Apple’s new MacBook Pro models are equipped with the “best audio system in a notebook,” according to Apple, and now Apple has published a new support document detailing the use of high-impedance headphones with the new MacBook Pro models.
When Apple debuted the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, the new laptops’ 3.5mm headphone jack offers support for high-impedance headphones, allowing professionals to use studio-quality headphones.
The new MacBook Pros boast DC load detection, adaptive voltage output, and a built-in digital-to-analog converter.
Use high-impedance headphones with new MacBook Pro models
Connect high-impedance headphones directly to MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) or MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021).
The 3.5 mm headphone jack on the MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) or MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) features DC load detection and adaptive voltage output. Your Mac can detect the impedance of the connected device and will adapt its output for low- and high-impedance headphones, as well as for line-level audio devices.
When you connect headphones with an impedance of less than 150 ohms, the headphone jack provides up to 1.25 volts RMS. For headphones with an impedance of 150 to 1k ohms, the headphone jack delivers 3 volts RMS. This may remove the need for an external headphone amplifier.
With impedance detection, adaptive voltage output, and a built-in digital-to-analog converter that supports sample rates of up to 96 kHz, you can enjoy high-fidelity, full-resolution audio directly from the headphone jack on your MacBook Pro.
