Questions for Griffin PowerWave owners......

TIC · « **on:** 21 Mar 2004, 06:10 pm »

Hey there PW owners,

My new computer's sound card (onboard on the system board) requires "powered speakers" so the Polk Audio speakers built into the base of my HP fx75 flat-panel won't work with the new computer.

Will the Griffin Powerwave solve my problem if placed between the speaker output (1/8th inch jack) and the speakers built into my monitor? BTW, the input for the speakers is a 1/8th inch jack located on the back of the monitor and I have the 1/8th" to 1/8th" cable that I previously used between the sound card on my old PC and the monitor.

Secondly, does the Powerwave have a volume control or does the source need to control the volume?

Lastly, any thoughts on using the PW with a portable CD player as source with a pair of small monitor speakers? Seems like it could be a cool little portable system.

TIA and enjoy,

TIC

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Mar 2004, 06:28 pm »

Are you sure your speakers in your flat panel aren't powered? They should be...I'm 99.9% sure of it. Make that 99.999%. I suppose I could be wrong, but I don't know of anyone who would give you unpowered speakers in a flat panel, much less send power in through a 1/8" jack.

TIC · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Mar 2004, 07:01 pm »

ooheadsoo,

Yep, I'm sure the speakers are non-powered. This is an early generation flat panel with a pair of built-in 2.5" or 3" full range Polk Audio drivers built into the base and the enclosure is ported on the rear.

BTW, a lot of older PCs shipped with non-powered speakers. So, my sound card has a "speaker-out" that must be "line level" as it states on the back of the PC "requires powered speakers". If I put the PowerWave between this speaker-out and my non-powered speakers, will this get me what I need?

BTW, I do not want to buy powered speakers even if it is a much less expensive option. I have limited desk space, which is my only reason for owning an expensive flat panel monitor in the first place! Also, these Polk speakers sounded surprisingly good when played from my old PC.

Enjoy,

TIC

TIC · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Mar 2004, 07:08 pm »

Just to be sure, I pulled out the User's Manual for my monitor. Here is what it says:

"NOTE: These speakers are designed to work with sound cards that have amplified sound output."

So, my question stands! Is the PowerWave the answer?

Enjoy,

TIC

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Mar 2004, 09:36 pm »

I don't personally know of ANY soundcard that has a built in speaker amplifier. Seriously. No amp that I know of uses 1/8" jacks. All sound cards I know of require powered speakers. Being an amp isn't part of its item description. That's really bizarre.

If it were the case that your equipment really uses power through a 1/8" jack, then the powerwave would work though you would have to use some kind of adaptor - bare wire or spades terminated to a minijack. That's just not right.

I don't think the powerwave runs off of batteries, does it? It would be "portable" but not in a "let's go jogging with AKG K-1000s" sense.

TIC · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 12:30 am »

ooheadsoo,

Here's a thought: Actually answer questions that you know something about! Seriously, do you own a PowerWave? I think my original post was directed toward those folks that actually owned the product.

If you would read the product description section of Griffin's web page, you would see that it says "UTILIZE INDUSTRY STANDARD CONNECTIONS-Powerwave incorporates standard RCA stereo and mini-jack connections, which eliminates potential problems caused by out-dated proprietary hardware.........by adhering to both the world-wide computer standard 1/8" ports and standard stereo RCA connectors, PowerWave garantees you'll be able to connect to peripherals from around the globe."

If you actually checked out the PowerWave, you would see that its speaker output IS INDEED a "world-wide standard" 1/8th" mini -jack. It would seem that I simply plug my current 1/8"-1/8" cable into the powerwave and the other end into my speaker input. BTW, to use a conventional audio speaker with the powerWave, you use the 1/8" mini-plug-speaker breakout adapter that is supplied with the unit.

As you stated, "I don't personally know of ANY soundcard that has a built in speaker amplifier." That just shows that you don't know everything as my old computer OBVIOUSLY had such a sound card as it was originally shipped with non-powered speakers when I bought it in 1998 AND it worked just fine with my current flat-panel.

Sorry for the harsh treatment, but you haven't added any value to the thread.

Enjoy,

TIC

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 12:41 am »

RCA and 1/8" are for line level signals.

I guess I really don't know anything about this newfangled "powerwave" stuff. Boy technology sure moves fast these days. Guess all my old knowledge about the world in general are just out of date now. Sorry for not adding anything of value to your thread. I'll try to refrain from adding any more info contrary to your "worldwide standards."

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 12:42 am »

Well, I'll put on my flak jacket and enter the fray! (Just kiddin', TIC!

). I don't know a lot about the speakers you have, but I use my PWave with my PC & a pair of unpowered speaker. The Griffin's output is a 1/8" jack, so I can't see why it wouldn't work (again, assuming your Monitor speakers are unpowered). That's basically what it's made for.

They thoughtfully include a [really chintzy but useable] breakout cable that has an adapter to use bare wire or really skinny pins. That's what I use to run my JBL HLS-610's.

The minor inconvenience is that the PW is just a pure amp- no volume knob at all. You have to use whatever software your PC has to run it. No big deal, really.

Hope that helps.

-R-

TIC · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 01:11 am »

Rob,

Thanks for the reply. I think it will work, but I did want a little verification from a user.

I didn't see any mention of volume control, that was just a "wish list". Hey for $90, you can't have everything! Of course, if connected to the PC, there are plenty of options fro volume control. And, if used with a portable CD player, volume control isn't a problem.

For ooheadsoo,

Sorry for the rub! Not usually my style, but your "know-it-all" attitude struck a cord at the time. I'm over it! No hard feelings...........

Enjoy,

TIC

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 06:19 am »

Now that I've cooled off a bit, I want to apologize for that. Really never seen that kind of gear before, though. Good to know.

Please refer to Rob's sig

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Mar 2004, 11:38 am »

No big, ooheadsoo. We all go overboard on occasion. Just remember we're all here to have fun and you'll be okay!