Griffin Technologies PowerWave

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 17 Feb 2004, 06:07 am »

I figured a product like this deserves some ink (er, okay, some pixes...) in the Square Circle. Thayerg has reported very good results running some nOrh speakers off this nifty little doodad: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerwave/.

Ecost.com is backorded on 'em (as usual) but J&R is selling them for $100. This looks like just the ticket for my PC- I'm looking to ditch my crappy included-with-the-computer HP speakers with a pair of bookshelf speakers I have sitting around. Mostly I'd just use them for monitoring stuff while I'm making discs on Nero and Nero Wave Editor, and to listen to MP3 samples from music vendors like Amazon.com.

Looks well worth some investigation.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 02:46 am »

J&R is outta stock on em, too!

Mathew_M · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 03:17 am »

Dude, there are other sources...

http://shop.macconnection.com/web/Shopping/Product.htm?catalog%5Fname=PCCGeneral&category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=433433&variant%5Fid=&SearchLogID=%7B4A69366B%2D2297%2D4BF3%2D99A5%2DCA556609B4B7%7D[/url]

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 07:45 am »

Have you ever ordered from them Mathew_M? Just curious how the service/reliablity is. Is that a rear veiw of the unit? It doesn't look like the same unless that's just a different view.

Thanks for the link!

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:32 am »

Okay- my order's place, with 2nd Day shipping. Hopefull by the weekend my PC will be jammin' on TriPath power.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 04:18 pm »

Unless there was an earlier incarnation of the Powerwave I'm assumming its the new model.

Yes MacConnection is reliable. I'm a Mac guy and have purchased all of my systems from them. Don't expect a huge amount of customer service. They don't even send out confirmation emails as far as I know.

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 05:25 pm »

OK maybe this is a stupid question since this is a Mac device, but would I be able to use the ASIO output in J River Media Center on my XP PC? with this device? The "tech specs" on their website are not very detailed.

If so this has truly awesome potential for a high-quality small system.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:12 pm »

It's both PC and Mac compatible.

http://www.usb-audio.com/

lists that there is a USB ASIO driver available for the Powerwave.

My interest is peaked even further. From what I gather you can run 24bit audio through the powerwave.

Wow this is really cool. Pretty soon we should see a Powerwave like device that also has a hard drive that would have a high end software program for playing 24bit audio at 100 watts or more. We just then need an iTunes store for Audiophiles.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:14 pm »

I did get an autoresponder confirmation of my order; if my shipping confirmation is the thing landing on my doorstep, I'm cool with that!

If the little fella is as good as everyone says I'll probably have to get a couple more of them.

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:25 pm »

Thanks for finding the ASIO driver Matthew. Too bad it costs $50, but for a combined $140 price this is still a hard deal to beat, IF it sounds good. I anxiously await your comments Rob.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:26 pm »

I just did the deed too. For a hundred bucks, 20 watts and possibly 24bit audio playback I figured I can't lose. I really wanted a miniature tube amp but I don't think they make such a thing for less than the SE9.

Now I just need some speakers..

I miss my Norhs, hmmm a pair of 3.0's? Is there anything single driver for $200 that is better?

pjchappy · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:28 pm »

"I miss my Norhs, hmmm a pair of 3.0's? Is there anything single driver for $200 that is better?"

I heard the RAD Micros are decent. . . and they cost $200.

http://www.rutledgeaudiodesign.com/speakers.htm

p

Mathew_M · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:28 pm »

I did ask the gal over the phone if it was the same model as the new one and of course she had no idea. I think this is a brand new item so possibly the picture on Macconnection's site is just a prototype.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:38 pm »

Hmmm...being this is supposed to be USB, it's supposed to work with PC or Mac. The included disc, though, may be a Mac thing only. I sure hope the USB will work with my PC.

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:39 pm »

I bought one a minute ago as well. I don't have speakers for the intended room yet either (a small office/bedroom), so I'll try them first on my Omega TS-1s. I've been really curious how they would sound with a digital amp. I'm also curious as to how much better it will sound with ASIO versus running it through the dreaded XP Kmixer.

This is seriously cool stuff. As much as I would like a baby tube amp as well for the office system, this is a no-brainer.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:39 pm »

I just called about the RAD micros. Must be some mom and pop business because I talked to an older southern lady who was pretty unclear about what speakers I was talking about. She told me to call back later.

Hmmm, they look nice and they even have a special on the spring loaded speaker terminal model for $150. Anyone own a pair?

Mathew_M · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:42 pm »

Greg let us know how they sound on the Omegas. I think they'll be too big for my purposes though.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:45 pm »

I just got to looking at MACconection, and whatever the picture, the model # is the same as it is on every other site. It may be an old picture, the wrong picture, or another view of the product. The text description is also a close match for the info on Griffin's own website. And it does say it supports XP, so I should be cool.

I'll have to do some messing around with the cables once it arrives. The breakout box looks a little cheesy, and banana plugs would be nice, but hey, it's a $100 computer amp!

Might be a good candidate for modding, though.

It looks like one could use the line inputs, set it to pass thru and use it as an external amp for any old preamp you have lying around. Not super hi power, but two of them should work well to vertically biamp a pair of speakers in a smaller room. And it would be dirt cheap, too.

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:46 pm »

Will do. I'll be getting a smaller pair myself for this amp - perhaps a TS-3 if the amp sounds good with the TS-1s.

Carlman · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Mar 2004, 08:50 pm »

Quote from: Mathew_M

I just called about the RAD micros. Must be some mom and pop business because I talked to an older southern lady who was pretty unclear about what speakers I was talking about. She told me to call back later.

Hmmm, they look nice and they even have a special on the spring loaded speaker terminal model for $150. Anyone own a pair?

I'll be receiving a pair next week. I can let you know how they sound then. However, I asked him not to finish them because I wanted to do a custom colored finish myself. So, it'll be a good week or so before they're up and running... after I get them.

I know RAD's a Father/Son operation and not a Mom/Pop. But, maybe a 'Mom' was trying to help out today..

I can attest to the quality of the sub cabinet I got from him; it is excellent. I really look forward to hearing (and seeing) the Micro's. I know they'll look good... I just hope they sound as good as they look.

-Carl