First time poster here. I searched through the forums and haven’t found the answer I was looking for and didn’t see an answer to this (but I also might not be proficient in the search function just yet).
I’m fortunate enough to be running a dual Studio Display desk setup with my M4 MBP in clamshell mode. I’ve got a cheap Kensington dock that works but often drops the ball. Normally, this is no big deal - just turn it off and turn it back on, all good. But it failed during a live TV segment that I joined and, well, that’s not acceptable. I’m looking to upgrade to a better dock (and one that has some more ports, hopefully). Here’s what I’m looking to drive off of this dock:
Two Studio Displays (preferably no adapters)
Webcam (usb c)
Mic (usb c)
Keyboard (usb a)
Ethernet
Ideally, I’d like to have a few spare usb c and usb a ports left open for plugging various things in as needed. I’d like to not have to pay a small fortune for e.g. the Caldigit one, but if that’s what I need, well, fine I guess.
Anyone have a dock that they love and can recommend? Thanks!
Unfortunately for your wallet a CalDigit Thunderbolt 4/5 dock is probably what you’re looking for. I have the 4 with 2 Studio Displays, Ethernet, Logitech Bolt receiver, time machine drive and extra storage as well.
It’s absolutely rock solid and I personally haven’t had any issues with it.
It does and I can use those for most things, but I can’t daisy chain Studio Displays so if I want to have a one-cable solution, I’d still need a dock.
But. A two cable solution might be feasible. If it prevents the issues I’m having and saves me several hundred dollars, that might be a workable solution. Thanks!
I think it might help yet. Find a Thunderbolt dock that will allow 2 x Studio Displays and then plug all the peripherals into the monitors. If need be, try to an ethernet → USB-C/Thunderbolt adapter and even that hangs off the monitors. Instead of the top end CalDigit/OWC Thunderbolt dock you can get a lower speced dock. Presumably the hard thing is a dock that will support 2 x Studio Displays.
Unless you find a dual TB display dock, I think single cable is out of the question. I hope that someone proves me wrong. This caldigit chart shows it is possible, but doesn’t supply a dock name that can support it.
Assuming you are plugging both displays into your Macbook Pro , you have 6 USB-C ports to work with.
Since the ASD has a 12 MP camera, you can drop the webcam device.
That leaves 6 USB-C ports and 3 devices to plug into them.:
I do wonder why Apple didn’t maintain the ability to daisy chain monitors as we used to be able to do, this could largely negate the need to use Thunderbolt hubs in many cases (with minimal connections)
