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Setups - page 3

Add great audio to your workstation the easy way [Setups]

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Blue Yeti mic
This user's Blue Yeti mic on a nice boom arm plus a Behringer audio interface get the job done.
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes a computer setup showed off on social media demonstrates just how easy and affordable it can be to add a nice set of audio gear for podcasting, streaming, Zoom meetings and more. Today’s M4 iMac workstation sets a good example. It not only includes AirPods Max, Apple’s premium over-ear headphones. It also features one of the most popular USB microphones mounted on a boom arm, plus a capable audio interface. And it’s all pretty much plug and play, so the user can start broadcasting or recording in minutes.

Another easy way for 2 laptops to share 1 display [Setups]

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vertical laptop stand
Using a dual laptop stand, this user loves how easy it is to switch between MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with Studio Display.
Photo: [email protected]

Hooray for (super-) simple solutions. Today’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air user runs both laptops with Studio Display. But how does he switch between them? Sure, he could employ cabling and software fixes to run both at once, but in this case simple hardware in the form of a dual vertical laptop stand comes to the rescue.

Affordable Aune open-back headphones thrill for the price [Setups]

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aune
Two rarities here: Aune open-back headphones and Wobkey mechanical keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

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.

Compact MacBook Pro station wins for best use of space [Setups]

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saving space with setup
It's not like it's an incomplete setup, either.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s MacBook Pro setup so excels at saving space it fits more into its little nook under a staircase than many people, including me, fit in setups without that constraint. In addition to the usual, they’ve even got multiple game systems, two printers and a book collection in there. And the user still rocks a version of my previous laptop, the great M1 Pro MacBook Pro. No doubt it’s still good for a few more years.

Kanto speakers sculpt Mac mini rig’s sound [Setups]

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Kanto speakers
Kanto's Ora speakers are compact for small spaces, but provide ample clear sound.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Kanto/[email protected]

The M4 Mac mini comes with a built-in speaker, but it’s more for alert sounds, calls and the like rather than high-quality music streaming. So today’s M4 Mac mini user does the necessary thing and adds an external sound system. This one includes nice Kanto speakers on rising stands and a powerful Kanto subwoofer under the desk.

M4 iMac makes surprisingly rare appearance [Setups]

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iMac setup
As the user points out, an iMac setup is a clean setup because so many components are included in the desktop computer.
Photo: [email protected]

When I came across today’s M4 iMac setup on the interwebs, I realized how rarely they come up in Cult of Mac‘s setups coverage. Out of 616 articles I’ve written about setups to date — over more than 4 years — this is only the 11th one to feature an iMac (plus a few others from before I took over the setups beat). And that small number doesn’t come from any hatred of iMacs on my part. It’s just that users seem to flaunt them much less on social media than other hardware. And they’re not top sellers for Apple.

Turn your M4 Mac mini into a small-but-mighty ‘Mac Pro’ [Setups]

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Mac mini stand - Mac Pro
The M4 Mac mini disguised an a toddler Mac Pro sits to the left of the displays.
Photo: [email protected]

In my lengthy travels among computer setups displayed on social media, I saw a cool Mac mini case a while back that made the compact M4/M4 Pro desktop computer look like a little Mac Pro. I wondered if it’d catch on as a cool, must-have accessory, but then I never saw it again — until now. Today’s featured M4 Pro Mac mini setup sports one of the snazzy and functional cases in a dual-display workstation.

Look bad on video? Try this weird lighting trick. [Setups]

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Ulanzi lights
This slick setup's lighting arrangement is unusual.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s M4 Mac mini setup jumped out at me not because of the powerful little desktop or the gorgeous-but-distracting display wallpaper, but because of all you can see riding on top of the monitor. It features a typical monitor light bar with a pronounced webcam riding on top. But look to the corners and notice something I’ve never seen: two separate LED light panels — Ulanzi lights — mounted there to make the user look better on video calls.

Get into mechanical gaming keyboards with this $40 pick [Setups]

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affordable mechanical keyboard
This mechanical keyboard for gaming will run you only about $40.
Photo: Newmen

For people who have only used membrane keyboards in office and at home, whether Magic Keyboard or similar wares from the likes of Logitech, mechanical keyboards can be a tempting world to check out — especially for gamers (because mechanical keystrokes hit at the same time won’t cancel each other out). And mech-keeb customization can be fun. But where to start? Today’s MacBook Pro and gaming PC setup puts forward an excellent candidate for an affordable mechanical keyboard.

Studio Display beats down Samsung ultra-wide monitor [Setups]

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displays for Mac mini
Here's the ultra-wide Samsung 1440p monitor used with Mac Mini.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple’s 27-inch 5K Studio Display continues to impress users — aside from its steep price tag. Lots of folks look for affordable alternatives. Today’s Mac mini user owns a Studio Display, but he wanted to try an ultra-wide Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED display. Well, guess what. He keeps going back to the Studio Display. See below for all the reasons why.

His-and-hers MacBook Pro rigs make for matrimonial bliss [Setups]

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2 Macbooks - his and hers setups
He said he and his wife are rarely in the setups room at the same time. Coincidence? Maybe.
Photo: [email protected]

In my setups coverage across social media, I see plenty more man caves and she sheds for solitary dwelling than dual setups meant for spouses working side by side. No surprise there, right? And yet dual setups for couples pop up occasionally, like today’s double workstation with 2 MacBooks.

Smoothly integrate 2 Macs in 1 workstation [Setups]

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dual Mac setup
The dual-Mac setup with newer machines is a pretty rare find.
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes even an advanced user runs into roadblocks getting their computer setup where they want it. Today’s Mac mini and MacBook Air setup, owned by a French software developer, relies on cable swaps to switch between devices on a big external display. But some straightforward Mac functionality and the addition of one piece of hardware could make things much easier.

Gamer loves easily switching from MacBook Pro to PC [Setups]

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setup KVM switch
This setup uses and inexpensive KVM switch and Thunderbolt 3 dock to switch between MacBook Pro and gaming PC.
Photo: [email protected]

In a world where people love their Macs for some uses and their PCs for others — especially gaming — a setup KVM switch comes in mighty handy. That’s because it lets you easily switch between Mac and PC using the same peripherals, like keyboard, video (displays) and mouse. That spells K-V-M.

New audio interface and microphone give good voice to MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio audio interface bundle
Now I'm ready to record, podcast and sound better on calls.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

After finally incorporating a proper pair of speakers into my evolving MacBook Pro setup in late 2024 — following years of writing Cult of Mac setups articles, often with a focus on high-quality audio gear I shamelessly envied — I just upped my rig’s audio ante again. And this time it’s mainly from the input perspective. I added a new Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, a condenser microphone mounted on an arm and, ridiculously, two more pairs of over-ear headphones (I already have too many cans and earbuds).

Mac mini and potent 20-in-1 dock power killer workstation [Setups]

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dock for Mac mini
A powerful and well-equipped M4 Pro Mac mini and iVanky Thunderbolt 4 dock power this great setup.
Photo: [email protected]

These days, a well-equipped new Mac mini and a good docking station buy you loads of computing power and connectivity to plenty of peripherals for years to come. Today’s M4 Pro Mac mini workstation features a fine dock for Mac mini in the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 (even though the Thunderbolt 4 dock with a whopping 20 connection options was designed for MacBooks).

Gorgeous workstation goes big on premium audio gear [Setups]

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WiiM Ultra
It's a beautiful computer setup full of beautiful audio gear.
Photo: [email protected]

A physically beautiful computer setup is a wonder to behold. And one loaded with primo audio gear truly turns me green with envy. So today’s PC setup with desktop and laptop machines got my attention both for its aesthetic and the fact that it sports a raft of cool components. They include a very useful item I’ve never seen before: a WiiM Ultra Music Streamer and Digital Preamp.

This multi-MacBook rig has ‘everything’ [Setups]

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Beelink Mini PC
That's an LG smart TV as a main display. To the right of it is a converted iPad HDMI display and a Beelink Mini PC in a 3D-printed housing with a 7-inch touchscreen.
Photo: [email protected]

When does a computer setup have everything? Never, really. Each one is a perpetual work in progress. But today’s fine example claims to have everything and it actually comes pretty close in some ways. It features MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Beelink Mini PC with external touchscreen, gaming PC, big smart TV external display and an original iPad used as an HDMI display. And the other gaming-centric peripherals and knickknacks in the picture are pretty cool, too.

M4 Mac mini user loves his Samsung ultra-wide monitor [Setups]

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Samsung ultra-wide monitor
The user loves using his M4 Mac mini with the Samsung ultra-wide 4K display.
Photo: [email protected]

In the world of computer setups, I see lots of people with two displays, loads of people with one ultra-wide display and tons of people arguing over which is best. Today’s M4 Mac mini user loves his Samsung ultra-wide monitor, which is one I haven’t seen often. But it looks like a keeper for both Mac and PC setups. And it’s deeply discounted right now.

Should you mount speakers sideways on stands? [Setups]

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Yamaha studio monitor - pair
Yamaha HS7 studio monitor speakers far outstrip the small speaker inside a Mac mini.
Photo: Yamaha

Today’s Mac mini setup really pumps up the clear audio with Yamaha studio monitor speakers, suitable for the user’s music production. They mount the speakers on stands, which is great. But they mount them sideways, which is … odd. And despite having those, they love their HomePod mini for most uses.

Good luck finding the Mac mini in this workstation [Setups]

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Mac mini mounted on back of monitor
You can see this user works with an iPad. But where's the Mac mini?
Photo: [email protected]

It’s a fun game for a Friday: Find the Mac mini in today’s featured setup photo, above. Or maybe it’s not so fun, because you’re doomed to failure. It’s not visible because the user mounted it on the back of his 5K Samsung ViewFinity S9 external monitor (which just happens to look just like its ultimate foe, Apple’s 5K Studio Display).

“It’s interesting to see how minimalist every Mac user seems to go with their setups,” noted a commenter. So our user quipped, “Apple store energy, hehe.”

Why some audiophiles choose AirPods Pro 2 over wired headphones and earbuds [Setups]

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wireless earbus vs. wired earbuds - AirPods Pro 2
Say what you want about high-quality wired headphones and earbuds. This user finds AirPods Pro 2 irresistibly convenient.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In a face-off like wireless earbuds vs. wired earbuds and headphones, most self-described audiophiles will insist wired wins. But Bluetooth headphones and earbuds have come a long way in recent years in terms of solid audio quality and reliable connectivity. That’s a big part of the reason why today’s featured MacBook Pro setup user chooses AirPods Pro 2 almost all of the time, despite owning excellent wired headphones and in-ear monitors. It really just comes down to convenience.

Can you use a big OLED TV as a MacBook monitor? Heck yes! [Setups]

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OLED smart TV
Which do you want more, that OLED smart TV display or the wallpaper on it?
Photo: [email protected]

Everybody loves a big, beautiful external display in a computer setup — and this LG OLED TV monitor is a great way to go. Today’s setup is built around a 42-inch LG OLED TV plugged into a MacBook Pro.

Also: See if you can guess what the cool-looking desktop wallpaper showing on the display pictures. Answer below.

Edifier audio gear rocks Nepalese MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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Edifier audio - R1280DB speakers
A pair of of these wireless speakers will typically blow away speakers built into setup gear like laptop or monitor speakers.
Photo: Edifier

If you don’t have big bucks to spend on high-end, audiophile-worthy speakers and headphones to use in your computer setup, you can’t really go wrong with uber-affordable Edifier audio gear. Today’s featured M2 MacBook Pro setup — an exotic entry from Nepal, no less — keeps the tunes flowing through a nice set of Edifier bookshelf speakers and a comfortable pair of over-ear noise-canceling headphones. They simply get the job done well — without breaking the bank.

Is Studio Display ‘less than ideal’ for photo editing? [Setups]

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display for photo editing
This MacBook Pro user like their Studio Display for photo editing, though commenters had various opinions and wishes for Apple's popular monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

While plenty of people find Apple’s Studio Display a bit too expensive, many owners of Mac setups love it. Today’s MacBook Pro user justifies the expense because they use Studio Display for photo editing. But others disagreed that the $1,600 monitor is all that great a display for photo editing, with one person calling it “less than ideal” and backing that up with several technical points, below. They might not worry casual users much, but could be worth considering for pros like graphic designers.