New iMac Supports High-Impedance Headphones

Tuesday November 7, 2023 12:30 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

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.

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Top Rated Comments

GMShadow

39 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

39 months ago

I don't want to be highly impeded by my headphones

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

guzhogi

39 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

39 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)

Fuzzball84

39 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)