Customer Reviews

Griffin Technologies PowerWave

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After days of trying to record some old vinyl onto my computer I gave up and called the Griffen. I explained to them that no matter what I tried, the audio signal was getting seriously clipped. They informed me that they are having problems with all of these units and that they are working on a fix...no idea when that fix will be released.

They also informed me that they could not provide a cash refund because it was purchased through a third party.

hope this helps

bl

I've had this unit for over a year now. I use it primarily to power the Apple Pro Speakers because my main desktop is my Powerbook laptop. I also have a Tascam USB controller that is interfaced with it so I can do some digital recording (audio and MIDI). Finally, I hooked up a nice powered subwoofer to the RCA outs which gives me MASSIVE bass and sound rivaling my stereo system downstairs (not quite, but still better than any wimpy sub/sat setup made for computers). Figuring out how to put all of these wires in the right places took some trial and error (and required purchasing the griffin audio USB hub), but I got it figured out in a day or so and haven't touched the wires since. The possibilities with this unit are fantastic. Last summer I got some incompatibility with OSX mentioned in one of the other reviews with the funky distortion, but it hasn't happened since last summer. I don't know why...perhaps the update to jag? Anyways, IT IS GONE. Complaints are similar to the others...BIG BLUE LIGHT is very BRIGHT and annoying. Also, the case does seem fllimsy and not very MAC-like (i.e., not very stylish). Oh, and I did call Griffin to get some help with hookup and they were VERY friendly and helpful. I am quite pleased with this thing.

I bought this from MicroCenter about a week ago, and it's been working great.

I haven't used the amp, but rather have been using the RCA in/outs to get audio into my PowerBook via USB. It records fine into GarageBand and plays fine from iTunes.

I have a Mackie mixer and a MOTU MIDI interface, so all I was looking for was some two-channel in/outs. I didn't need any mic preamps, and the lower end offerings from M-Audio and Edirol were more expensive and seemed kinda iffy.

I gotta say a love all the extras - it included a USB cable (why don't printers come with them?) and a couple of RCA to 1/8" cables. Plus, it can run off of bus-power (but comes with an AC adapter for when you're not travelling), and it has an active, one port USB hub. Neither of those last two features are mentioned on Griffin's website, but they're pretty nice--I didn't lose a USB port or have to buy a hub!

I agree the design isn't sleek, and the blue light SUCKS, but so far everything else is cool. I hope the amp sounds good if I ever need it.

A great unit as far as the amp is concerned but trying to use this for recording is worthless. I bought this specifically to use with a G4 Mac, rather than the line-in, and it was a mistake. I get better sound with a simple patch cord and the MIC input on the computer. I have tried it on 4 different computers with 4 software packages and all had the same results. The audio via the Powerwave is clipped and distorted no matter what I do.

Okay, you need to know how to set up your own software to get the most out of it (i.e. set it up for 44.1kHz 16 bit), but the hardware works fine. I haven't tried it on my mac, I bought it for my XP machine. I use it with Audacity - freeware! super cheap way to get pro sound. Who cares about the blue light? It doesn't bother me. What difference could that possibly make? This is sound hardware, not a lighting prop!

Back when the first USB spec listed audio as a possible use I looked forward to the day when someone would come out with a USB based sound card. I've tried a few of them over that time but most of them failed to deliver. Years later someone finally came out with a real audiophile quality usb solution for both PC and Mac. I bought this one primarly because it has a built in claimed 20W amplifier and I can use it with bookshelf speakers and my iPod.

Using it is simple. Plug in the power. Hook up the USB port, answer a few dialogs that install generic USB audio drivers and then just use it. Shows up as another audio card. The audio that comes out of it is crystal clear. Really really clean.

I've yet to record anything with it yet, but if the input is anything like the output I'm in for a treat. If there's anything I don't like about it so far it's the case is a little cheap and seems easy to scratch, and there's this giant blue light which flashes on and off when it's plugged into a computer. Oh and when you switch the gain switch it thumps quite loudly which is somewhat annoying but I can live with it.

It also comes with all the audio cables you could possibly want. A speaker breakout adapter, a nice 16 guage mini-din stereo to rca male cable, another shorter mini-din stereo to rca female cable. The box itself has lots of inputs, pass throughs and outputs. As to the claim of 20W, maybe. The power supply is only 12V @ 1.5A.

Other than that, highly recommended as a great external audio solution which gets rid of that annoying buzzing you hear from onboard computer audio whenever the CPU gets busy or the hard disk starts to access. I can hear it, especially when I'm wearing headphones.

it powers my speakers and works just fine with my powerbook. simple to use and I never had a problem with the unit. good product

This is simply the best USB Audio Interface ever assembled. Easy to use, loaded with features, and stylish. I'd give it 100 stars! (such a shame it was discontinued)

I like this thing. It sounds great. Running tiger and have no probs but I use it just to play music on itunes and to record old mix tapes onto the computer. I used to get weird distortion on occasion as well but since I got an iMac G5 its gone. Blue light STINKS! Still great though and cheap.

Other people have left detailed reviews; I wanted to add another voice to the growing chorus of "this product does not work with Mac OS X." It's completely useless, due to constant distortion of the audio output.