Since there is no or very little information, I decided to compare the sound of the 2012, 2013-2015 MBP 24 with the 2012 i5 Mac Mini i7 . Also MBP M1.
I compared the sound using optics cable
2012 Mac Mini is bassy, mid-bass sticks out, not very careful in subtleties and details, but very assertive and accentuated sound. Instruments can be increased in size. In general,
I listened to Mac Mini 2012 for 12 years,
The first one to test was the 2012 MBP decided to try it didn’t offend me in any way with its sound.
NEXT for test I bought a 2013 MacBook Pro because from 2013 to 2015 Apple installed 24/192 digital output.
Yes, the 2013 MBP was immediately noticeable by the difference in sound, it was more subtle and detailed, the stage deepened and became more transparent. The bass was not as punchy as the Mac Mini, but had more detail and vibration.
I listened for several days, changing positions of the 2013 MBP, switching to the 2012 Mac Mini, and listened for a long time without switching.
Honestly, twice I was sure that the MBP was better, but when I turned on the Mac Mini it squeezed out the dynamics from poor recordings, especially on rock. To this day I have not decided which is preferable. For 12 years I got used to the sound of the Mac Mini.
I decided to try the new MacBook Pro M1 But it does not have a digital output, I did a long search and bought a DDC digital converter. SMSL PO100 PRO.
I listened for several days, changing positions of the 2013 MBP, switching to the Mac Mini, and listened for a long time without switching.
Honestly, twice I was sure that the MBP was better, but when I turned on the Mac Mini it squeezed out the dynamics from poor recordings, especially on rock. To this day I have not decided which is preferable. For 12 years I got used to the sound of the Mac Mini. But in all tests I enjoyed the sound of the MBP, it was more correct, not as intrusive as the Mac Mini.
I decided to try the new MacBook Pro M1 But it does not have a digital output, I did a long search and bought a DDC digital converter. SMSL PO100 PRO.
I immediately connected it to the Mac Mini. The sound from became the same as on the MBP2013. .
I decided to compare the internal converter of the 2013 MBP and the sound of the new MacBook Pro M1 through the converter SMLS . In this test the sound was almost the same. The MacBook Pro 2013 was a little softer than the M1 MBP, perhaps the converter has not yet burned out, there is such a thing that any equipment needs time to enter the mode and open up.
I think that the MacBook Pro 2013 and M1 as a music streamer are the same, I don’t have an M1 or M2 Mac Mini, perhaps the sound will be different like the 2013 MBP and Mac Mini.
Due to limitations and saving battery power, the MBP may have a thinner but clearer sound; the Mac Mini has internal power and is not limited.
Important:
I tried connecting an external linear low-noise power supply for the Mac Mini,
I didn’t hear any difference, maybe there was one, but it’s not worth any effort to introduce an external power supply.
Has anyone compared the New M1 M2 Mac Mini and MacBook Pro in sound?