It’s nice that Apple put out a high-quality show that prices lots lower than the $5,000 Professional Show XDR. However the Studio Show, at $1,600, continues to be too expensive for a lot of of us. For those who’d reasonably have a 5K show for approach lower than a grand, immediately’s featured M2 Professional Mac mini setup is for you in case you’re keen to do some work.
Following an tutorial video included under, the consumer transformed a 5K iMac to a 5K normal USB show for about $700.
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Mac mini drives transformed 5K iMac USB show in setup
Redditor fromthecouv (“FTC”) showcased the well-equipped setup in a distinctively inexperienced room in a publish with a extremely descriptive title: “My Personal Workspace Nirvana Milestone. Due in no small half to the concepts and inspiration from this sub and your images (Thanks!). Open to options for show wallpaper or the rest. Setup particulars within the feedback.”
FTC mentioned the setup was a yr and a half within the planning. He changed his reasonably aged 27-inch iMac from 2011 with a robust and loaded new M2 Professional Mac mini. It packs 32GB of built-in reminiscence and a 1 TB stable state drive (which is simply the tip of the iceberg on the setup’s storage; see under).
He runs the mini with a 5K iMac transformed to a typical USB show perched on a Rain Design mbase stand.
Naturally, commenters needed to know the way he transformed the 5K iMac to a typical USB show.
“I adopted this Luke Miani video stroll by way of, utilizing instruments and tear down guides from iFixit, eradicating all the inside parts and changing them with the really useful video converter board,” FTC famous.
Miani’s video reveals tips on how to convert a 5K iMac to one thing very very similar to a Studio Show. It prices approach much less but it surely takes some effort for these not afraid to get beneath the hood. Care to strive it?
Watch the video on tips on how to convert a 5K iMac to a ‘DIY Studio Show’
Having dealt with the conversion, FTC supplied some useful recommendation, as effectively:
The one factor I’d add to the data within the video is to make sure you truly disassemble and take away the show panel from the iMac first to get the right panel mannequin quantity earlier than ordering the video converter board. I acquired in a rush to order the converter board from the eBay vendor and forgot this step and ended up ordering the incorrect board. I acquired fortunate as a result of once I contacted the vendor about my mistake they confirmed the board I bought would nonetheless work, so I fortunately didn’t have to order a second one.
That, after which additionally remember to give your self loads of time to finish the conversion. I’m pretty comfy opening up {hardware} utilizing tutorials like this and I nonetheless took nearly a full day simply in order that I didn’t rush and unintentionally harm the show panel within the course of. However so long as you’re affected person to observe the guides, are mild with the panel and have some regular fingers, there’s no motive why you wouldn’t be capable to do that too. Good luck in case you determine to strive!
Stout storage and high-quality audio
The setup additionally contains twin exterior 2.5-inch Oyen digital drive enclosures for loads of storage. They work with USB, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections and match stable state and standard onerous drives. FTC might have many, many terabytes of digital storage for large information like audio and video.
And talking of audio, the setup’s no slouch in that division, both.
An Audient iD14 MKII audio interface connects to a set of Denon AH-D5000 reference headphones with noise canceling and a pair of JBL 305 MKII powered studio screens elevated on Vivo desk clamp monitor stands. You will get the JBL audio system in 5-, 6- or 8-inch dimension variations, with or with out a 10-inch subwoofer to fill out the underside finish. Seems to be like a pair of any of the audio system with subwoofer will run you lower than a grand.
And who’s watching over the entire thing? A Totoro plush stuffed animal perched on the left-hand speaker within the {photograph}. The character first appeared within the Japanese animated fantasy movie My Neighbor Totoro, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, in 1988.
Store these things now:
Pc:
Show and stand:
Enter units:
Storage:
Audio:
Decor:
If you need to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, ship some high-res photos to [email protected]. Please present an in depth record of your tools. Inform us what you want or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any particular touches, challenges you confronted alongside the way in which and plans for brand new additions.
