sampling rates were something you set during studio recording, and the the speakers just play whatever sound signal you send to them. I guess that shows how much I don't know about sampling rates.

In any event, I have included an image of the Format settings you can select for the Studio Display. The default is 48 kHz and the highest option is 96 kHz. However, as I said earlier, music from Apple Music can range up to 192 kHz, and I am sure the M2 Pro and Studio Display can process and play anything that comes from Apple Music. Here is a link for Apple's discussion of lossless audio.
Apple Music Lossless Audio

 

[tonmischa]

Care to share a link to (one of) those reviews?
I'm asking because I always assumed a single Studio Display receives a bit-perfect data stream and the actual audio decoding/processing happens in the displays DAC. The Atmos/Spatial Audio part speaks for that.
On the other hand, it's possible to include it in an aggregate device but then I'm uncertain if Atmos/Spatial Audio still works.

I was obviously joking.
OP seems convinced, that he is able to hear the difference between 48k and 192k on ASD speakers.
So he might be one of those guys who also fall for scam artists who try to sell you an "HiEnd Audiophile HiRes" USB 2.0 cable for $798. (I will not post the link to those scammers...)
I was trying to point that out by being sarcastic.

To state the obvious:
1. There is no digital cable that can improve audio quality.
2. There is no consumer speaker that can be used to hear the difference between 48k and 192k.

I have been a sound engineer and re-recording mixer for 17 years now. I work for TV and theatrical releases and I have also collaborated in teams that planned and built several studios including ADR recording rooms, Editing suites and theatrical mixing stages.
Please read about the Shannon-Nyquist-Theorem and the theory behind it.

44,100 Hz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[arw]

I was obviously joking.

I am relieved then 😅. I 100% side with you but didn't want to appear insulting.
Unfortunately some individuals recommend and actually believe these things.
"I do not need an ABX-test, I know what I hear."

edit: haha, with your professional background, your user name suddenly makes a lot of sense (in German)

 

[tonmischa]

I once had the fortune to listen to the PMC MB2-XBDA (which are a reference point for many mastering studios). They go for about € 100.000 per pair.
Even then my colleagues and me were barely able to hear the slightest differences between 48k and 96k.

Edit: Yes, im from Berlin, Germany and I got that nickname during my time in film school at Babelsberg 🤣

 

[victorruan360]

I have never used Apple's Audio MIDI Setup app. I thought sampling rates were something you set during studio recording, and the the speakers just play whatever sound signal you send to them. I guess that shows how much I don't know about sampling rates.

In any event, I have included an image of the Format settings you can select for the Studio Display. The default is 48 kHz and the highest option is 96 kHz. However, as I said earlier, music from Apple Music can range up to 192 kHz, and I am sure the M2 Pro and Studio Display can process and play anything that comes from Apple Music. Here is a link for Apple's discussion of lossless audio.
Apple Music Lossless Audio


View attachment 2211263

This is super helpful. Thanks very much!

Victor

 

[victorruan360]

I was obviously joking.
OP seems convinced, that he is able to hear the difference between 48k and 192k on ASD speakers.
So he might be one of those guys who also fall for scam artists who try to sell you an "HiEnd Audiophile HiRes" USB 2.0 cable for $798. (I will not post the link to those scammers...)
I was trying to point that out by being sarcastic.

To state the obvious:
1. There is no digital cable that can improve audio quality.
2. There is no consumer speaker that can be used to hear the difference between 48k and 192k.

I have been a sound engineer and re-recording mixer for 17 years now. I work for TV and theatrical releases and I have also collaborated in teams that planned and built several studios including ADR recording rooms, Editing suites and theatrical mixing stages.
Please read about the Shannon-Nyquist-Theorem and the theory behind it.

44,100 Hz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Haha point well taken! Thanks for the info. I'm looking into other audio options as well!

Victor