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Rating: 
Summary: output great but input...........
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: this product doesn't do what it's supposed to
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Does not work with Mac OS X
Review: After going through 2 of these, Griffin customer support finally told me that "There is a known bug in the Apple USB audio driver that is most likely responsible for the effect you describe. According to Apple the driver sends an "empty packet". This results in a flanging, phasing, and ring modulation." What this means is that about 25% of the time that you send an audio signal to the PowerWave, the output is completely distorted. If you restart the audio, it usually corrects itself, only to become distorted again. This isn't a huge problem if you're just playing music in iTunes, but if you're using the PowerWave as an amplifier while you're working in Final Cut Pro or any other application that involves stopping and starting audio, it is completely useless. They are working on a firmware upgrade, but as of 9/18/03, this product is unusable with Mac OS X. It baffles me that the company continues to sell these without any kind of disclaimer, especially since Griffin is a Mac-centric company. I hope this review saves a couple of Mac folks from a big headache. The sad thing is that this will be a really cool product once they fix it. And while they're at it, they should put an on/off switch on the thing, because it has a huge blue light on it, and gets a little hot if it's on all day and night (not to mention wasting electricity).
Rating:
Summary: Does not work with Mac OS X
Review: After going through 2 of these, Griffin customer support finally told me that "There is a known bug in the Apple USB audio driver that is most likely responsible for the effect you describe. According to Apple the driver sends an "empty packet". This results in a flanging, phasing, and ring modulation." What this means is that about 25% of the time that you send an audio signal to the PowerWave, the output is completely distorted. If you restart the audio, it usually corrects itself, only to become distorted again. This isn't a huge problem if you're just playing music in iTunes, but if you're using the PowerWave as an amplifier while you're working in Final Cut Pro or any other application that involves stopping and starting audio, it is completely useless. They are working on a firmware upgrade, but as of 9/18/03, this product is unusable with Mac OS X. It baffles me that the company continues to sell these without any kind of disclaimer, especially since Griffin is a Mac-centric company. I hope this review saves a couple of Mac folks from a big headache. The sad thing is that this will be a really cool product once they fix it. And while they're at it, they should put an on/off switch on the thing, because it has a huge blue light on it, and gets a little hot if it's on all day and night (not to mention wasting electricity).
Rating: 
Summary: Clean audio from a computer ?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Clean audio from a computer ?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Works pretty well! (even with OSX...2004)
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Another bad experience with OS X
Review: 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.
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