Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Studio Display - Owners Thread
- Thread starter KPOM
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have used a 5K iMac since 2015. When I replaced it with a MacBook Pro in 2021 I also got a pair of very well-reviewed HP Z27 4K 27" monitors. They were blurry in comparison. When the ASD was introduced I ordered one immediately, and after trying it out for a week or two I ordered a second one, this time with nano-texture, which is the one I use as my primary display now.
HP Z27 Review – Premium 4K IPS USB-C Monitor for Home and Office - MonitorNerds | Gaming Monitor Reviews
Pros: Attractive, Minimalist DesignExcellent ConnectivityUSB-CGreat Default Image QualityGreat Build Quality Cons: No FreeSyncSlow Pixel Response TimeHeavy Check Latest Price on Amazon The HP Z27 is an attractive, 4K IPS monitor that won’t disappoint whether if it's used in a home or enterprise...monitornerds.com
Thank you all very much, I've gone through all your advice and reviews as well as watched tons of Studio Display review videos on YouTube. I've decided to buy it, just received it today. As mentioned earlier, the version I purchased is the one with an adjustable stand for height and tilt, the box is quite large and heavy.
Will use it for a few days and provide my review later.
Last edited:
Having earlier here mentioned my disappointing experiences with both Amazon Basics and Ergotron LX arms with the Apple Studio, I can now happily report that the Herman Miller Ollin arm fits my needs perfectly finally!
All of the adjustments work with minimum amount of force required which is exactly what I was after – don't think that adjusting the Studio Display should take more than a gentle push, just like with the original Apple stands. And Ollin provides just that – even in the tilt function, which was especially problematic with the extra stiffness on both Amazon Basics and Ergotron. At least here in the EU, Ollin was about 100€ more expensive than Ergotron (which in itself was about 2x from the Amazon Basics), but I'd say it's well worth the extra for convenience. And it's still 200€ less than Apple's tilt&height adjustable stand 😅 …while giving more flexibility in positioning, of course.
Another nice detail about the Ollin is that it's really compact in its smallest form, meaning I can just hide it completely behind the display itself, leaving more room to the edges of the table. And this shape of the arm doesn't even require any extra space between the table and the wall behind, again saving space! [see the photo]
So really happy with this setup now – the Studio Display itself has been absolutely fantastic in every way. In addition to the image and speaker quality, surprised how good the mics are too, barely would have a need for the external microphone. And the webcam is totally fine in pratice as well despite all the negativity. And doing all kinds of visual creative work, I absolutely love the easily available display presets that make it easy to jump between doing photo editing with realistic tones to enjoying the full tonal spectrum in regular use.
All of the adjustments work with minimum amount of force required which is exactly what I was after – don't think that adjusting the Studio Display should take more than a gentle push, just like with the original Apple stands. And Ollin provides just that – even in the tilt function, which was especially problematic with the extra stiffness on both Amazon Basics and Ergotron. At least here in the EU, Ollin was about 100€ more expensive than Ergotron (which in itself was about 2x from the Amazon Basics), but I'd say it's well worth the extra for convenience. And it's still 200€ less than Apple's tilt&height adjustable stand 😅 …while giving more flexibility in positioning, of course.
Another nice detail about the Ollin is that it's really compact in its smallest form, meaning I can just hide it completely behind the display itself, leaving more room to the edges of the table. And this shape of the arm doesn't even require any extra space between the table and the wall behind, again saving space! [see the photo]
So really happy with this setup now – the Studio Display itself has been absolutely fantastic in every way. In addition to the image and speaker quality, surprised how good the mics are too, barely would have a need for the external microphone. And the webcam is totally fine in pratice as well despite all the negativity. And doing all kinds of visual creative work, I absolutely love the easily available display presets that make it easy to jump between doing photo editing with realistic tones to enjoying the full tonal spectrum in regular use.
Need to state that having now used both the Ergotron LX and Herman Miller Ollin, at least with my units, Ollin tilts SUBSTANTIALLY EASIER than the Ergotron. Not sure if I got a lemon from Ergotron, but seen many similar negative reviews on Amazon so at least I'm not the only one with the issue… My Ollin on the other hand is just perfect in this regard.
Mine works perfectly EXCEPT when you go to upgrade the software. Then it gets stuck in restore mode and it's pure pain to get it out of it. I heard others with this say the logic board needs to be replaced. Don't know how you would check for this if there's not an update available.
Great to read the Ollin worked out for you.
Just wondered is your "Mount Type" the Top Clamp (12-25mm range) or the Split Clamp (0-65mm range)?
With 2cm table, I got the Top Clamp. That was maybe slightly less refined than similar Ergotronics part but seems to do the trick of keeping everything stable.
I have Amazon Basics on my two VESA-mount ASDs, and you're 100% correct that they're stiff insofar as tilt and not particularly smooth at all in the other dimensions. At some point I'll perhaps replace them. I don't move them much at the moment, so since they're set, the stiffness of the Amazon Basics doesn't bother me. But good to know the Ollin models are much smoother.
FINALLY!
I just installed Sonoma and have tried the new controls, and they work as expected. I found that turning off Center Stage, zooming in and panning down, turning on Portrait Mode with the slider in the middle and turning on Studio Light with the slider slightly to the right gives me exactly the effect I want, and the reactions are a fun addition.
The image quality still sucks, but the added flexibility and the new features add up to enough benefit for me to retire the 5D Mark III I have had mounted on top of my Studio Display.
It wasn't immediately obvious to me where the controls were, I found this helpful:
How to set up Center Stage in macOS Sonoma
Right alongside new video conferencing features like reactions, macOS Sonoma gives you Center Stage options to control how you present yourself to the world — if you have the right camera.
appleinsider.com
Too bad I hardly do any videoconferencing now, I could really have used this when I got the Studio Display a year and a half ago.
I don't seem to have the manual framing controls on my Studio Displays. OS is updated to Sonoma and the Studio Displays' firmware is updated to version 17.0.FINALLY!
I just installed Sonoma and have tried the new controls, and they work as expected. I found that turning off Center Stage, zooming in and panning down, turning on Portrait Mode with the slider in the middle and turning on Studio Light with the slider slightly to the right gives me exactly the effect I want, and the reactions are a fun addition.
The image quality still sucks, but the added flexibility and the new features add up to enough benefit for me to retire the 5D Mark III I have had mounted on top of my Studio Display.
It wasn't immediately obvious to me where the controls were, I found this helpful:
How to set up Center Stage in macOS Sonoma
Right alongside new video conferencing features like reactions, macOS Sonoma gives you Center Stage options to control how you present yourself to the world — if you have the right camera.
Too bad I hardly do any videoconferencing now, I could really have used this when I got the Studio Display a year and a half ago.
Anyone else able to access the manual framing controls (pan/zoom)?
Edit: Never mind. I figured it out. I was expecting some controls to drop down like for the studio light and portrait settings. But one just literally grabs the image in the frame, then the zoom slider pops up. It's actually working well.
Last edited:
Has the recent firmware reduced the fan noise? I had a Studio Display last year, but returned it because of constantly audible fan noise. Maybe I got a noisy unit, but would like to known whether people on the latest firmware experienced quiet but noticeable fan noise. Thanks!
I bought an ASD when it was relases to replace an ageing 2540x1440 dell display. I fell in love with it, however, a customer of mine wanted one so I thought what the heck, I just buy a new Dell displa. I have for one year went through 4k 27" displays and a huge 40" Dell (which promised speakers and ethernet). So disappointing, I could never have even speakers or ethernet working reliably, no webcam etc etc. So i just bite the bullit and got a new ASD.
It is so beautiful and the clarity of it is magic. White is white.
I have a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and a SSD attached permanently to its ports and I can see that the ASD never sleeps those ports when Macbook is disconnected so I got me a Shelly plug and have programmed it so it shuts off if the energy consumption is under 15 watt for 2 minutes.
It is so beautiful and the clarity of it is magic. White is white.
I have a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and a SSD attached permanently to its ports and I can see that the ASD never sleeps those ports when Macbook is disconnected so I got me a Shelly plug and have programmed it so it shuts off if the energy consumption is under 15 watt for 2 minutes.
I have seen four ASD, no one of them has made any sound that I can hear.
I have two ASDs and I don't think I've ever heard their fans.
Same here, and I do believe I am quite sensitive to noise. I can hear a slight “whoosh” if I hold my ear against to top vents, but I think that is the sound of the air, not fan whine.
I have two. They’re completely silent. I wouldn’t have known there were fans in them had I not seen a picture of the insides.
Is anybody running their ASD using the 2048 x 1152 resolution?
If so is there much difference of the text sharpness compared to the (default) 2560 x 1440?
If so is there much difference of the text sharpness compared to the (default) 2560 x 1440?
I run mine at default or 2880x1620. Just took a look at 2048 x 1152 and noticed no issue with the text sharpness. Note: I run Better Display (for reasons that have nothing to do with the ASDs).
Thanks all for your comments, mine must have been defective then, as I could clearly hear the fan noise at 40-50cm distance from the monitor. They never seemed to vary in rpm or intensity during the monitor's operation either.
Can anyone comment on the uniformity of the display? I am pretty picky when it comes to screens.
Are you sure it was a fan noise? It could've been coil whine noise which is/was more common.
Yes, it clearly was fan noise. The whine noise was very minimal, and could be only heard when putting the hear very close. It was a case of the whoosh caused by both fans operating at higher speeds. I doubt the fans inside the Studio Display are over 80mm large, so they make a considerable noise if they keep operating at higher rpms. All these firmware updates might have calmed them down a bit via software too.
Appears to be a decent chance you'll get one with some DSE. If you're patient you might be able to return it enough times to get one you're satisfied with. (Or you might get lucky and be happy with the first one, hah).