I love a solid setup featuring Apple’s killer Mac Studio desktop computer — and all the more so if some of the peripherals look fantastic and are completely new to me. Today’s compact workstation, for example, features a cool Wobkey 80 mechanical keyboard. But I was even more distracted by a fascinating set of relatively affordable open-back headphones — Aune AR5000.
When I think at a glance that it’s a pair of $2,000 headphones, but they only cost $300 despite having premium features, I get excited.
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Aune open-back headphones thrill for the price in Mac Studio setup
These hi-fi over-ear cans feature a large, 50mm MLD dynamic driver and detachable cable.
- Low distortion with plenty of musical detail
- Immersive soundstage
- Comfortable
- Low-impedance for broad device compatibility
- More premium open-back cans may bring more natural sound
In a post simply entitled “My workspace,” Redditor and tea enthusiast OolongCha showcases a tightly focused workstation. Their M4 Max Mac Studio drives a 32-inch Dell P3223QE 4K resolution monitor provided by an employer. But they said to a commenter who mistook the Dell for a Studio Display or a Cinema Display that they’d just been haggling over a Studio Display online. But the point of the post was more to seek advice on jazzing up the setup.
“Still looks a tad bit boring, any suggestions?” Cha asked. To that question, commenters suggested spreading out the “concentrated” setup a bit, maybe with more plants in the mix.
And to me, what leaps out about it are two interesting perhipherals: the very cool-looking and relatively affordable Aune AR5000 open-back headphones and the Wobkey 80 mechanical keyboard. I’ve never come across either of them in several years of Cult of Mac‘s setups coverage.
Aune AR5000 open-back headphones
Cha called his AR500 open-back cans “amazing headphones, especially at the price.” When someone asked if they’re comfortable for long periods, Cha said “extremely.” For a primer on open-back vs. closed-back headphones, read my buying guide.
Aune AR5000 headphones feature an unusual 50mm open-back dynamic driver unit with an innovative structure, the company said. “The multi-layer distributed (MLD) diaphragm balances rigidity and damping, further resolving the breakup issue often found in large drivers,” the company noted.
Features:
- Lower distortion across a full range high transparency and a frequency response extending up to 40kHz means plenty of detail in the music.
- The sense of space in the sound, or soundstage, should be pretty immersive with these, too. The large-tilt-angle driver panel and the ear cup designed with a tilt are meant to enhance spatial perception, similar to AirPods Max’s Spatial Audio. The ear cup shell’s open-grid design with side vents balances diffusion of airflow at the rear, further expanding the naturalness and openness of the sound.
- Aune also seems to pride itself on comfortable cans. It credits the headphones’ adjustability and lightweight design. The ear cups are made of breathable acoustic slow-rebound sponge, allowing for extended listening sessions without discomfort.
- These are low-impedance headphones, at 28 ohms, so they work well with a wide range of devices without necessarily needing a headphone amplifier.
Wobkey 80 mechanical keyboard
This mechanical keyboard features a high-quality aluminum frame with a 5-second quick-release design, plus triple-mode connectivity.
- Quick-release aluminum frame
- Connect with 3 devices at once
- RGB lighting
- Bigger battery, premium switches and some lighting options only in Pro model
Cha called their Wobkey Crush 80 mechanical keyboard “perfect.” It Lite and Pro versions boast impressive features and specs:
- CNC 6063 aluminum frame
- 5-second quick-release design
- Triple-mode connectivity
- HMX Frost switches (Lite) / Kailh Cocoa switches (Pro)
- PBT keycaps, double shot
- Ball-catch structure
- 3750mAh (Lite) / 7500mAh (Pro) battery
- South-facing A-RGB lighting (Pro only)
- RGB heartbeat light
- Magnetic POGO pin
Shop these items now:
Audio:
Computer:
Display and light bar:
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). 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.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
