Recommendation for external monitor with good audio?

I've got a MacBook Pro, about three years old or so. I also have a new iMac.
I'm happy with the audio on the iMac. Good enough that I don't need external speakers to listen to iTunes.
I have a weekend place and when I go, I only take my MacBook Pro with me ... and I miss the 21" screen and the better audio from my iMac.
Can anyone recommend a monitor for MacBook Pro that is just as good as the iMac, especially with regards to the sound?
Ideally under $300.

Any with built-in HDMI should work and 1080p. ViewSonic, NEC, Sony, LG, and Samsung. Viewsonic and NEC may also have color correction capabilities. Make sure your Mac is one of the ones with built-in audio over mini-Displayport or has Thunderbolt or HDMI to connect:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4241
If it does not have audio, and is a mini-Displayport only, see this tip for alternatives:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2821

Similar Messages

Recommendations for external monitor in combination with USB 3.0 dock and X1 carbon touch

Dear Community,
I'm waiting for my X1 carbon touch and USB 3.0 dock and keyboard/mouse to arrive any time soon. However, I'd be glad to get some help/recommendations on external monitor choice.
For instance, the new HP envy 27" caught my eye, since it includes speakers, but it comes with HDMI and Displayport connections only. As far as I understood, video connection itselft shouldn't be a problem using a DVI to HDMI adaptor, but how about the resolution of the X1 vs. a HD+ monitor, and how do I use the audio on this monitor (don't want to use the microphone jack in front of the dock, as it should look as minimalistic as possible)?
Is there a solution? via usb 3.0? or should I better consider another monitor? Anyways, DVI or HDMI, I don't want to connect a separate audio system to the dock. Any recommendations, or is it one of those gadgets that has not been thought through well enough and you need to wait for the next generation to be developed?
Many thanks for your help,
Cheers, jcd

Since you don't want to use the jack on the dock, you could usethemini-DisplayPortontheX1cTouchasyourvideooutputoption because the version of DP on the X1c Touch includes the ability for audio to streamed over the DP connection in addition to video. This would require a compatible DP monitor.
You'll also want the monitor to support audio over the DP connection. The X1c Touch's graphics supports the output of an audio stream over DP and the machine should be be capable of this. This gives you two cables connecting to the X1c Touch -- the DP cable for audio and video and the USB 3.0 cable connecting to the dock. The dock would be attached to keyboard, mouse, USB accessories, and Ethernet (if necessary).
As far as what to look for in a monitor, my general recommendation is Dell Ultrasharp. They tend to be a good deal for an IPS monitor with at least an sRGB gamut and a solid warranty. I've never bothered to attempt to stream audio over DP because I have separate speakers for audio. In the same way that my last 3 laptops have been ThinkPads, my last three monitors have been Dell Ultrasharps. The graphics in the X1c Touch should be fine running a 1920x1080, so I wouldn't worry about resolution. It can be a little jarring to use monitors side-by-side when they have different pixel densities, so you'll likely end up treating them as separate display surfaces. I often have e-mail and Pandora open on my T420's screen while I'm doing the bulk of my work on my main monitors. If you think you'll be touching the screen a good bit, then you might want to look into buying a touch capable monitor. Otherwise your brain can become easily confused because it'll begin to think that all computer screens are touch-capable and you'll reach out and try to touch your desktop monitor without thinking.
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My TPs: Twist 2HU: i5-3317U Win 8 Pro, 4GB RAM 250GB Samsung 840 | T420 4177CTO: i5-2520M, HD+, Win 7 Pro x64, 8GB RAM, Optimus, 160GB Intel 320 SSD, Intel 6300 WiFi, BT 3.0 | T400 2764CTO: P8700, WXGA, Win 7 Ult x64, AMD 3470, 8GB RAM, 64GB Samsung SSD, BT, Intel 5300 WiFi | A20m 14.1" PIII 500 (retired). Monitors: 2x Dell U2211h IPS 100% sRGB calibrated w/ Spyder3.

Recommendation for external monitor

I have a G4 12" 1.5 GHz PowerBook with 768 MB of RAM, currently running 10.4.7. I'd like to buy an inexpensive external monitor, and am currently looking at a Dell 19" flat panel (model number SP1908FP). I'm pretty ignorant about monitors; I've read some of the discussions on this board, and looked at the specs for my laptop, but I'd like a confirmation before I buy it. The Dell monitor specs say 1280x1028, and although I don't actually know what that means, I see that it matches the PowerBook specs. Do I need to know anything else? And what do I need in the way of connectors? Should I be looking at other brands?
Total newbie about this stuff, so all help is much appreciated!
Thanks.
eMac, 12" PB G4 1.5 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)
eMac, PB G4 12" Mac OS X (10.4.5)

My recommendation would be to get a widescreen monitor, as I think it fits more with the Apple design.
Your 12" PB came with a mini DVI to DVI adapter (you do remember where it is?). Using this adapter, you can hook it up to a monitor that supports a DVI input, which means you can display a digital signal - the computer doesn't have to convert it to analog first. I think the digital signal produces a crisper display.
We use a 19" Samsung widescreen monitor (model 940BW) on our mac mini (not a PB, I know), and it provides a great, widescreen, digital picture. The Samsung came with the DVI cable, so we didn't have to buy one. Got it from Sam's, around $200.
On an LCD screen, I think it's important to buy locally from someplace with a good return policy. Sometimes you can get a display with dead LCD pixels, and many vendors won't take them back unless there are a fair number not working (as I recall, one vendor says there have to be at least 8 pixels not working). If you buy from the internet, make sure you understand their return policy, and ask about dead pixels indicating a defective product (if you decide you don't want it, many companies will make you pay for return shipping. Defective mechandise most vendors will pay return shipping).

Built-in Isight for External Monitor with Macbook closed

Hello Apple Community,
I'm having trouble using my built-in iSight through my external monitor. My set-up is that the Macbook is closed and I run everything through an external monitor. I'm unable, however, to use that external monitor's iSight with any applications. They either say that there's no camera available or something along those lines. The iSight shows up in the system profile under USB, and I've tried resetting various things, but all of that seems geared more to the macbook than to the monitor. I've also woken up the macbook (where the iSight works fine) and tried mirror/non-mirror modes. When I use a camera-based application via the macbook, it doesn't give me an option of which camera to use, relying only on the macbook's. Is there a way to use the external monitor's camera instead?
Thanks,
Abe

Does one of these help you, Abe?
(1) Your Profile "Products" info shows " MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.1) ". If this is correct, you may be using an early MBP and/or display. Have you checked for the firmware update? http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3957
(2) Consider Apple's suggestions from the "If the built-in iSight camera, microphone, speakers, or USB ports on the display are not working:" section of http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2400
(3) If you are using a non-Apple external display, contact the seller or manufacturer for help.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac OSX 10.8.2

Best rgb and gamma settings for external monitor with mountain lion

Hi,
I'm using an LG LED 22 inch monitor with my MBP mid 2010 via minidisplay to hdmi. on OS X side the settings have been default. On the LED side the settings , if set to preset RGB it tends to fade the whites a lot. when i set to user definied and let the preset rgb be at it is, the colors are quote decent. currently they are on R 50, G 58 and B 59 and Gamma 1. Which is the best RGB and Gamma value for OS X Mountain Lion?

Welcome to the forum.
First off, you need to go and buy a hardware monitor calibrator, such as an OptixXR or similar. This will build a custom monitor profile for your specific screen. Without this starting point you can forget ANY attempt at accurate colour matching.
Never (and I mean never) use a working space such as sRGB or Adobe98 as your monitor profile, that's not what they are designed for. Working spaces control what colours are possible in the image, monitor profiles control how those colours are shown on screen. Aperture uses it's own working space so you don't have to worry about that too much.
To answer the rest far too briefly, I'd suggest setting the proofing profile to sRGB and of course use sRGB for the export preset. The gamma setting you will have to adjust depending on how dark the Lightjet prints look compared to your screen. You will have to do test-strips to start with.
Your images looking crap on flickr on Windows machines is partly because Windows web browsers generally do NO colour correction, and only partly to do with the different gamma.
Ian

Dual External Monitors with 15" MacBook Pro (Late 2011)

I'm looking for suggestions for using dual external monitors with new MacBook Pro's. The company I work for has started to puchase these for certain employees and we are looking for any good suggestions.
It appears that the display/thunderbolt port should be able to support many devices but I have not seen any way to hook up multiple displays. The idea is that these employees would be working with the macbook pro screen closed while in the office and use dual displays. The only option that I can find is to use a usb device to output video to a second display. I don't really like that because my experience with these devices is that they usally present a display lag and I know our graphic designers would never go for that.
One employee suggested that he use the VGA adapter and then get a VGA splitter. I'm not exacty certain that would work though. Wouldn't that just mirror the display on two screens instead of allowing an extended desktop? Also it looks like expensive Apple displays have ports so that you can daisy chain thunderbolt devices out of those monitors but this company will not go for the cost of those displays.
Am I missing anything? Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks!

Look into the Matrox Dualhead2Go DP Edition. If it works with Thunderbolt Macs, it will support two identical 1920 x 1080 DVI monitors as one extended desktop. Verify with Matrox that it is Thunderbolt-compatible and will suit your purposes before ordering.

How do I use two external monitors with my laptop?

I have a new Pavilion dm4-301 d cl Entertainment PC. My OS is Windows 7. I am used to using two external monitors with a docking station. This new laptop does not have a docking station. What do I need to get to use two external monitors?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Certainly not without a dock but even with, HP laptop docks pretty well limit you to one of the external monitor ports, even if there are two on the dock. We have used a device called an Atlona AT-HDPIX2 which is a usb to hdmi adapter. It provides a third monitor capability for a laptop....use the native external monitor port and the internal laptop display and then this device gives a third monitor which is full configurable from the Windows 7 display interface...clone, extend, etc. It allows full HD resolution and is responsive enough for even light gaming. HP makes no true docking station for your laptop.

I have connected my new Macbook Air to my existing Samsung large external monitor with a VGA adaptor but I can't get the full mac desktop to display. No icons but then websites are coming up. Help!

I have connected my new Macbook Air to my existing Samsung large external monitor with a VGA adaptor but I can't get the full mac desktop to display. No icons but then websites are coming up. Help! Further info: I am a complete newbie to Mac. Had three macs prior to 2000 then four PCs. Just come back and struggling a bit with the unfamiliarity. On my old PC laptop I could simply switch from the laptop screen to the large external monitor (and back) with the F4 function key. While I can get the background image from my MBA to display, that's it. Until I noticed on the far left of the external monitor, the very edge of one of the web pages I was on. So Idragged it over to display in the centre. But that's all that's there. And now I have gone out of those web pages but they are still displaying on the monitor. There is some wierd disconnect. I'm sure it is just a setting thing. Will keep searching for answer but any advice welcome!

Your dsplay is getting extended onto the external monitor. Chcnage the setting to duplicate it or only display on the external monitor and you should be fine,
Let me know if this worked for you.

If I buy an external monitor (with a res of 2560x1440) will my early 2011 MacBook Pro work ok? And will it be utilising the monitors full res or not?

Hi,
I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro. I use Premiere Pro CS5 to video edit on. It's fine but when it comes to grading it's nearly impossible on such a small screen.
I'd like to buy a 27inch external monitor (Asus, Samsung, Dell, whatever - haven't decided yet) for when I'm editing at work (which is most days). My query is regarding the resolutions. Obviously my MacBook Pro displays a resolution of 1280x800, so if I buy a monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440 for example, what gets displayed?
And also does the connecting cable make any difference? For example, if I'm connecting by Thunderbolt out to HDMI, then an HDMI to HDMI cable to the external monitor, what happens then? Or should I be using a Mini Display Port to Display Port connecting lead?
I guess all I really want to know is, will it work? But also, am I wasting my money buying an external monitor with a 2560x1440 resolution? Should I just go for one that's the same res at my MacBook Pro?
I've never really understood how these things all work!
Thanks in advance for anyones help.
Regards,
Phil

I think it will work. You would need a mini displayport to (single link) DVI adapter to hook up that monitor.
Not sure what kind of problems you had with the ViewSonic but I'm guessing the Dell is probably a better monitor anyhow.

2 External Monitors with the T430s with Intel HD4000

I have read several multiple monitor threads but could not get a clear solution to this.
Model: I have a T430s with Intel HD4000 graphics.
Desired set up: 2 External Monitors + Lenovo LCD
Problem: It seems that I can only drive one external monitor. I'd like to drive two external monitors, as I did previously with my T420.
What I've tried: I have a dock and have tried VGA + DVI for the external monitors, as well as DVI + DVI. Neither setup has worked. It always greys out the third monitor in the Windows Display options.
Any thoughts on how to drive two external monitors with the T430s? Clarity is appreciated. Thank you!

RobertWerner2 wrote:
If I'm reading the link you provided correctly, can I correctly assume that I CAN connect two external displays with just the W520 Laptop and NO docking station?
I tested this today. You can connect two external displays (1 VGA, 1 DisplayPort) without a docking station. The result is 3 independent displays - the ThinkPad LCD, the VGA monitor, and the DisplayPort monitor.

Only black screen on the external monitor with intel-virtual-output

Hello,
I tried to install bumblebee on my Lenovo W520 with this tutorial:
http://www.unixreich.com/blog/2013/linu … ly-solved/
I can activate my external monitor with "intel-virtual-output" and the monitor is switching on. But I can only see a black screen.
In the settings of gnome I can see my external monitor and configure it - but it shows nothing.
Have you any ideas?
Thanks a lot!

Hi,
Same problem here on my Lenovo W530.
Intel-virtual-output used to work fine but since it got upgraded the virtual output stays black.
I tried downgrading the xf86-video-intel package but there is a dependency conflict.
Available packages:
1) xf86-video-intel-2.99.916-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
2) xf86-video-intel-2.99.916-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
3) xf86-video-intel-2.99.916-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
4) xf86-video-intel-2.99.916-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
5) xf86-video-intel-2.99.916-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
6) xf86-video-intel-2.99.914-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
7) xf86-video-intel-2.99.914-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
8) xf86-video-intel-2.99.914-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
9) xf86-video-intel-2.99.914-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
10) xf86-video-intel-2.99.914-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
11) xf86-video-intel-2.99.912-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
12) xf86-video-intel-2.99.912-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
13) xf86-video-intel-2.99.912-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
14) xf86-video-intel-2.99.912-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
15) xf86-video-intel-2.99.911-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
16) xf86-video-intel-2.99.911-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
17) xf86-video-intel-2.99.911-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
18) xf86-video-intel-2.99.911-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
19) xf86-video-intel-2.99.910-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
20) xf86-video-intel-2.99.910-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
21) xf86-video-intel-2.99.909-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
22) xf86-video-intel-2.99.909-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
23) xf86-video-intel-2.99.909-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
24) xf86-video-intel-2.99.908-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
25) xf86-video-intel-2.99.907-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
26) xf86-video-intel-2.99.907-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
27) xf86-video-intel-2.99.907-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
28) xf86-video-intel-2.99.907-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
29) xf86-video-intel-2.21.15-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (local)
30) xf86-video-intel-2.21.15-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
31) xf86-video-intel-2.21.14-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz (remote)
select a package by number: 16
loading packages...
warning: downgrading package xf86-video-intel (2.99.916-3 => 2.99.911-2)
resolving dependencies...
warning: cannot resolve "glamor-egl", a dependency of "xf86-video-intel"
:: The following package cannot be upgraded due to unresolvable dependencies:
xf86-video-intel
:: Do you want to skip the above package for this upgrade? [y/N]
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: xf86-video-intel: requires glamor-egl
Any Ideas what glamor-egl is?
Thanks!

Is there anyway to have an 11 inch mac air connected to an external monitor with lid closed and still be able to see content. I have a wireless ketboard and mouse and have tried everything. Only works when plugged in.

Is there anyway to have an 11 inch mac air connected to an external monitor with lid closed and still be able to see content. I have a wireless ketboard and mouse and have tried everything. Only works when plugged in.

You are referring to a feature called Clamshell Mode, please read Clamshell Mode setup for instructions.
BTW when posting when you use generalities such as "have tried everything" this tells us nothing. When posting please be specific and try to paint a complete picture. It just makes things easier for those trying to help you.

Can't sign in on external monitor with MBP after Yosemite upgrade

After Yosemite upgrade, when I turn on my MBP, I can't sign in using external monitor with MBP, always could before Yosemite. Blurred image of my wallpaper shows on monitor, can move arrow on external screen but sign-in only shows up on my computer screen, with no arrow. Since there is no arrow on the computer screen, and no sign in box on the external monitor, I have to unplug the external video to sign in on the computer, then plug in the monitor again. Any ideas?

NOWEK,
Thanks for this suggestion, but so far no joy. I have zapped the PRAM, jammed the Frabitz and smashed the Gafrogsnicker, all to no avail. When the MBP restarts I get a blurred image (extreme "vibrancy") on the external monitor, but no images of the login accounts to choose from or the other options. However, on the MBP screen I get all that. The keyboard and mouse respond, but just doesn't display on the external monitor. This is of interest to me because I have the MBP down in a credenza with other related gear and the external monitor and keyboard up on my desk. It's true I don't have to do this often, but still, it just started this aggravation with Yosemite. Thanks for trying to help.

Green pixels on external monitor with MBA coming up from sleep?

Has anyone else experienced green pixels on external monitor with MBA coming up from sleep? I can get rid of these pixels either restarting MBA or switch off the monitor for a five secs and then switch it back on. These pixels do not show up within screenshots.. or neither on MBA own screen but they do reappear on external monitor (used with mini DP-DVI-adapter) after every sleep cycle.
http://ssh.nbl.fi/~nbl4264/gp/ (few pics where these green pixels appear on)

I have the same issue with my new macbook.
When i wake the computer from a partial sleep the screen flickers and i get line distortion through the image.
If i put the machine to sleep unplug the mini dvi adapter and replug it in and wake the computer up the problem disappears.
The issue is also intermittent doing about 3 times out of every 10 wake ups...
If anyone has any suggestions it would be great, I a using a new Dell 2208WFP monitor.

How do i run an external monitor with my macbook and change settings so that when i close the lid the signal to the monitor is not lost and i can continue using the mac with a mouse and a wireless keyboard?

How do i run an external monitor with my macbook and change settings so that when i close the lid the signal to the monitor is not lost and i can continue using the mac with a mouse and a wireless keyboard?

No, nothing will prevent the computer from going to sleep when you close its display except third-party hacks that are designed to do exactly that. I strongly advise against using any of those, as they may interfere with successful entry into clamshell mode (and they carry other downside risks as well). Just wait until the computer is asleep (with its sleep light pulsing), then press any key on the keyboard. It sounds as though your setup is working as it's designed to do.

Recommendation for external monitor with good audio?

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