Connecting the Mac Studio to an amplifier

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Level 1

4 points

Connecting the Mac Studio to an amplifier

What is the best way to connect the Mac Studio to an amplifier? The amplifier I use has either optical or RCA inputs. My experience with the older devices was that when I used the headphone jack to RCA adapter, the signal was too strong. There was also no way to transmit the digital audio that way.

Is the Mac Studio equipped with that mini toslink we used to have in the older devices? Would the Fiber Optic Toslink to 3.5mm Jack adapter work with Mac Studio?

Posted on Apr 1, 2022 12:27 PM

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Answer 1

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lllaass

Level 10

210,459 points

Apr 1, 2022 12:42 PM in response to badger_68

A while ago Apple stopped providing an optical output (Toslink) in the headphone jack.

Yuu con get USB-A and USB-C to RCA output adapters

https://www.amazon.com/usb-rca-adapter/s?k=usb+rca+adapter

On 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon and Mac Studio, you can connect high-impedance headphones to the 3.5mm audio jack Thus it may work directly for amp input.

Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

82,594 points

Apr 1, 2022 12:39 PM in response to badger_68

No the Mac Studio does not support Digital from the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

see > Mac Studio - Technical Specifications - Apple

To get Digital output, you will need to use a USB to Digital output adapter or DAC.

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Answer 3

badger_68 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 1, 2022 12:47 PM in response to lllaass

Ha!

"Your Mac can detect the impedance of the connected device and will adapt its output for low- and high-impedance headphones, as well as for line-level audio devices."

I guess that solves my problem. Thanks!

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Connecting the Mac Studio to an amplifier

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