If you want great sound out of your computer setup, you need excellent speakers, of course. But if you work with music rather than just listening to it, you also need a top audio interface for Mac to run between your computer and other gear. Today’s MacBook Pro setup incorporates one of our top picks in a recent roundup of best audio interfaces for Mac and pairs it with a nice set of Yamaha speakers.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
Top audio interface shapes MacBook Pro setup’s sound
Redditor acycmusic (“Cy”) showcased the well-appointed setup in a post entitled “MacBook M2 Pro setup.” Cy runs an M2 MacBook Pro driving a 27-inch MCI G27 series display with a monitor light bar on top. The computer sits in clamshell mode on a vertical stand right behind the monitor. She uses a Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse and switches between a pair of Magic Keyboards and a Yunzii x75 Mechanical Keyboard for typing. We recently covered her use of pegboards for storage and her cool transparent mechanical keyboard.
Now our focus is on her excellent audio interface and speakers. Cy runs one of the top units featured in our roundup of best audio interfaces for Mac. It’s the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo, which we named best audio interface for Mac under $1,000 (its bigger sibling, the Quad, was our top pick overall). In Cy’s setup, the Duo audio interface is paired with a capable set of Yamaha HS7 powered studio monitor speakers.
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo audio interface
Here’s how we described the Duo, pictured above:
“With dual rather than quad DSP chips, this one can run fewer plugins than the Quad. And like the Quad, the Duo features A/D and D/A conversion derived from Apollo X rackmount interfaces paired with Unison mic preamps for classic mic and guitar amp sounds … it runs the Luna recording software,made for Apollo (Mac only) and UAD powered plug-ins.”
And we added:
“The front panel includes Unison-enabled Hi-Z instrument input, headphone out and a built-in talkback mic for communication in the studio. Dedicated monitor functionality includes monitor remote functions and mono, mute, DIM, and ALT monitor controls. And you can access up to eight channels of additional digital input via optical ADAT/SPDIF inputs. You can buy this one for about $990.”
Yamaha HS7 powered studio monitor speakers
You might think Yamaha is about motorcycles or guitars — which it is — but it’s also all about home audio. We see these speakers and others from the brand in setups pretty often because people know they’re damned good.
HS7 speaker features:
- 6.5-inch cone woofer and 1-inch dome tweeter
- 43Hz – 30kHz frequency response
- 60-watt LF plus 35W HF bi-amp system (95W total)
- Room control and high trim response controls
- XLR and TRS phone jack inputs
Shop these items now:
Photo: [email protected]
Audio interface and speakers:
Computer:
Display:
Input devices:
Pegboard for setup storage:
- Ikea Skadis pegboard (white)
- Black pegboard with hooks
- White pegboards with storage accessories
- 130-piece or 240-piece pegboard accessories kits
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res photographs to [email protected]. 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.
If you want to make great music, try what Cult of Mac named the best audio interface for Mac under $1,000.
