New iMac Supports High-Impedance Headphones

The new 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip supports high-impedance headphones, according to an Apple support document updated today.

iMac power speaker heaphones copy
The built-in 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side of the new iMac features impedance detection and adaptive voltage output, and the computer now has an improved digital-to-analog converter with support for sample rates of up to 96 kHz, allowing for users to listen to high-fidelity, full-resolution audio with supported headphones.

Apple's list of all Macs that support high-impedance headphones:

  • iMac introduced in 2023
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2022 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2023
  • Mac Studio introduced in 2022 or later
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2023

The new iMac launched today after being introduced at Apple's event last week. Key new features include the M3 chip, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The all-in-one desktop computer has the same design as the 2021 model with the M1 chip.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Caution)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Apple John Ternus 2019

Will John Ternus Really Be Apple's Next CEO?

Friday December 5, 2025 9:01 am PST by
There is uncertainty about Apple's head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook as CEO, The Information reports. Some former Apple executives apparently hope that a new "dark-horse" candidate will emerge. Ternus is considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Cook as CEO. The report notes that he is more likely to become CEO than software head chief Craig Federighi, ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....

Top Rated Comments

GMShadow Avatar
27 months ago

Oh good. I’m sure that will mean something to the preschoolers using it in their classroom where those crayola colors fit right in.
Don't worry, the people who hate a little color will suck it right out of any iMac that isn't silver just like they suck the fun from life in general. ;)
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
27 months ago
I don't want to be highly impeded by my headphones
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
27 months ago

the computer now has a built-in digital-to-analog converter ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212854') with support for sample rates of up to 96 kHz, allowing for users to listen to high-fidelity, full-resolution audio with supported headphones.
I hate to be "that guy," but why not 192 kHz? I find it strange that Apple offers 24-bit, 192 KHz music, but can't actually play said music on its devices without a third party adaptor.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
27 months ago
Great. Users are able to enjoy lossless & spatial over wired connections... unlike "the future" which still lacks the bandwidth to deliver the same. When does "the future" actually arrive again?

Those:

* who want maximum quality have a way to enjoy it.
* happy with the "convenience" (the future) method can enjoy their compressed audio their preferred way too.

I call that Win:Win!

And personally, I'd welcome a headphone jack back on the next incarnation of my favorite iPad, given an Apple-quality DAC is already inside to play to it and I'm no fan of dongles at all. Those who:

* ARE fans of dongles,
* already own USB-C wired headphone,
* are fans of "the future" option and/or
* want to maximize the quality of the audio from lossless/spatial...

...could fully have audio their way. Everybody could get what they want with one little resurrection that Apple themselves are still interested in adding to brand new hardware offerings in late 2023.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
27 months ago

Oh good. I’m sure that will mean something to the preschoolers using it in their classroom where those crayola colors fit right in.
Yeah preschools are definitely putting brand new iMacs in the classrooms
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
27 months ago
I like this! Im sure those who buy this and wear headphones will likely really appreciate this. In some cases, nothing beats a wire and a good set of headphones.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)