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Griffin's FireWave audio device brings 5.1 surround

updated 07:55 pm EST, Wed January 12, 2005

Griffin FireWave audio


, a unique FireWire accessory that brings 5.1 Surround Sound to any FireWire-enabled Mac. Griffin is offering a demonstration of this FireWire audio device this week at Macworld Expo. "With the multitude of 5.1 surround sound speakers for PCs readily available, FireWave gives Mac users the ability to affordably upgrade their sound systems.... FireWave's small size makes it easy to incorporate into any computer setup, and portable enough to use on laptops. For the ultimate in mobile convenience, FireWave gets its power through its FireWire connection to the computer – no separate cables or power supplies to tote. And FireWave features an extra FireWire port so you can chain other devices through it." It will ship in the second quarter of 2005 for $100.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. pdot

    Senior User

    Joined: Aug 2000

    0
    01/12, 08:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    home entertainment

    put a S-video out on a Mac Mini and add on the Firewave and you got a nice little entertainment system going.

  1. esoterica

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003

    0
    01/12, 09:22pm | report spam | Reply |

    size of Mac mini?

    Is it the size of Mac mini so that it'll stack nicely?

  1. lingo kaiser

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2002

    0
    01/13, 02:43am | report spam | Reply |

    RE:Home Entertainment

    Hey pdot,
    good idea, too bad they dont have smart guys like you working for apple.

    http://www.apple.com/macmini/accessories.html

    check out the dvi to S-Video adapter.

    PS, sorry for the sarcasm, its late at night, and i just couldnt help myself ;)

  1. DeKU

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2001

    0
    01/13, 03:26am | report spam | Reply |

    s-video...

    how about some component video!!! i wonder if this DVI to HDTV works on the mac mini's 9200?
    http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2537967

  1. DeKU

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2001

    0
    01/13, 03:32am | report spam | Reply |

    re: s-video...

    i know that the 9200 is not listed but im just wondering if it'll work.

  1. alextr

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2003

    0
    01/13, 08:08am | report spam | Reply |

    5.1 what plufs?

    I only see a box there no ports no nothing. what kind of connections are available? optical out? 6 plugs? supports thx what?

    Maybe they have parallel and serial ports there to all i guess!

  1. MacMoose

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003

    0
    01/13, 08:39am | report spam | Reply |

    HD upscaling setup

    Here is another thought. I currently got a 30inch HDTV set for Xmas. I currently have a Humax Series 2 DVD Tivo. This device would give me the Dolby Surround that I would want for a home theater and if it has the correct outputs to hook up to my receiver, be it Optical or other,... that would rock. Here is my question. If I got that new ATI El Gato usb2 video input device to take the video from my Tivo, input to the Mac Mini. Have it display in Full Screen at 1280x768 resolution of my LCD TV and use the Firewave to output the surround sound when I want it.

    You know. I could get a DVI Splitter, on one end of that cable, hook a Apple Svideo adapter and then hook the regular stereo jack with an adaptor to my tv. Then use the other end to hook up to the TV via DVI or VGA and use the Firewave for surround.

    My desire is go get a good improvement of video upscaling to the fixed pixel size of my LCD tv using a peppy g4 chip and this hardware versus buying an expensive standalone Upscaler like the DVDO iScan HD.

    I would only be paying a few hundred for the ATI El Gato thing... and this Firewave. But I would save a ton on the iScan HD, but again, performance and quality is important to me, but I could record my shows on the Mac Mini. Currently my Syntax Olevia 30, a killer tv after you tweak the color setting to get huge improvements over stock settings, does a good job at times, but upscaling is a known weakness on most Plasma and LCD tv's,... I have burned Tivo shows and played on a Denon 1910 dvi upscaling to 720p and seen an improvement that makes regular definition TV very cool on the big tv.

    Sorry for getting off topic, but I figured folks reading this thread may have an idea. Basically, turn the Mac Mini into a iTunes, iPhoto, Web, Chat and Video Upscaling/processing hub. I will have to take some quality 640x480 video I have now and upconvert it on my mac by doing a stretched window and see roughly if it still looks good. We shall see. But honestly, I think this possible setup with quicktime will do me justice.

    Nuff Said...

    MacMoose

  1. macbarry

    Junior Member

    Joined: Aug 2002

    0
    01/13, 11:07am | report spam | Reply |

    Home AV forum?

    There are a few of us out here who want to do the same home theater / computer convergence thing that MacMoose is obviously already into but who are feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the options and possible configurations that are now available. I wonder if MacNNN would consider setting up a new forum specifically targeted to consumers looking to hook their Macs (and VTRs, and cable boxes, DVD players, audio amps, etc.. and on and on...) up to their big screen HDTVs...?

  1. azdude

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Jun 2004

    0
    01/13, 01:39pm | report spam | Reply |

    Stacking on the Mac Mini

    Griffin says it's 5 inches long by 3.5 inches wide by 1 inch tall.

    A good size for sitting on top of a Mac mini.

  1. MacMoose

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003

    0
    01/13, 02:25pm | report spam | Reply |

    optical out audio

    Also,... for audio out over USB to the toslink optical inputs etc with full 5.1 dolby pro logic...

    http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-main.html

    This Firewave sounds cool, but one may wish to keep a firewire port open or not...

    MacMoose

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