The OSX/Apple support thread

[mattyn1]

Hi experts!

Am upgrading my iMac 27" to a Mac mini... Can someone please explain what DACs are all about - not particularly interested in the deeper technology but more about simple connectivity to solve some confusion... especially interested in being able to work music over video editing etc as well as listening to background music or watching YT.

M4 Mac mini has from what I see on the reviews, a really crappy on board speaker. If I wanted a half decent speaker set, do I need to connect to the front audio jack socket, or can I use a USB (to whatever audio plugs the speaker has) from perhaps a dock? The set ups on line seem to talk about a DAC - something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fosi-Audio-Headphone-Digi...

Now noting I still need speakers, what does that do over something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-Adapter-Headphone-...

which I see using and doing all the speaker control on the speakers themselves... such as these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-USB-Powered-Down...

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-R1000T4-bookshelf...

TIA.

[Tindersticks]

The Mac Mini has a built-in DAC that is very decent quality. You don’t need an external.

[mattyn1]

Tindersticks said:

The Mac Mini has a built-in DAC that is very decent quality. You don’t need an external.

Helpful, thanks. So I just need to work out how to plug the speakers into the audio jack then? 2-1 y-lead … even I can work that out!

[Tindersticks]

Do you know which speakers? Some are USB powered now. You can add a small USB hub if you’ll need more USB slots.

[mattyn1]

Tindersticks said:

Do you know which speakers? Some are USB powered now. You can add a small USB hub if you’ll need more USB slots.

No not yet. Maybe like those linked up a bit, but no decisions!