Is the Macbook Neo DAC the same as the M series DACs?

[Lucastriesaudio]

Hi. I was looking to buy my first dongle DAC, until I stumbled onto the Macbook Neo. I heard it has a headphone jack, and that the Macbooks with M series chips have good enough DACs to power headphones, but I don't know if the Macbook Neo has the same DAC. I will try to A/B test it when the Neo comes to my country, but before that, has anyone tested the competency of the Macbook Neo DAC and tell me it's performance? Given it's half the price of an M series Macbook, it makes sense for them to get a cheaper DAC and amp for the Neo. Thanks!

 

[middlemarch]

Definitely not the same as the higher end models. For example, no dual voltage amplifier mode to support high impedance headphones. No idea on the DAC since the phones the SOC comes from don't use one since no headphone jack. Suspect the NEO is its own thing. In the reviews I've seen so far no-one seems to have mentioned the headphone performance.

 

[HeebieGenie]

My mother has the MacBook Neo, I have a 16" M series MacBook Pro.

The DAC/Amp inside the NEO seems to be a bit more powerful than the North American Apple Dongle, but it is nowhere near as powerful as the MBP.

It drove my HD 800 S, and HD 650 to sufficient volumes without any audible differences to the other two, so the DAC is clean.

Though, EQ headroom is limited, since I was using 10-11 out of 16 bars, so a large bass boost with a big preamp might be an issue. I use 13 out of 16 with the Apple Dongle, and then 6-7 out of 16 with the MBP.

This was with Sound Check turned on in Apple Music, which makes all of my tracks quieter.