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M1 audio output disappointing versus intel imac

M

Msbeezy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
116
20
Firstly apologies is this has been covered (I'm sure it has) but I could not find anything regarding how the headphones audio output of the M1 disappoints compared to the toslink output of my 2014 intel imac
Audio is output to a Pioneer receiver and the imac is just plain crisper and detailed (Tidal master tiunes)
Audio from M1 is connected from headphone jack to analog on the Pioneer...then I tried a Dragon Black DAC plugged into usb...better than the analog but still nowhere near the imac..then i tried Dragon Cobalt DAC..still not as good as the imac..I have a usb to toslink adapter coming so I can go into the same digital inout in the Pioneer as the imac is using...not sure what to do after that if it fails to improve to the imac quality...

Any comments appreciated greatly as this may mean sending the M1 back...I even also have a Studio coming but I suspect the results to be the same...ugh
 
Z

Zest28

macrumors 68030
Jul 11, 2022
2,581
3,933
Get the 16" M1 Pro / Max MBP, those have excellent headphone audio output. I haven't tried the M2 version yet, but I assume it is the same.

And Tidal sucks, don't listen to that crap audio quality. Use either Qobuz or Apple Music (Lossless).
 
smirking

smirking

macrumors 68040
Aug 31, 2003
3,942
4,009
Silicon Valley
Have you tried just plugging straight into the headphone jack? That's what I've done since I've moved from a 2018 MBP to a 16" M1 Pro. The only time I use an external DAC now is when I want my cans to be wireless. I gather from your equipment choices that you're at least a minor audiophile. The M1 does output a warmer sound than previous MBPs that I've owned and I know that's not everyone's preference.
 
M

Msbeezy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
116
20
Zest28 said:
Get the 16" M1 Pro / Max MBP, those have excellent headphone audio output. I haven't tried the M2 version yet, but I assume it is the same.

And Tidal sucks, don't listen to that crap audio quality. Use either Qobuz or Apple Music (Lossless).
Click to expand...
Thanks,,no qobuz in Canada,,I’ll give Apple a demo
 
M

Msbeezy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
116
20
smirking said:
Have you tried just plugging straight into the headphone jack? That's what I've done since I've moved from a 2018 MBP to a 16" M1 Pro. The only time I use an external DAC now is when I want my cans to be wireless. I gather from your equipment choices that you're at least a minor audiophile. The M1 does output a warmer sound than previous MBPs that I've owned and I know that's not everyone's preference.
Click to expand...
Yes I initially tried the headphone out direct…provided the worst audio of the three ( headphone wire,Dragon Bk, Dragon Cobalt)…and yes the warmer sound is not my preference…
 
Last edited:
M

Msbeezy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
116
20
Seems going to the mbp so far is an option..but not my first choice
 
M

Msbeezy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2009
116
20
haralds said:
If you use the Dragon Black DAC on either system, there should be no difference with the same source audio files.
Click to expand...
Well I dont know if there is an output equalizer working somewhere in the stream..?...where ?.. but the imac sound is brighter, clearer...like the highs turned up and the mids turned down...I'll a comparison with BT head phones today
 
Z

Zest28

macrumors 68030
Jul 11, 2022
2,581
3,933
DAC's can sound different if it is connected via USB due to RFI noise. Brighter sound is usually a sign of RFI, which is a bad thing.

High-end DAC's usually have all their input galvanic isolated to deal with this problem, which I doubt your DAC has.
 
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