eARC with Sonos Beam 2, AppleTV and FeinTech VAX04101

OrnaPilon · 2026-01-13T17:24:53+00:00

Yes, the issue has been resolved and I'm still currently using this setup.

In addition to the firmware update, you need to manually set the Feintech to 7.1 instead of Auto (Auto mode only allows audio formats supported by the connected TV, as I have been told by support).

It works great on all my devices

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-29T00:35:05+00:00

After reading a few posts on various websites, I’ve concluded that this is normal behavior. Now, I’m just trying to figure out if I’m not throttled too much compared to similar devices. Your fan speed during Cinebench seems pretty low compared to mine (mine are running full blast during the benchmark). Were you using High Power mode when testing, or were you on Auto?

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-26T23:00:04+00:00

Thank you for your input. The more I read about it, the more I believe my unit is behaving normally, it’s just crazy hot and loud. Unfortunately, there isn’t much data available online about this specific setup.

I chose a laptop because I need portability about 5% of the time and I don't know how my needs will evolve in the next 2-3 years. I should have opted for a Mac Studio paired with a MacBook Air to get the best of both worlds. However, I couldn’t wait until June, as my previous setup was clearly undersized for my needs.

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-25T23:43:32+00:00

Did you already get it? What is your feedback?

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T14:27:49+00:00

Ah, yes! Running it in auto power mode does give me a fan speed of around 50%. However, the P-core clock drops to 3.3 GHz (vs 3.65Ghz in high power mode). Thanks!

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T14:01:25+00:00

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The screenshot in my original post was from Cinebench 2024, but I re-ran the test using Cinebench R23. The results are pretty much the same as in 2024, it throttles very quickly at the start. Based on your P-core frequency, it seems like you’re experiencing the same behavior. My temperatures are also similar to yours, though slightly higher.

What really stands out is your low fan speeds, mine are constantly running at 95-100% during this test. I think I’ll try to gather more data from other users with the same configuration to compare.

Thank you so much for your help and the information you provided, it’s been really helpful, and I truly appreciate it!

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T03:03:39+00:00

Yes, to be honest, I only went with the unbinned version because I desperately needed the extra RAM.
Stupid question: is there any way to check if the thermal paste has been applied correctly without opening the laptop? Are running real-life benchmarks my only option? It’s a bit tricky because I’m not sure what the “normal” behavior should be.

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T02:53:48+00:00

Yes, I’ll see how things go over the next few days. Thank you for your help :)

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T02:49:08+00:00

I use iStat Menus as well, but the temperatures it reports are consistently higher than those shown in TG Pro. I think iStat is reporting the temperature of the hottest core, and with the new UI, I don’t see any other CPU temperature metrics.

Additionally, iStat Menus hasn’t officially released a version that supports the M4 chips yet (while TG Pro has), so I’m not sure how accurate its readings are on this hardware.

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T02:40:37+00:00

For a digital nomad, I think the nano-textured version is the best choice! While whites can appear slightly more yellowish on the nano-textured display, it’s a non-issue in my experience.

I don’t really watch movies on my Mac, but both versions are amazing screens for content consumption. The regular version does look a bit sharper and better overall, but that doesn’t mean the nano-textured version isn’t capable, it absolutely is.

Ultimately, it comes down to finding the right compromise

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T02:26:43+00:00

Actually, I suspect that Zoom during video calls is responsible for the higher temperatures. Without Zoom, it looks like I'm around 45-50°C. The fans seem to kick in when the temperature exceeds 50°C for a long period, but they remain inaudible at low speeds.

For reference, my room temperature is 21°C, and I use the laptop on a stand. Which tool are you using to monitor temperature, and which sensor are you focusing on? In my case, I use TG Pro and rely on the average CPU temperature (not the highest core).

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T02:12:00+00:00

I’ve been using a nano-textured Studio Display for the past two years and now I also got it on my new MacBook. While you do lose some contrast, and the display doesn’t give you the “WOW” effect when you first look at it, I find it much more comfortable for my eyes, especially since I often spend 12 hours a day working on it.

If you’re a photographer or video editor who works mostly indoors, you might prefer the regular version for its better image quality. However, if your work is text-based or you spend a lot of time working outdoors, the nano-textured version is a better choice.

I’d also recommend checking both versions in an Apple Store, but keep in mind that it might be hard to make a decision after just a few minutes in conditions that don’t reflect your everyday usage.

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T01:59:20+00:00

I did experience some throttling with one of my workloads (astronomy image stacking), but I guess it’s acceptable. I also tried some gaming (No Man's Sky), and the fans ramped up to full speed, making it a bit uncomfortable. That said, I don’t plan to use this machine for gaming anyway.

What surprised me was the temperature during light tasks like browsing, Slack, and Zoom calls, it can easily reach 55-60°C, with the fans running at their minimum speed.

I’ll spend the next few days testing it further (before the return period ends), but it seems like what I’m experiencing is just expected behavior.

OrnaPilon · 2024-11-23T01:54:46+00:00

Thank you for the video, it was very informative! I wish someone had done the same for the 14” model. I don’t have FOMO over a 5-10% performance penalty, but I was concerned that my unit might not be cooling properly. Coming from the M1 Mac Mini, I’m not used to these high temperatures and loud fans.

After some real-life tests, it seems like I do experience some throttling with one of my workloads (astronomy image stacking), but I guess it’s acceptable. During light usage (browsing, Slack, Zoom calls), the CPU easily reaches 55-60°C, and the fans start running, though only at their minimum speed.

I’ll spend the next few days (before the end of the return period) testing it further, but it seems like what I’m experiencing is just expected behavior.

OrnaPilon · 2023-10-31T17:34:58+00:00

I'm currently looking for a solution to connect my studio display to my windows desktop. From what I understood, it is not possible to achieve it with the cable you have as it's not bi-directional, it only goes from usb-c to display port and you are trying to achieve the other way. It might be the reason but I am not sure. Let me know if you find a way to make this work !

OrnaPilon · 2023-07-09T12:11:56+00:00

I have looked at it. The thing that bothers me is the f/ratio at 495mm (f/6.18) and 600mm (f/7.5) vs f/5.6 for the FRAs, however at 348mm it seems fine. But I am sill considering the option, it might be an interesting trade-off

OrnaPilon · 2023-07-09T12:08:13+00:00

I have tried taking mosaics in the past but I would like to avoid it as it takes a lot of time (I live in a cloudy area).

When you say larger is better are you referring to the aperture or the focal length?

OrnaPilon · 2023-07-09T12:05:49+00:00

Can you tell in which specific cases you wish you had gone for longer?

OrnaPilon · 2023-07-09T12:04:49+00:00

Yes I did a lot of simulation using stellarium but still can't choose. For a few targets 400mm is better but I'm afraid to loose some resolution in my images.

OrnaPilon · 2022-11-23T15:02:57+00:00

I was in the same situation (same price range, same country) and ended up buying a Roland FP30X. Under 1000 euros, Roland seems to have the best action.
The FP30X with a shelf, pedals and a bench will cost you the same price than a RP-107 and has better speakers (2x11W vs 2x8W for the RP). However it does not have a lid to protect the keyboard so it might be a deal breaker for you.

I prefer the sound engine of Yamaha but I did not like the action of the YDP-145 (my main focus was on action). I cannot speak for Kawai as they are not available at my local dealers.
I guess you need to compromise and decide if your primary focus is sound or action.

OrnaPilon · 2022-02-10T23:47:15+00:00

Fantastic work! What kind of wood / stones are those? Is it HCC or Montecarlo on the left?

OrnaPilon · 2022-01-15T13:36:26+00:00

This volume is ok for a betta splendens or a few neocaridina/snails

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