While the Apple M1 Ultra stole the show at its last event in March, we paid close attention to the company's advancements in AV.
Among the dozens of announcements at the event was news that the new Mac Studio, the $1,999 / $1,999 / AU$3,099 workstation computer aimed at creative professionals, has one key feature audiophiles will really appreciate: a jack. professional audio for high impedance headphones. or powered external speakers.
With it, you should be able to drive even the most notoriously difficult headphones on the market (we're looking your way, Hifiman HE-6) without the need for a dedicated amp/DAC. For some, that might be a good reason to upgrade.
We've also seen the launch of a monitor that includes spatial audio in the form of the new Studio Display. It's expensive, and it lacks HDR for some reason, but if you want spatial audio everywhere or need it for mixing, it's going to be very tempting.
A computer for all creatives (DJs and sound engineers included)
For years, Apple has pushed the idea that its prosumer Macs are better suited to the world's creative types: video editors, animators and graphic designers. However, sound engineers are so far absent from the list of applicable creatives.
The new Mac Studio slightly moves the needle in this department with the addition of a better audio jack.
According to Apple, it's better than a standard 3,5mm auxiliary port because it has more power, enough to power a pair of speakers.
That's pretty exciting for people who currently own or want to buy a better AV system for their computer, and it's a stark contrast to what the company did with iPhones a few years ago when it removed the audio jack from its flagship phone.
Apple takes away, now Apple gives
In some ways, this could be seen as Apple making up for the misstep it made a few years ago by removing the audio jack from iPhones - an olive branch for audiophiles, if you will.
Backlash from that decision lasted for months as audio fans criticized the company for ditching the universal port in favor of Apple's exclusive Lightning and Bluetooth.
Seeing it resurrected (and improved) in Mac Studio is somewhat ironic, but we're certainly not complaining about Apple supporting audiophiles.
Spatial audio on a monitor? Yes please
As for the new Apple Studio Display, the standout feature for audiophiles is the inclusion of spatial audio, a potential first for any monitor. With it, you should be able to mix music in real time for a spatial sound, which could be a boon for DJs and sound engineers looking to work on the latest formats.
To do the heavy lifting, inside the Studio Display is a six-speaker high-fidelity audio system that has been tuned for spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos. Four of these speakers are woofers and two are high-end tweeters. Together, and with a bit of digital signal processing, you have a potentially powerful spatial audio player.
But what if you don't mix or master the audio? Apple Music offers Spatial Audio Songs on the Mac, which should be a boon for just about anyone, and Netflix shows and movies are often available in Dolby Atmos, a nice feature if you plan on watching movies from time to time. computer.
It's not the perfect monitor (did we mention it doesn't support HDR?), but for fans of high-end audio formats, it's a very tempting option over a traditional work display.
- Apple event: iPhone SE 2022, iPad Air 5, M1 Ultra, Mac Studio and everything announced