Sure, you can buy a computer monitor and set it up on the stand that came in the box. But what if you want to easily move the external display around? And what if you want to have multiple screens and move them around?
Keeping monitors up off the desk and mobile can really improve your setup. And the best way to do that is to mount your screens on arms. It takes some effort, but as today’s user points out below, it’s worth it.
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Mac Studio setup’s 3 monitors are mounted on arms
Redditor TheJTizzle (“JT”) showcased the setup in a post entitled, “My 2024 WFH Studio.” Their M1 Ultra Mac Studio desktop computer sports 64GB of unified memory and a 2TB SSD, which they supplement with two Western Digital external drives and an external SansDisk SSD.
For input devices, JT uses the full Apple trio: extended Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. The keyboard and trackpad are in a handy Twelve South tray. To those input devices they add an Elgato Stream Deck XL, the 32-button version of the verstile media controller that’s so handy for creating shortcuts.
The power Mac Studio drives three displays: A 40-inch LG 40WP95C-W UltraWide Curved WUHD (5120 x 2160p) monitor in the center and two 27-inch LG 27UK850-W 4K displays (3820 x 2160p) in portrait mode on either side of it. An Elgato FaceCam webcam and a BenQ monitor light sit on top of the center screen.
And the whole shebang sits atop of a Flexispot sit-stand desk, 78 inches wide.
3 monitor arms ‘go a long way’
But despite all of the setup’s great gear and more (see the list below), something you can’t see in the photograph dominated the comments on the post — the arms the displays are mounted on.
They’re AVLT Single Monitor Arm Desk Mounts, each one gas-spring operated and capable of raising, lowering and otherwise moving a monitor between 17 and 49 inches in screen size and weighing up to 50.7 pounds.
The base clamp takes up just a few inches of desk space, and the arms let you keep the monitors off the desk, too, and set to a healthy height for posture, yet easily movable.
“I am inspired to change mine up,” said a commenter. “I have 2x monitors now but only one on an arm. 1x 34” ultra wide and then a 27” 1440p monitor in its own shitty stand.”
“Good arms go a long way bud, don’t think I can ever go back to just the stand,” JT replied.
Mixed reviews but no complaints here
“I have the old Amazon Basics but going to use that on my 27” and got a pillar style for my 34” as it does not need to be nearly as mobile,” the person added.
“Had the Basics when I just had just the side displays and upgraded to the ones you see now when I added the ultra wide and wanted the white,” JT replied.
“Eek, $250 and not great reviews,” the commenter said of the recommended arms. “Wish Amazon Basics still had their arm!”
“Only issue I had was the black back plates were cheap plastic, but I didn’t use them anyway. No other issues with them for me,” JT assured them.
And it’s worth noting that while the AVLT arm costs $249, Amazon currently offers an $80 off coupon on the product page, lowing the price to $169.
And by the way, if you like that Star Wars-related wall art behind the desk, you can find it here.
Shop these items now:
Computers and stands:
- M1 Ultra Mac Studio
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation)
- Twelve South iPad mount
- Wacom Intuos Pro Writing Tablet
Displays, mounts, monitor light, webcam:
- 40-inch LG 40WP95C-W UltraWide Curved WUHD monitor
- 27-inch LG 27UK850-W 4K displays (2)
- AVLT Single Monitor Arm Desk Mount (3)
- Elgato FaceCam
- BenQ Screenbar Monitor Light
Input devices:
- Magic Keyboard
- Magic Mouse 2
- Magic Trackpad 2
- Twelve South MagicBridge keyboard/trackpad tray
- Elgato Stream Deck XL
External storage:
Audio:
- Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks 4 2.1 Bluetooth Speaker System
- AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
- AirPods Max
- Twelve South headphone stand
Furniture, lighting and decor:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
Each heavy-duty, full-motion VESA mounted arm fits one 17in to 49in monitor weighing up to 50.7 pounds. Allows height, swivel and tilt adjustment.
