Upgraded cables for Griffin PowerWave

TIC · « **on:** 24 Mar 2004, 04:13 am »

Hey folks,

I saw this on AudiogoN tonight and it made me think that Frank could likely build a great speaker output cable for the PW.

Check it out:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1085281218

If Signal Cable (Frank) can build a high quality 1/8" stereo plug to 2 RCA connectors for this price, no reason why he couldn't also build a 1/8" stereo RCA plug to spades or banana plugs for a reasonable price.

Would this work with the 1/8" speaker output jack of the powerwave to replace the "reportedly" cheap breakout adapter that Griffin uses?

Enjoy,

TIC

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 04:59 am »

No "reportedly"- it's pretty cheesey!

That does look promising, though.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 02:13 pm »

The speaker output connector is NOTa standard stereo connector. All the +s and -s have to be kept separate. It is a FOUR conductor connector.

A far easier route would be to solder wires right to the output coils and run the wire to a set of binding posts

TIC · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 06:20 pm »

Hey Wayne,

Thanks for the clarification. BTW, have you found any potential to upgrade the PowerWave yet?

Enjoy,

TIC

Wayne1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Mar 2004, 06:34 pm »

Remove it from the plastic case.

Use a better power supply.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=120-532

used with

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=120-537

should work just fine for something inexpensive.

All components on the board are surface mount

This will make it a bit harder to replace components with "audiophile" grade parts.

The best idea is to put it in a nice aluminum case and use some good panel mount RCAs and binding posts. Use good wire to tie the connectors to the board. Use good wire to bring the power supply to the board.

thayerg · « **Reply #5 on:** 31 Mar 2004, 06:59 pm »

www.avrfreaks.net has a good article on mounting and removing surface mount devices. Doesn't look too difficult.

Smeggy · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Apr 2004, 08:43 pm »

Well my PSU arrived today and the bass firmed up nicely and everything seems more integrated and fluid. Nice upreade.

I have ordered a Antique Sound Labs UHC Signature headphone adaptor to use the speaker outlets for headphone listening. I was wondering if it was possible to solder wires directely to the contacts on the bottom of the board to go to the UHC binding posts. Same with a volume pot, I want to go from the pot directely to the RCA solder joints, again on the bottom of the board bypassing all those nasty connectors. Wayne mentioned attaching tt the output coils.. I don't know where these are on the board.

Is this a stupid thing to consider? also I don't have ay idea which of the speaker joints are which. Has anyone done any checks to see which is + and - and L/R? I'm now on a mission to make this a good little integrated and mount it in a nice case. If anyone has tested the outputs can you make a quick sketch of which connectors I will need to attack to do the above.