Noise?

[basehead617]

I’m an audio guy clinging on to my 2019 Mac Pro.

Even with two HDX PCI cards in it, it’s basically completely silent due to the incredible thermal design.

I’m very worried about upgrading to a Studio and an enclosure and it being noisy in the room.

How does everyone feel about the Studio’s noise comparatively, especially if you’ve upgraded from a 7,1 Pro tower?

 

[enricoclaudio]

I'm a sound engineer and I have a Mac Studio M1 Max since release day (2022) on my desk and it has been dead silent to me. Mine is located right at 1 feet from my keyboard. When the Mac Studio was released, a few people complained about whining noise coming from their Mac Studio, some went to the trouble of asking for replacements. Mine is dead silent. Not sure how the following models (M2, M3 and M4) do regarding whining noise, though. I already placed an oder for a Mac Studio M5 Max and I will be trading in my M1 Max at Apple.

 

[Mrbobb]

Apple QC doesn't seem what it was before, getting conflicting info from different ppl. But you are buying top end, making the assumption you are going to push it, so ready to do that before your return-no-questions-asked period ends, that's all you can do.

 

[edubfromktown]

I'm a sound engineer and I have a Mac Studio M1 Max since release day (2022) on my desk and it has been dead silent to me. Mine is located right at 1 feet from my keyboard. When the Mac Studio was released, a few people complained about whining noise coming from their Mac Studio, some went to the trouble of asking for replacements. Mine is dead silent. Not sure how the following models (M2, M3 and M4) do regarding whining noise, though. I already placed an oder for a Mac Studio M5 Max and I will be trading in my M1 Max at Apple.

Same for me... mine is hooked up to a 1250VA UPS (even though I have relatively clean power coming into my home).

 

[benholt]

Coming from a 7,1 you'll notice more than you think, but not necessarily in a bad way. My M2 Ultra Studio is dead quiet at idle and stays that way through the vast majority of what I run - playback, mixed app work, decent renders. Fans do audibly spin up under long sustained loads (extended After Effects renders in my case) but it's a low whoosh, nowhere near what the 7,1 tower gets when it finally kicks in.

The whine complaints early on were real but seem to be specific units, and mine has been silent the whole time. If you're mic'ing quiet acoustic sources on the same desk, I'd move it to a low shelf just as insurance. For mixing and normal tracking you won't hear it.

 

[maflynn]

I can't speak for the M5/M6 Studios but my M4 Max is dead silent.

 

[dugbug]

Have they done anything wrt thermals since the m1 studio?

 

[4sallypat]

Same for me... mine is hooked up to a 1250VA UPS (even though I have relatively clean power coming into my home).

Wow, your UPS must be quiet ?
What make / model do you use ?

My 1500VA rack mount UPS has fan noise 24/7.
I don't do music or stuff that requires quiet so I have grown to ignore it.

Had to get electrician to wire the computer outlets for 20A to support this UPS....

 

[basehead617]

Coming from a 7,1 you'll notice more than you think, but not necessarily in a bad way. My M2 Ultra Studio is dead quiet at idle and stays that way through the vast majority of what I run - playback, mixed app work, decent renders. Fans do audibly spin up under long sustained loads (extended After Effects renders in my case) but it's a low whoosh, nowhere near what the 7,1 tower gets when it finally kicks in.

The whine complaints early on were real but seem to be specific units, and mine has been silent the whole time. If you're mic'ing quiet acoustic sources on the same desk, I'd move it to a low shelf just as insurance. For mixing and normal tracking you won't hear it.

Sorry are you saying the 7,1 was louder at similar loads than the studio is? That sounds insane.. it was very difficult to get the 7,1 fans to even an audible level other than burn in benchmarks.

 

[edubfromktown]

Wow, your UPS must be quiet ?
What make / model do you use ?

My 1500VA rack mount UPS has fan noise 24/7.
I don't do music or stuff that requires quiet so I have grown to ignore it.

Had to get electrician to wire the computer outlets for 20A to support this UPS....

It is... APC UPS 1500VA/900W, LCD, AVR, UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector BX1500M.

I also have a rack mount 1500 VA APC in a nearby furnace room and it too is quiet (except on the very rare occasions when the power goes out and the internal fan kicks on).

I can hear the near totally quiet LED overhead (florescent swapped out ballast) lights. My Mac Sudio and the the UPS's: not at all.