New MacBook Pro Models Lack Optical Audio Out via Headphone Jack

[diddl14]

First thing I would do as Audio-Pro after buying a $2k+ new laptop is also get a matching USB-C connector to hook up whatever I have in the best possible way. Why on earth would I want to connect via toslink or analogue if I can hook up a high quality external dac via USB-C?

 

[Speedy Dingo]

When queried about the removal, Apple said the feature was dropped due to a lack of customers using the functionality, noting that "plenty of USB-C zero-latency professional peripherals are available now, or coming very soon" with optical audio out connectivity.

It's called a professional dongle.

 

[2499723]

This was likely done to keep the costs down for the end user. Oh wait...

I used this functionality a few times when I was using my MacBook Pro temporarily as a streaming box to the TV. But, I'm not necessarily bemoaning its departure. However, in principle, Apple has cut back so much of the 'Pro' functionality of its Pro line that it's almost laughable. Why would I ever buy a new model to replace my 2012 rMBP? I feel like I'd be investing way too much money in a computer that was only marginally more powerful with a fraction of the day-to-day utility (i.e. ports, etc.). A 2.3GHz quad i7, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD seems to still cost the same in 2016 as it did in 2012. What gives?

I am tempted by the portability of a MacBook, but the performance hit and the lack of ports is simply too great of a sacrifice. And, as someone else said on this thread or another, you might as well get a MacBook over a MacBook Pro at this rate - unless of course you want to spend about $3,000 to max a Pro out.

 

[Nozuka]

Another elegant solution bites the dust

 

[skinned66]

Options are nice but this is one I'd have no problem doing without. I'm not surprised not many used it. How much money did they save and not pass on to you I wonder?

 

[ginkobiloba]

This is bordering on the comical.

To those who think no one uses this : Here is what Eric Persing of Spectrasonics , one of the leading developpers of pro virtual instruments in the audio world, and not exactly prone to tantrums, posted on his FB :
"APPLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST IT. I am absolutely FURIOUS about this news! This is literally a feature that our entire team at Spectrasonics utilizes EVERY DAY, dozens of times a day! The removal of optical out is INSANE! In our world of audio, this is a feature that made MacBook Pros truly a mobile/professional audio machine! Native core audio with simple digital audio output is one of the essential reasons that these laptops have always been the best for audio and music. NOW THEY'VE TAKEN IT AWAY SO THEY SAVE A PENNY!
I hate you apple! (Never thought I'd every say that)"


When you align this to what Phil Shiller said, you can't not shake your head in disbelief:
"Is it inconsistent to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack as it’s no longer on the latest iPhone?
Not at all. These are pro machines. If it was just about headphones then it doesn’t need to be there, we believe that wireless is a great solution for headphones. But many users have setups with studio monitors, amps, and other pro audio gear that do not have wireless solutions and need the 3.5mm jack."

Whatever this machine is, it's certainly ain't pro.

 

[tonyberinson]

So how many of you genius actually use optical out in your 3.5 mm jack..

People are just pathetic - whine and complain - and then go out and buy the machine - FFS!!

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Remind me why this MacBook is called Pro again.

If you wish to connect to a hifi with a reliable cable, you now need to spend £100+ on an external USB DAC.

Yet another stupid move by Apple. I think Cook is deliberately trying to get rid of the Mac by bringing out such crap models. He obviously hates the Mac, as he has stated in interviews.

 

[tonyberinson]

This is bordering on the comical.

To those who think no one uses this : Here is what Eric Persing of Spectrasonics , one of the leading developpers of pro virtual instruments in the audio world, and not exactly prone to tantrums, posted on his FB :
"APPLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST IT. I am absolutely FURIOUS about this news! This is literally a feature that our entire team at Spectrasonics utilizes EVERY DAY, dozens of times a day! The removal of optical out is INSANE! In our world of audio, this is a feature that made MacBook Pros truly a mobile/professional audio machine! Native core audio with simple digital audio output is one of the essential reasons that these laptops have always been the best for audio and music. NOW THEY'VE TAKEN IT AWAY SO THEY SAVE A PENNY!
I hate you apple! (Never thought I'd every say that)"

Whatever this machine is, it's certainly ain't pro.

Yawn - Use the bloody dongle - FFS!! the time it took you to write that - you could just **** and use the bloody dongle..

next year when everyone else loses the ports and drives and everything - what are you going to do then - complain - or just **** and get over it.

 

[anthorumor]

Yet another disappointment to add on the list. Technically, HDMI Audio is superior, but professionals still use the optical out and some home theatres do as well.

So Apple tells tech illiterate people to use iPad Pro, intermediates to use MacBook, and the top 10% and/or hipsters the MacBook Pro. So where do there rest go - the tech literate people, the students, the pro pros? Hello, Windows.

 

[tonyberinson]

Remind me why this MacBook is called Pro again.

If you wish to connect to a hifi with a reliable cable, you now need to spend £100+ on an external USB DAC.

Yet another stupid move by Apple. I think Cook is deliberately trying to get rid of the Mac by bringing out such crap models. He obviously hates the Mac, as he has stated in interviews.

Did u buy one? Are you planning on ?? If you are then **** and stop complaining for the sake of complaining - if your not going to buy one - stop complaining for the sake of complaining


People are getting seriously over the constant belly aching.. sheesh!!
[doublepost=1478259250][/doublepost]

Yet another disappointment to add on the list. Technically, HDMI Audio is superior, but professionals still use the optical out and some home theatres do as well.

So Apple tells tech illiterate people to use iPad Pro, intermediates to use MacBook, and the top 10% and/or hipsters the MacBook Pro. So where do there rest go - the tech literate people, the students, the pro pros? Hello, Windows.

Good bye don't let the door hit you on the way out!

 

[DYER]

I've used the optical out on my mac since I got a uMBP in 2008. I use it as it means I can use an unadulterated signal very easily. Sure I can use a dongle, sure it'd work the same. But it's just another thing to think about or forget. I can't imagine it would have been that much of a faff to keep it in. I so wanted to buy one of these as I haven't had a mac laptop in a while and instead use a Mac Mini (also with optical out) and a windows laptop.Unfortunately having to deal with the bloody dongle on my iPhone 7 plus has taught me that I can't be arsed to carry around a gazillion dongles (3 by my reckoning).

In fact, I'm just going to go and buy a Lenovo, that has almost as many ports as my Mac Mini. I will miss MacOS. I will miss it terribly. But my god I just can't be arsed with the crippled hardware anymore.

 

[LewisChapman]

Other way around. If we needed it, people would have been using it. Were you or anyone you know ever using a MBP to feed optical audio to a home theater?

I do have two friends however they are both audiophiles who 'swear by their kit'.

At least you are happy with the all latest Apple news anyway!

 

[3568378]

Of course they lack optical out. I can't wait for the next revelation where there's no battery inside and that too must be connected by dongle.

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are.

Seriously though, I wanted to not have buyer's remorse for picking up a 2015 15" 6 months ago, but then I decided I wanted to have a little buyer's remorse just because I wanted to see that Apple was still making cool stuff...there is NO buyer's remorse. Touch Bar (gimmick) does not even begin to compensate for all the blunders of this release, most notably the missing ports, of course, but the bad news by the day is already pretty much guaranteeing a nice drop in resale value for this infamous machine. Still love Apple overall of course. Hey, even Honda made the CrossTour.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Every major product manufacturer has a product where a certain year misses the boat, this year it is the Macbook Pro 2016.

It can be added to the ever mounting list comprising of:
- 2016 - Macbook Pro 'gimped edition' or 'adapter edition'
- 2015 - iPad Pro 12.9 'No Pro apps edition'
- 2015 - iPhone battery case 'Let's not design it edition'
- 2014 - Mac Mini 'solder for solder sake edition'
- 2013 - iPad Air 'Limited RAM edition'
- 2012 - iPad 3 'zero power edition'

Also the special 2015 award for 'rip off pricing' is the official Smart Case and Covers, originally they were nice leather full cases, now the 'case' is actually a 'shell' and prices are some 30-40% more expensive.

Apple do some great products, see in my signature but the scales are tipping.

 

[masteroflondon]

When complaining in future, could you all please state what feature you personally are using and what you personally are using it for?

Posts lacking this information can then be seen for what they are, misguided whingeing for lack of a feature few people use and the rest of us should not still be saddled with or constrained by. I'm betting the vast majority of complaints are from people who don't use the feature or didn't even know it was there. I'd forgotten the headphone socket on mine included optical.

The old ports dropped here are dying and, compared to those now offered, crap. USB A is utterly bollocks, surpassed only by the mini and micro versions that followed. Within the lifespan of my new (on order, can't wait!) MacBook they will be useless to me and I will be pleased they are not there. For a few months at first, I'll use a dongle or two. Just the ones I will need instead of a plethora of ports I haven't used for the last 2 years.

 

[BruceEBonus]

Has nobody ever heard of the adage ''Less is More?''

Rejoice! All is well! No ports is good ports!

Even famous actors have given their names to the removal of the headphone socket including Hugh No-Jackman

 

[F1Mac]

Yet another disappointment to add on the list. Technically, HDMI Audio is superior, but professionals still use the optical out and some home theatres do as well.

So Apple tells tech illiterate people to use iPad Pro, intermediates to use MacBook, and the top 10% and/or hipsters the MacBook Pro. So where do there rest go - the tech literate people, the students, the pro pros? Hello, Windows.

*SIGH*

Professionnals use EXTERNAL GEAR - not the Mac's outs. Professionals don't give a crap if the headphone jack is just analog or a combo.

These comments are just sad. When you have zero clue what "professionals" do, don't comment on a pro machine. The funny thing is that only people not interested in the new Macbook Pro are commenting and whining. The PROS do NOT CARE about this feature.

 

[hagar]

I'm sure most of the complainers here never used this or know what this feature is about.

But still, Apple has a huge issue with the headphone jack. It used to be clear what their direction forward is. But now? How will they avoid that you need two sets of headphones for mac and iPhone?

Adding lightning to mac didn't happen. And switching iPhone to USB-c definitely will never happen. So what's the solution??

They clearly don't know either otherwise they wouldn't have done the survey a few months back asking if we use the headphone jack on the mac.

And if they think wireless is the only way forward, they should include wireless headphones with the iPhone. Simple.but the current situation is a joke. I'm holding out until they resolve this nonsense.

 

[clifgriffin]

Other way around. If we needed it, people would have been using it. Were you or anyone you know ever using a MBP to feed optical audio to a home theater?

This is what I was thinking. Optical is not exactly at peak popularity right now. I had no idea this was even possible in my existing MBP. My theater room doesn't use it at all now. HDMI everything.

I'm not a audio "pro" though so what do I know.

 

[2010mini]

It's becoming ever more apparent that this is just a beefed-up MacBook, and not a Pro machine. If I were a creative professional who was waiting for an update, I'd be pricing out a Windows laptop at this point.

You are a professional that still use an audio standard that's limited to 5.1???

 

[BeSweeet]

As little used as it may have been, why remove it if you don't have to? Oh: Courage!

Of course they lack optical out. I can't wait for the next revelation where there's no battery inside and that too must be connected by dongle.

I heard Apple has a job opening titled "Lead Innovator" and it has your name on it!

 

[NT1440]

...Didn't Apple drop this from the 13" MBP's years ago?

 

[kas23]

But, it can be charged from any port?

 

[Smeaton1724]

Why keep the headphone jack at all and yet with the iPhone encourage everyone to go and buy bluetooth headphones?! Remove it completely, get rid of the jack!

People are going on and on about removing USB-A for USB-C, a port used by many dongles and adapters itself. Now we can have a dongle in an adapter hanging 3 inches off our Macbook Pro's and sit with our bluetooth headphones in, whilst the 'forward thinking and future proof' Macbook Pro 2016 with the x4 USB-C ports still has a gimped port included.

The ultimate irony is leaving the headphone port in, gimping it and then justifying that USB-A isn't needed in the future (USB-A is more worthy of being retained than the headphone jack?!) and not even including lightning either.