Lee Lewis

Q: Early Apple Stereo Speakers

Years ago Apple provided a set of round stereo speakers with an unusual (to me) connector. I'd like to find a 3.5mm adapter for those speakers to use them elsewhere.  I do not know what I'm looking for nor where to find it.  Can anyone help?

Posted on Aug 19, 2016 10:22 AM

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Q: Early Apple Stereo Speakers

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  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Aug 19, 2016 11:16 AM in response to Lee Lewis
    Level 3 (695 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 19, 2016 11:16 AM in response to Lee Lewis

    I still use these Apple Pro Speakers, that originally came with the angle-poise iMacs. I use them with my 2012 mini (and previous machines) you need to use the Griffin iFire (you'll have to find a used one) and this will convert the 2.5-mm Apple Pro Speaker minijack into Firewire400 and 3.5mm audio. I then have a single cable with FW400 one end and 800 the other. Then the FW & audio plug into the mini.

    B00013MRT8.01-A2R0FX412W1BDT._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

     

    If you are feeling handy and into DIY, then you could try this mod, https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Using+Apple+Pro+Speakers+with+a+class-d+amplifier/1 1399

  • by Lee Lewis,

    Lee Lewis Lee Lewis Aug 19, 2016 12:44 PM in response to Lee Lewis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Old Hardware
    Aug 19, 2016 12:44 PM in response to Lee Lewis

    Thank you, think.d.   I appreciate your rapid response AND your suggestions, especially since I didn't think anyone would be reading Old Hardware questions.  I'm not the least bit handy, but I think I know someone who is.  Again:  thank you!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 19, 2016 1:04 PM in response to Lee Lewis
    Level 6 (14,199 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 19, 2016 1:04 PM in response to Lee Lewis

    There are a few links indicated in search results, here:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Griffin+iFire

     

    While I too have those speakers, and three iMac G4 17-inch USB2.0

    series late model 1.25GHz machines, the speakers are stored in box.

    Original keyboard/mouse still find useful purpose as backup, even

    though for various hardware reasons, none of my iMac G4s function.

     

    {There had been a way to use similar speakers with the G4 Cube, or

    so the story has been told. Not sure, but likely had a dedicated port.

    As there had been pictures online years ago, showing these together.}

     

    Thank you for bringing up the topic, as I have a Late 2012 Mini i7 that

    has no speakers; so I leave it muted most of the time. Nothing to play.

     

    And thanks for a refresher on the product from Griffin, in first reply.

     

    PS: expect the Griffin iFire adapter to run very costly; you may find

    a suitable PowerMac G4 Tower or maybe G4 Cube with the correct

    plug/port for those speakers, for less money. Then use standard amp

    with audio input, for a suitable source. For large hardware/less cost.

     

    Best regards & good luck in this matter!

  • by Lee Lewis,

    Lee Lewis Lee Lewis Aug 20, 2016 7:39 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Old Hardware
    Aug 20, 2016 7:39 AM in response to K Shaffer

    I see that there is at least one iFire offered on Ebay for $400+ -- !  I like the speakers and I'd like to use them again, but that cost for iFire is too much for me.  I'm going to try to have someone follow think.different's suggestion -- I regret that I don't have the DIY knowledge required and at 82 years of age, I'm not likely to develop it -- but I'm still learning!

  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Aug 20, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Lee Lewis
    Level 3 (695 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 20, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Lee Lewis

    I got my iFire years ago (10+) when it was probably about £30-50. That link I found for the DIY project on iFixIt was just the first one I clicked on in google, there may be others, worth a look.

     

    It doesn't look too scary, cutting wire, stripping wire, bit of soldering, and that it.

  • by Lee Lewis,

    Lee Lewis Lee Lewis Aug 20, 2016 8:50 AM in response to think.different
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Old Hardware
    Aug 20, 2016 8:50 AM in response to think.different

    The solution on iFixIt seems more tedious than scary to me, but it is well laid-out with seemingly easy-to-understand directions.  You're right -- there is at least one other such project online and, perhaps, there are others -- I'll continue to search. . . .

  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Aug 20, 2016 9:59 AM in response to Lee Lewis
    Level 3 (695 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 20, 2016 9:59 AM in response to Lee Lewis

    Oh, just found that you could also use the Griffin Powerwave.

     

    http://www.dremeljunkie.com/2012/01/proprietarily-ridiculous.html

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 21, 2016 12:54 PM in response to think.different
    Level 6 (14,199 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 21, 2016 12:54 PM in response to think.different

    Additional information from the lead you found, that was

    in my original search finding link above, is available here:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Griffin+Powerwave

     

    Either way, these are harder to get and there still is enough

    demand on old-stock along with dwindling availability to

    sustain(?) some interest in driving up the prices on both.

     

    Good luck in any event!