DAC Quality on 2021 MacBooks?

[ilikewhey]

Just to put another data point on here.TLDR - I am running with a fairly exotic combo, but the 14" M1 MacbookPro (2022) is definitely limited.

FYI, my DAC is the chord MOJO, running at 768kHz (I know, just because it can, I'm not sure the frequency makes that much difference, at least not to my ears), and my headphones are Focal Stellia's.

The difference is very clearly there in all frequencies but most notably in full-range music where the top-end tends to lose definition and the bass becomes boxy as the signal chain run out of "budget".

I would personally always upgrade the analog bit first (your headphones/IEM's), but once you've reached the limit there, then a decent DAC is great. Mine is relatively portable and can work with my [cheap Android] phone too where the need is much greater.

well ofcourse an 800 dac is gonna be better lol, in my experience the 14 build in can pretty much compete with any plug and go entry level DAC.

 

[J.Gallardo]

well ofcourse an 800 dac is gonna be better lol, in my experience the 14 build in can pretty much compete with any plug and go entry level DAC.

I don’t exactly understand what kind of competition you point to. Sound quality isn’t “bad”, but it can’t even reach streamed Apple Music HD bitrate! (MacBook is limited to 24bits/96kHz, which is not bad, and its well implemented; but it can’t do what most entry DACs do).
Apple thinks that normal user is happy with a “topped” 96 kHz good quality DAC, and audio-pros normally use dedicated external in/out DACs when needing some more resolution. It has some Logic 😬

 

[ilikewhey]

I do exactly understand what kind of competition you point to. Sound quality isn’t “bad”, but it can’t even reach streamed Apple Music HD bitrate! (MacBook is limited to 24bits/96kHz, which is not bad, and its well implemented; but it can’t do what most entry DACs do).
Apple thinks that normal user is happy with a “topped” 96 kHz good quality DAC, and audio-pros normally use dedicated external in/out DACs when needing some more resolution. It has some Logic 😬

thats fair, i been out of the DAC world for awhile now. so for me the 96khz isn't too noticeable.

 

[Kafka]

Just to put another data point on here.TLDR - I am running with a fairly exotic combo, but the 14" M1 MacbookPro (2022) is definitely limited.

FYI, my DAC is the chord MOJO, running at 768kHz (I know, just because it can, I'm not sure the frequency makes that much difference, at least not to my ears), and my headphones are Focal Stellia's.

The difference is very clearly there in all frequencies but most notably in full-range music where the top-end tends to lose definition and the bass becomes boxy as the signal chain run out of "budget".

I would personally always upgrade the analog bit first (your headphones/IEM's), but once you've reached the limit there, then a decent DAC is great. Mine is relatively portable and can work with my [cheap Android] phone too where the need is much greater.

Do you have it plugged into a usb hub? I have one too but I can't bring myself to bother finding a solution, since I would end up with 2 extra cables around my laptop. I already use an ethernet adapter and 2 external displays so all my ports are occupied. Besides, adding more would be messy.