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jtcameron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 30, 2019
12
2
Cheltenham
Hi all,

I recently switched from an M1 Pro MacBook to an M4 Air, and I’ve run into a few issues that might be either the MBA or my docking station.

When I use my dock:

  • My speakers aren’t always recognised
  • My Beats Studio Pros sound distorted
When I’m not docked, everything works fine.

I mainly use Logic Pro and Sibelius, so sound quality is important. I don’t dock super often, but I think part of the reason might be that the current setup feels clunky and unreliable.


My question:​

Would it make more sense to:

  • Upgrade my docking station (e.g., CalDigit TS4 or TS5) to fix these issues
  • Or get a Mac Mini (thinking M2 Pro or M4) so I have a desktop setup for audio work and keep the MBA purely portable?
Extra context:

  • I like the portability of the MBA but want a smooth, reliable setup for audio when docked
  • I want “plug and play” that just works

Any advice, especially if you’ve dealt with dock-related audio problems or have experience with CalDigit docks vs Mac Mini for audio workflows, would be really helpful!

Thanks!
 
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