Apple’s New MacBook Pro’s Headphone Port Can Power High Impedance Headphones

The problem with audiophile grade headphones is that some of them require more power to use them compared to regular headphones. This is why you might notice that for some higher-grade headphones, it is recommended that you use an amplifier with them in order to fully take advantage of it.

The good news is that if you were planning on buying Apple’s new MacBook Pros, Apple has recently posted a support document in which they detail how the headphone jack in the laptop has the capability to power high-impedance headphones where in some cases, it might even allow some users to do away with an additional amplifier.

According to Apple, the new MacBook Pros come with a DC load detector, adaptive voltage output, and a digital-to-analog converter. “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.”

It’s actually a pretty cool feature and in a pinch, we reckon that it will do, especially if you’re working outside and it’s not convenient to have your amplifier with you. We imagine that in some cases, an external amplifier might still be preferred, but it’s good to see Apple thinking about its more “pro” users.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Audio, Computers, Gadgets
Tags: Headphones, Laptops, Macbook Pro, Social Hit