Speakers for iMac That Can Use USB or Line Out?

[Gmouse]

With Windows computers, I can usually find a Line Out or digital output to connect speakers to, that sounds a lot better, and doesn't rely on running the speakers out of the headphone jack. With iMac (5K, late 2014), is there a way to hook speakers up equivalent to that?

Thanks.

 

[b06tmm]

The headphone port is also a optical digital audio output.

From here: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp707?locale=en_US

Headphone port

• Headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack)
• Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone

 

[passingapple]

You can always use something like USB DAC (eg. audioengine d1) to skip internal speaker/headphone jack and use digital output instead. Or USB speakers, but I have only seen crappy ones (I'm sure there may be some decent ones).

 

[ZMacintosh]

You can get a USB DAC as mentioned, or depends on the speakers and price you want to go for.
I currently use 2x M-audio M3-8's and a M-audio M-Track Hub as the volume control and audio input (via USB). It was more designed to be helpful for recording and has a Headphone Input as well but I use it as the DAC essentially for the bookshelf speakers.

 

[roro444]

The headphone port is also a optical digital audio output.

not on the 2017 imac.

 

[ZMacintosh]

not on the 2017 imac.

Correct, but it appears their iMac is from 2014

Here are some port specifications from Apple:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204392