USB-C monitor setup questions

[MrMister111]

USB-C monitor (Dell U2419HC), with a MacBook Pro 2019.....

If you connect them with just the USB-C cable the monitor above doesn’t have speakers. So can you close the lid on the MacBook Pro and use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and the sound still come out from the MacBook Pro?

I know it won’t be great but it would be enough for my needs.

Thanks

 

[MrMister111]

No one have a monitor with no speakers and USB-C can check for me?

Thanks

 

[DeanL]

USB-C monitor (Dell U2419HC), with a MacBook Pro 2019.....

If you connect them with just the USB-C cable the monitor above doesn’t have speakers. So can you close the lid on the MacBook Pro and use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and the sound still come out from the MacBook Pro?

I know it won’t be great but it would be enough for my needs.

Thanks

Hello! Yes, the internal speakers of the MacBook Pro 2019 still work with the clamshell closed.

 

[satcomer]

USB-C monitor (Dell U2419HC), with a MacBook Pro 2019.....

If you connect them with just the USB-C cable the monitor above doesn’t have speakers. So can you close the lid on the MacBook Pro and use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and the sound still come out from the MacBook Pro?

I know it won’t be great but it would be enough for my needs.

Thanks

Then get a pair of wires speakers to plug into your Mac Book Pro then use the System Preferences->Sound Presence panel and select those speakers to be your default! It really is that simple!

 

[DeanL]

Then get a pair of wires speakers to plug into your Mac Book Pro then use the System Preferences->Sound Presence panel and select those speakers to be your default! It really is that simple!

That's not what they asked for.

 

[MrMister111]

Then get a pair of wires speakers to plug into your Mac Book Pro then use the System Preferences->Sound Presence panel and select those speakers to be your default! It really is that simple!

That's not what they asked for.

I want a simple setup, with a USB-C monitor charging and 1 cable is ideal so don’t want speakers.

As said it’s for basic use when using. I’ve now looked and the placement of the MBP speakers when closed will be blocked. Is this an issue? Would the sound not be blocked by the system if the MBP is closed anyway?

Does anyone have a USB-C monitor and use it this way?

Thanks

 

[adrianlondon]

I don't have a usb-c monitor yet (thinking to buy the same as you!) but connect my laptop to my TV with an HDMI cable. No external keyboard or mouse, but HDMI on its own seems enough to keep my 2013 MBP running with the lid closed. I use it to watch some TV channels. Sound comes out of the laptop speakers just fine. They are very slightly muffled by having the lid closed on them but I'm surprised how good they still sound.

So, no external keyboard or mouse, just one cable to my TV, and all works as you want . BUT ... this is hdmi not usb-c. Once my usb-c monitor and Macbook Air arrives I'm expecting it to work the same way. Fingers crossed.

 

[MrMister111]

I don't have a usb-c monitor yet (thinking to buy the same as you!)

Once my usb-c monitor and Macbook Air arrives I'm expecting it to work the same way. Fingers crossed.

Thx good to know. Nice upgrade new Air seems a good deal now.

What USB-C monitor have you ordered?
Thanks

 

[adrianlondon]

What USB-C monitor have you ordered?
Thanks

None, yet, as my MBA doesn't seem likely to arrive for another month! I was thinking to order the P2219HC, which is pretty much the smaller version of the one you have. They don't make a "U" version in 22".

 

[MrMister111]

None, yet, as my MBA doesn't seem likely to arrive for another month! I was thinking to order the P2219HC, which is pretty much the smaller version of the one you have. They don't make a "U" version in 22".

I asked on Dell as they do a P2419HC and a U2419HC, what the difference was. The chat couldn’t really say! They just kept saying the P is the business one and U is the ultra? series.

Seems to be about the only monitor I could find that had USB-C charging facility. Found an hp one but only had 15W charging. Apart from the LG ones which are too expensive for what I want to pay vs usage I would use.

 

[adrianlondon]

I was originally looking for a 24" monitor. I looked at the high-res ones (1440p) and narrowed it down to the Lenovo p24h and Samsung s24h850. They're both good value for what they are, imo. Then I thought 22" might be enough and the only usb-c one is the Dell p2219hc.

The difference between the "p" and the "u" is "professional" vs "ultrasharp". The colour calibration is done differently, apparently. Apart from that, I can find no difference so personally wouldn't pay the extra. As it happens, they don't make an ultrasharp in the 22" size so the decision is out of my hands anyway.

 

[DeanL]

I’ve now looked and the placement of the MBP speakers when closed will be blocked. Is this an issue? Would the sound not be blocked by the system if the MBP is closed anyway?

No it's not a problem. The speaker holes are cosmetic–most of the sound actually come out from the side vents.

 

[carlover670]

I have a MacBook Pro and Ultrafine 4k. I can switch between Ultrafine and Mac's speakers in clamshell mode.

 

[MrMister111]

I have a MacBook Pro and Ultrafine 4k. I can switch between Ultrafine and Mac's speakers in clamshell mode.

When you use the MBP speakers what is it like? This was more a question for a monitor that doesn’t have speakers, I can’t see why you would use MBP speakers if the monitor has them built in.

Thanks

 

[carlover670]

The Ultrafine speakers are worse than the MacBook Pro placed next to my desk, a foot below the top of my desk. The Ultrafine speakers are very tinny only decent for non-music stuff. The MBP speakers in clamshell sound pretty close to the sound they make when the screen lid is open. I noticed some of the highs are lost in the sound but aside from that its very close.
EDIT: BTW I have a 2018 MBP 4Thunderbolt

 

[MrMister111]

The Ultrafine speakers are worse than the MacBook Pro placed next to my desk, a foot below the top of my desk. The Ultrafine speakers are very tinny only decent for non-music stuff. The MBP speakers in clamshell sound pretty close to the sound they make when the screen lid is open. I noticed some of the highs are lost in the sound but aside from that its very close.
EDIT: BTW I have a 2018 MBP 4Thunderbolt

Didn’t realise they’d be worse - wow, maybe is pointless getting a monitor, or at least not factoring it in too much to purchasing a USB-C monotony decision.

Not sure if the 2018 4 port and 2019 2 port have different speakers.

I’d be happy if it was ok, even just for music background stuff.

 

[carlover670]

Not sure if the 2018 4 port and 2019 2 port have different speakers.

I’d be happy if it was ok, even just for music background stuff.

They should be basically the same. The MacBook Pro speakers fire from the side vents so closing the monitor won’t affect most of the sound. Some of the highs are lost but it’s not bad. For background music and podcasts it is more than capable.

 

[Mr. Chewbacca]

I was reading this to see about bluetooth speakers for a docked 2019. I didnt even think to try to use the laptop speakers with the lid closed. Kinda shocked at how good it sounds.

 

[maxsquared]

I have a Dell U2720Q and setup using USB and the sound does come out of the MackBook Pro (16), it sounds alright, just a bit odd as my laptop sits a bit far away from my screen.

Dell sells some quite affordable soundbars attach to the bottom of the speak, it's quite minimalistic, I am thinking of getting one of those... Although most of the time I just use my Airpods anyway.

 

[MrMister111]

Ok got the Dell U2419HC, and works as advertised. Charges up, can connect external USB HDD to the monitor and appear fine.

The sound isn’t bad coming from MBP for what needed, anything else think I’d use headphones. I’ve seen Dell do an add on speaker that clips on, but for what I want TGI k I’ll stick to this.

Now I wouldn’t mind a vertical dock, either with a USB-C port in or not, just to hold it beside the monitor. Seen one which had ports but bet expensive.

 

[skitch444]

Your MacBook is the 16 inch one? If so, does the 65w output make a difference to the laptop?

 

[MrMister111]

Your MacBook is the 16 inch one? If so, does the 65w output make a difference to the laptop?

No 13” 2019. It will just charge a little slower that’s all if yours is 16” though

 

[aednichols]

It will just charge a little slower that’s all if yours is 16” though

It depends on your workload. I used to power my work 15" through a USB C dongle that only provided 55 watts of passthrough power. Because I'm compiling big projects all day I put dozens of unnecessary cycles on the battery as it dipped down and charged back up.

 

[AppleSmack]

USB-C monitor (Dell U2419HC), with a MacBook Pro 2019.....

If you connect them with just the USB-C cable the monitor above doesn’t have speakers. So can you close the lid on the MacBook Pro and use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and the sound still come out from the MacBook Pro?

I know it won’t be great but it would be enough for my needs.

Thanks

Sound from a closed MBP will be muffled. Have you considered Bluetooth speakers?

That could be an amp with Bluetooth input (eg NAD D3020) and speakers, OR powered speakers that take a Bluetooth input.

The NAD above also takes USB audio input, so you could still connect it to the USB output of the monitor.

 

[DeanL]

Sound from a closed MBP will be muffled.

That is not true. Please read the (very short) thread before saying things that have already been debunked.

No it's not a problem. The speaker holes are cosmetic–most of the sound actually come out from the side vents.