![]() Even after a few tweaks to the sound balance, any passive in-ear device plugged in through the dock had an inordinately loud output volume, so much so that the first volume rocker on my MacBook's control panel was uncomfortably loud to listen to for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, it wasn't much worth the effort for using headphones with the dock in my experience. Users will need to go into System Preferences > Sound > and Output to switch over sound from the MacBook to OWC's USB option, or option-click on the sound icon in the menu bar to change outputs. The extra steps needed to set up OWC's audio port for proper listening hamper its initial functionality, however, since the MacBook's default output setting relies on its internal speakers and not a third-party connected device. A single SD Card Reader may be lacking for some who exclusively use that storage medium, especially when considering the amount of USB 3.1 ports available on the dock, but each of the inputs proved dependable for importing and exporting data to and from the MacBook.Īs with many other multifunction docks, OWC's USB-C dock includes an audio port to make it easier to connect headphones. The sole USB-C port essentially acts as a continuation of Apple's commitment to the new port standard for any new accessories introduced alongside the laptop, and coming in the future. For anyone looking specifically for the breadth of this kind of port diversity, the abundance of input options is probably the biggest selling point of the dock. One of the more standard uses of the USB-C Dock is the collection of USB and SD Card reading slots arranged on both the front of the device (one USB Type-A and one SD Card Reader) and its back (three more Type-A and one Type-C). USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and SD Card Reader That hurdle can be slightly cumbersome for users looking for Ethernet connectivity on the MacBook, but once the driver was installed the wired connection never showed any glitches or issues in my testing. For that reason, to ensure a smooth connection, the company will provide a link to download the assisting driver from the USB-C dock's product page. OWC cites possible performance issues with the Gigabit Ethernet connection when using the dock without the driver installed. OWC's dock provides a chance to choose a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi as well, although users will be encouraged to install a downloadable driver beforehand to ensure support. One in-house alternative Apple has yet to provide to MacBook users is some kind of USB-C adapter for Ethernet plugs, although there have been a handful of third-party options to choose from. Most importantly, the subsequent connection between the two devices via the OWC Dock feels smooth and lag-free. After plugging one end of an HDMI cable into the dock's back port and doing the same on any HDMI-enabled display, the MacBook automatically recognizes the screen mirroring and sufficiently adjusts the screen's text size to fit the larger screen. ![]() OWC's alternative is reliably impressive as well, and largely hassle-free in its setup. Apple introduced similar potential with its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter earlier in 2015, and the OWC Dock matches its abilities with 4K-quality video output at 30Hz. One of the best selling points of the USB-C Dock is its ability to connect the Retina MacBook to an external display through an HDMI cable, expanding its 12-inch display onto a bigger screen real estate. With so many different ports, the features of the OWC Dock are exhaustive in their capabilities, so I'll take it one at time. Thankfully, the power adapter also charges the MacBook while it's in use after that initial setup, most things plugged into the dock work without any added steps. The first thing that should be noted is that the dock requires two included cables to fully function: an external 80W power source that plugs into an outlet, and the USB-C cable that connects everything to the MacBook. At $159.00, the 8-inch by 3.5-inch dock comes with ten ports for users to take advantage of: four USB Type-A, one USB Type-C, an SD card reader, HDMI with 4K display support, Gigabit Ethernet, an audio headphone jack, and one USB 3.1 Type-C computer link. OWC's USB-C Dock is one of the first full-featured alternatives for the MacBook. All pictures in the review are of a pre-production unit lacking proper screen printing with port designations
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