The answer: Neither.

The basic 8 core iMac is under $3,900 in the Refurb Store. There is nothing about BIAB tat will make it breathe hard.

That said, the new Mini won’t be a bad choice but not quite the bargain it seems upfront.

A maxed out M1 Mini is $1,699. This is with 16GB RAM (Integrated) and 2TB SSD. Integrated RAM cannot really be compared to what you’re used to.

A Magic Mouse 2 adds $99 or Magic trackpad II is $149. Magic Keyboard: $99 or $149 with numeric key pad

AppleCare+ adds $99.

Then you need a monitor. 4Ks run $400–700 or so. 5K is $1,300 (same screen as 27” iMac) — $1,600. 6K is $5,000–$7,000

I recently bought a 2020 iMac for my wife. With RAM from OWC, it set me back around $3,000 for one to meets her needs. Again, BIAB runs easily but not my choice for high end audio or AV.

The reason to consider a Mac Pro 7.1 is because you are doing high end AV — and then it’s the perfect machine. About $12,000 gets you a 16 Core in the Refurb Store with 4TB storage, a Vega Pro II PU and the Afterburner.

By “high end AV”, I mean beyond the capabilities of my 18 Core iMac Pro. Not many users need a 7.1 MP but AV pros are the customer. The 7.1 competes with Maya rendering stations running Win 10 costing up to $150,000.

That’s what’s available now. High end Apple Silicon machines are coming that will blow everything above out of the water.

BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5