Top 5 Desktop Computers for Home Studios

Buyer's Guide Overview

Before diving in, here's a quick overview of our Computer Buyer's Guide. All computers on this list meet the minimum recommended specs covered below.

Top 5 Desktop Computers

1. Apple Mac Studio
2. Apple iMac
3. HP Pavillion
4. Dell XPS
5. ASUS ROG Strix

Apple Mac Studio M1 Max

The Mac Studio is the most powerful compact computer that Apple offers, and rightly deserves it's spot on our list. Apple M1 chips are capable of handling any DAW without breaking a sweat, and the M1 Max even more-so. If you plan on doing heavy video editing, or producing/mixing large sessions with hundreds of tracks, this computer won't let you down. Keep in mind that these are compact computers, so you'll need to buy a display separately. Many people like this as they have the freedom to choose which mouses, keyboard, displays suit their needs.

Apple Mac Studio M1 Max

The Mac Studio is an excellent, compact desktop for those who need a powerful computer with extensive connectivity options. If you have large audio/video projects that will put the high CPU and GPU performance to good use, then this is a great choice for you.

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2. Apple iMac (27")

The iMac has become the gold standard when it comes to high-end, All-In-One desktops. The new, M1 model is lighter, faster and more affordable than previous models. Its slim, lightweight design is virtually silent while boasting a large 24" display, making it great for home recording and navigating your DAW. The wireless keyboard and mouse can also help save valuable space on your studio desk. Although it only offers USB-C ports for external connectivity, you can always buy a docking station with USB-A ports for your audio gear. Lastly, it comes in many colors which can help with personalizing your home studio look, if that's important to you.

Apple iMac M1

For those don't want to deal with the cable mess of a PC with a wired monitor, keyboard and mouse; this All-In-One Mac is a great solution. It's faster than previous iMac models thanks to the M1 chip, and its large screen is great option for creatives who work in photo editing or graphic design, too.

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If you want to learn more about this computer, you can read our full product review below:

Apple Mac Studio - Product Review

A comprehensive source of studio guides, gear recommendations, product reviews, and artist interviews that will help you get the most out of your home studio.

THSGLuke Despain

3. Lenovo IdeaCentre

The Lenovo IdeaCentre has had a stunning evolution over the years. It's all-in-one (AIO) design makes is a great option for home studio setups as it will save you valuable space and help you keep things organized. These computers offer a great value at this price point, providing you with all the specs you need. Both models include a wireless keyboard and mouse. The 5i model sports higher-quality internal speakers and an integrated Qi wireless phone charging at the base of the stand. However, when the internal fan turns on it can get a bit loud which may interfere with home recordings, so if you plan on buying this computer then it may be a good idea to setup your microphone farther away from the computer.

Razer Blade 15

The high CPU and GPU specs in this laptop are reasonably priced, so if you happen to be a music producer as well as a competitive gamer, then this could be a good choice for you.

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If you want to learn more about this computer, you can read our full product review below:

Apple Mac Studio - Product Review

A comprehensive source of studio guides, gear recommendations, product reviews, and artist interviews that will help you get the most out of your home studio.

THSGLuke Despain

Next Up:

Apple MacBook Pro

Overview

Over the years, the MacBook Pro has become the go-to laptop for music producers, audio engineers and preforming artists because of it's intuitive interface, stable performance and dependable battery life. At the time of writing, new MacBook Pro models use Apple's M1 Pro, M1 Max or M2 chips, all of which can handle anything your DAW will need. If you're considering the MacBook Pro M2, keep in mind that it only comes with a 13" screen, which is quite small for music production. However, it's common to see home studios with laptops connected to larger secondary monitors for better DAW navigation and faster workflow.

Apple MacBook Pro M2

The high CPU and GPU specs in this laptop are reasonably priced, so if you happen to be a music producer as well as a competitive gamer, then this could be a good choice for you.

Check Price

If you want to learn more about this computer, you can read our full product review below:

Apple Mac Studio - Product Review

A comprehensive source of studio guides, gear recommendations, product reviews, and artist interviews that will help you get the most out of your home studio.

THSGLuke Despain

4. Apple MacBook Pro

#Laptop #Creativity #Mac #Quality

Computer OverviewOver the years, the MacBook Pro has become the go-to laptop for music producers, audio engineers and preforming artists because of it's intuitive interface, stable performance and dependable battery life. At the time of writing, new MacBook Pro models use Apple's M1 Pro, M1 Max or M2 chips, all of which can handle anything your DAW will need. If you're considering the MacBook Pro M2, keep in mind that it only comes with a 13" screen, which is quite small for music production. However, it's common to see home studios with laptops as the main computers connected to larger secondary monitors for better DAW navigation and faster workflow.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $1,500 - $2,400 and you're looking for a Mac laptop that offers exceptional speed, consistent performance and long battery life, then the MacBook Pro is a good choice for you.
Check Price for 13" MacBook Pro [M2]Check Price for 16" MacBook Pro [M1 Pro]


If budget is not a concern and you want a MacBook with the highest GPU specs so that it can handle heavy video editing, gaming and live streaming, then consider upgrading to the MacBook Pro [M1 Max].

5. ASUS ZenBook Duo

#Laptop #Creativity #Windows #Quality

Computer OverviewThe ASUS ZenBook Duo is on of the better windows laptops for both audio and visual artists. It has a secondary touchscreen above the keyboard that can be used for graphic design, photo/video editing, and even music production. Some DAWs have the ability to extend music interface tools to the touch screen to help make your editing or mixing workflows more efficient. This new dual-screen design is still early in it's development and may take some time before all DAWs and 3rd-party apps offer native integration, but it's potential truly sets this laptop apart.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $1,400 - $2,600 and you're looking for a Windows laptop with specs powerful enough to handle graphic design, video editing and audio production, then the ZenBook Duo is a good choice for you.
Check Price for ZenBook Duo 14"Check Price for ZenBook Pro Duo 15"

6. Apple MacBook Air

#Laptop #Portability #Mac #Affordability

Computer OverviewIf you want an Apple laptop but the MacBook Pro models are out of your price range, then the MacBook Air is an honest contender. Even though the Air models have slightly lower specs than their Pro siblings, these more affordable laptops make up for it in their sleek and simple design. Thanks to the Apple chips, both of these models can absolutely run your DAWNot to mention that the M2 model now boasts more speed and power than ever seen before in a MacBook Air.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $1,200 - $1,400 and you're looking for an affordable Mac laptop with powerful enough specs to handle music production, then the MacBook Air is a good choice for you.
Check Price for MacBook Air [M1]Check Price for MacBook Air [M2]

7. Lenovo IdeaCentre

#Desktop #AIO #Windows #Affordability

Computer OverviewThe Lenovo IdeaCentre has had a stunning evolution over the years. It's AIO (All-in-one) design makes is a great option for home studio setups as it will save you valuable space and help you keep things organized. These computers offer a great value at this price point, providing you with all the specs you need. Both models include a wireless keyboard and mouse. The 5i model sports higher-quality internal speakers and an integrated Qi wireless phone charging at the base of the stand. However, when the internal fan turns on it can get a bit loud which may interfere with home recordings, so if you plan on buying this computer then it may be a good idea to setup your microphone farther away from the computer.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $900 - $1,200 and you're looking for an affordable, all-in-one, Windows desktop that can handle your music production needs, then the Lenovo IdeaCentre is a good option for you.
Check Price for Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i

Check Price for Lenovo IdeaCentre 5i

8. HP Pavilion

#Desktop #Gaming #Windows #Affordability

Computer OverviewEven though HP's Pavilion is a first and foremost a gaming desktop, it's CPU, RAM and SSD specs make it a great option for music production as well. The inexpensive, lightweight and attractive design makes it a good choice for musicians who want an affordable desktop in their home studio that can also double as a gaming computer. It has numerous inputs and outputs which will make it easier for you to connect all of your audio gear without needing to buy a bulky USB hub, and since it's a desktop tower you can customize the internal hardware overtime and invest in a larger monitor to fit your needs. Since it's designed to be affordable, the R3 model doesn't use the highest-performance GPU specs, so if you plan on doing any heavy gaming or video editing, it may be worth upgrading to the R7 unless you're comfortable installing upgraded hardware on your own.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $600 - $1,100 and you're looking for an affordable, Windows desktop tower that you can produce music and play games on, then the HP Pavilion is a good option for you.
Check Price for HP Pavilion R3Check Price for HP Pavilion R7

9. ASUS VivoBook

#Laptop #Portability #Windows #Affordability

Computer OverviewOn the whole, the ASUS VivoBook offers a ton a value for a laptop at this price point with little to critique. The build quality stands far above most at this price range and it's sleek, portable design makes it a great computer for musicians who are always on the go. The S13 model is not necessarily a productivity powerhouse, but it has the specs needed to perform music production tasks close to (or better than) more expensive laptops. If you wanted to upgrade to a larger screen with more powerful specs, the S17 model touts significantly higher performance at a fair price; which may be worth the upgrade if you require more memory and storage for music libraries and DAW plugins.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $500 - $1,000 and your just looking for a functional music laptop that won't break the bank, then the ASUS VivoBook is a good choice for you.
Check Price for ASUS VivoBook S13Check Price for ASUS VivoBook S17

10. Intel NUC Extreme

#Desktop #MiniPC #Windows #Affordability

Computer OverviewThe most affordable option is opting for a Mini-PC. Intel's NUC 9 model has more than enough CPU, RAM and SSD specs to handle your music software and audio hardware, but if you want maximum performance and a Mini PC that can handle more GPU-intensive tasks, then upgrade to the NUC 11. All-in-all, the NUC Extreme Kits are affordable yet powerful desktop kits that punch far above their weight, the only downside I could find in regards to using this computer for music production is the potential noise form the fan. However, if you do a good job keeping dust away from the computer then it should have a longer, quieter life span and continue to meet your needs.

Should I Choose This Computer?If your computer budget is between $400 - $1,600 and your want a powerful and inexpensive desktop that is compact and easily upgradeable, then the Intel NUC is a good choice for you.
Check Price for ASUS VivoBook S13Check Price for ASUS VivoBook S17

Our Pick
All of the desktops and laptops above are great recommendations, however, this is the computer we stand behind the most for music production and audio engineering.

Apple MacBook Pro [M1 Pro]

Before diving in to this recommendation, I want to reiterate that you can make great music on any computer with the right specs. It's certainly not about having the newest or most expensive gear, but about having equipment you know can count on throughout every stage of the music production process for years to come.
That being said, I've researched and reviewed dozens of computers across the spectrum to provide you with solid recommendations at every price point - and if I have to narrow this list down to one, it would be hard not to recommend the 14" MacBook Pro [M1 Pro]. It may not have Apple's newest M2 chip, but it still sports an 8-core CPU with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD  - and all at a fair price.
I myself invested in the 16" model of this laptop mid-2022 and after several months of extensive use, I have only good things to say. If you want to see some in-depth benchmark tests with this model, check out this beautifully executed MacBook Pro review by Upwards.

For years now, Apple has produced some of the best laptops for music production - both for studio and live use. If you choose to invest in a MacBook Pro, you won't have to think about upgrading your computer again for a while and it will handle each phase of the music production process with absolute ease.
Check Price for Apple MacBook Pro [M2]

The Ultimate Home Studio Setup Guide
Still not sure which computer is right for you? No problem - we'll take the decision-making off your hands.
If you're still on the fence about which computer is right for you, follow The Ultimate Home Studio Setup Guide and let us take the decision-making off your hands. In this guide, we'll walk you through each of the 7 Home Studio Essentials and ask you specific questions to quickly determine the right audio hardware, music software and studio gear for you and your budget. This way, you can get your home studio up and running as quickly and easily as possible!
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