New iMac 27" variable speaker EQ?

[TheMelodyman]

Anyone know what this means and where to find it?
From the iMac roundup page..

Apple says the new 27-inch iMacs include speakers with variable EQ with better balance, higher fidelity, and improved bass along with a studio-quality microphone array

 

[hfg]

I'm not sure this is what you are looking for ... but there is an audio equalizer available in Catalina when you open the "Music" program and from the menu-bar select "Window/Equalizer". I am not sure if that affects all audio streams, or just those coming from the Music files. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can also answer that question.

 

[jamespb78]

Apple says the new 27-inch iMacs include speakers with variable EQ with better balance, higher fidelity, and improved bass along with a studio-quality microphone array

Can anyone confirm the if 2020 27" iMac speakers actually sound better than previous versions of the 27" iMac? On the surface, the speakers visually look the same.

 

[wilberforce]

Can anyone confirm the if 2020 27" iMac speakers actually sound better than previous versions of the 27" iMac? On the surface, the speakers visually look the same.

Definitely different. "Better" is subjective. I suppose most people would say they are "better." But they are still lame computer speakers. (In my opinion all in-built computer speakers are lame).

 

[TheMelodyman]

They do sound different and thats part of why I was inquiring about the quote above. It implies some kind of EQ panel that the user can adjust to taste that apparently is only on the 27" models. Was wondering where the variable EQ was located.. and we wont even get into what and where the "studio-quality microphone array" is....

 

[ErikGrim]

Can anyone confirm the if 2020 27" iMac speakers actually sound better than previous versions of the 27" iMac? On the surface, the speakers visually look the same.

The speakers are the same, the T2 enabled processing is much better. The dynamic EQ affects the sound on different volumes. In practise they sound much better (more full, more bass) at lower levels.

 

[RAWvJPG]

To me they emphasize base too much, just like most entry level speakers out there. For an AIO computer they are quite good, but nothing to write home about. They don't necessarily sound better than the old 27" ones neither.

 

[wilberforce]

They do sound different and thats part of why I was inquiring about the quote above. It implies some kind of EQ panel that the user can adjust to taste that apparently is only on the 27" models. Was wondering where the variable EQ was located.. and we wont even get into what and where the "studio-quality microphone array" is....

From Seattlepi review:
"The speakers are physically unchanged since the 2014 version of the iMac, according to Apple. But new variable EQ software (non-user adjustable, however) adds some audio tweaks, especially at low volumes."

 

[TheIntruder]

It probably means that with the T2, they've been able to employ active EQ to better overcome the physical compromises inherent in the design, rather than some user-facing enhancement.

The laws of physics always win, and what look like a 1" and 1/2" drivers firing into thin, irregularly shaped, asymmetrical enclosures with a narrow port aimed at the desk surface aren't exactly what one would start with if aiming for high fidelity.

They may be adequate for general use, and able to make sounds without sounding horrible, but for anything more, a proper pair of speakers will be a much better option.

I actually think the speakers in my 2007 20" sound better than the 2019 27".

 

[pldelisle]

While the sound is different and "better" for some (very qualitative, so very dependant of the person itself), a real kit of speakers will always be better.

If you are serious about sound but doesn't want to invest a ton of money, https://www.schiit.com offers very nice DAC and headphones AMP. They also offer speaker AMPs since recently. You can insert a nice EQ in-between all these too : https://www.schiit.com/products/loki