audio for G5

towerpower · 07-24-2012, 05:50 PM

My G4 is the model with the digital audio output. I have a piece of hardware (cable) by Griffin, which goes from the mini jack to standard speaker wire connections, clamp type. I have 2 Pioneer bookshelf speakers hooked up and audio through radio or iTunes sounds quite respectable. I am soon moving to a G5, which doesn’t have a digital audio output and wondered how I can reproduce my current set up with a similar quality of sound.
Griffin still seem to produce a cable and connector box, called iMic, usb to mini jack, would this suffice? http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic think it acts as a soundcard and I have seen a phono (rca) adapter lead
It is my understanding that the G4 has a T class amp inside, is this correct? apparently they are quite highly regarded.
Assume the G5 doesn’t, how about a stand alone T class amp, available on ebay at lowish prices, quite neat and compact but connections are through phono plugs, L & R audio, how would you hook these up to a G5? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2610371328...84.m1423.l2649

Suggestions and confirmations would be most welcome

DeltaMac · 07-24-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by towerpower


	... I am soon moving to a G5, which doesn’t have a digital audio output and wondered how I can reproduce my current set up with a similar quality of sound. Griffin still seem to produce a cable and connector box, called iMic, usb to mini jack, would this suffice? http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic think it acts as a soundcard and I have seen a phono (rca) adapter lead ...

You are incorrect about digital audio on a G5.
All G5s (both PowerMac tower, and iMac G5) have optical digital audio out, and your PowerMac G5 also has digital audio input.
I guess you have a PowerMac G5, so look at the back. You'll see both analog input/output, and toslink optical digital ports. So, all you need is the right adapter (toslink)

towerpower · 12-11-2012, 02:03 AM

I am now revisiting and still having problems!
I have tried mini jack (as used on G4) adapter to larger jack into G5 analogue audio output and get just a low output from one speaker. The G4 audio mini jack seems to be a one off odd size and does not fit snugly into the adapter and to compound the larger jack into the back of the G5 is also baggy n saggy. In fact if I fiddle sound will come and go from the single speaker (obviously a poor connection). Are these odd ball size plugs and or fittings peculiar to a mac? Also there appears to be no option to choose this output on the sound prefs, only line out (built-in audio), which I presume is the right option and another for the optical digital out port (toslink). Is there a mac mini jack to toslink adapter available or better fitting jacks and connectors?

DeltaMac · 12-11-2012, 10:59 AM

Ah, OK...
You did say that you were using the digital audio output on your old G4, and I missed that when I originally posted here.
Your G4 digital output is NOT a standard connector, and is designed for use with the Apple Pro speakers (the pair of clear round ball speakers, like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Pro-Sp...61134755716%26
So, yes, your old connector for the digital audio output from your G4 is too small.
I don't know of any adapters that you can use with that digital plug, it's just been too long...
That connector was only used by Apple for a couple of years, and was dropped when the G5 was released in 2003.
Your G5 tower has a standard (mini-jack) connector for analog audio output, there's one on both the front and the back panels, and I think are labeled as headphone jacks, and work with that standard mini plug used on headphones, etc.
Or, on the back of your tower, there's the optical S/PDIF (toslink) connectors, both input and output. Those take a standard toslink connector. That assumes that you have digital gear to connect.

You may need a different device to interface to your speakers, if those speakers are not actually digital speakers.
A local electronics retailer that sells any type of audio gear/speakers should be able to help with changing to connectors that will work.

07-24-2012, 05:50 PM	#1
towerpower Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Great Torrington, Devon, UK Posts: 51	audio for G5 My G4 is the model with the digital audio output. I have a piece of hardware (cable) by Griffin, which goes from the mini jack to standard speaker wire connections, clamp type. I have 2 Pioneer bookshelf speakers hooked up and audio through radio or iTunes sounds quite respectable. I am soon moving to a G5, which doesn’t have a digital audio output and wondered how I can reproduce my current set up with a similar quality of sound. Griffin still seem to produce a cable and connector box, called iMic, usb to mini jack, would this suffice? http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic think it acts as a soundcard and I have seen a phono (rca) adapter lead It is my understanding that the G4 has a T class amp inside, is this correct? apparently they are quite highly regarded. Assume the G5 doesn’t, how about a stand alone T class amp, available on ebay at lowish prices, quite neat and compact but connections are through phono plugs, L & R audio, how would you hook these up to a G5? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2610371328...84.m1423.l2649 Suggestions and confirmations would be most welcome __________________ old but ample – ppc G4 desktop mirror door 1.25ghz - 1gb ram, OS 10.4.11 wife n kids – intel iMac G5 2.0ghz 2gb ram, OS 10.5.8 waiting in the wings – ppc G5 desktop 1.6ghz 1.5gb ram, OS 10.5.8 Last edited by towerpower; 07-24-2012 at 06:46 PM.

12-11-2012, 02:03 AM	#3
towerpower Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Great Torrington, Devon, UK Posts: 51	I am now revisiting and still having problems! I have tried mini jack (as used on G4) adapter to larger jack into G5 analogue audio output and get just a low output from one speaker. The G4 audio mini jack seems to be a one off odd size and does not fit snugly into the adapter and to compound the larger jack into the back of the G5 is also baggy n saggy. In fact if I fiddle sound will come and go from the single speaker (obviously a poor connection). Are these odd ball size plugs and or fittings peculiar to a mac? Also there appears to be no option to choose this output on the sound prefs, only line out (built-in audio), which I presume is the right option and another for the optical digital out port (toslink). Is there a mac mini jack to toslink adapter available or better fitting jacks and connectors? __________________ old but ample – ppc G4 desktop mirror door 1.25ghz - 1gb ram, OS 10.4.11 wife n kids – intel iMac G5 2.0ghz 2gb ram, OS 10.5.8 waiting in the wings – ppc G5 desktop 1.6ghz 1.5gb ram, OS 10.5.8

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12-11-2012, 10:59 AM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,958	Ah, OK... You did say that you were using the digital audio output on your old G4, and I missed that when I originally posted here. Your G4 digital output is NOT a standard connector, and is designed for use with the Apple Pro speakers (the pair of clear round ball speakers, like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Pro-Sp...61134755716%26 So, yes, your old connector for the digital audio output from your G4 is too small. I don't know of any adapters that you can use with that digital plug, it's just been too long... That connector was only used by Apple for a couple of years, and was dropped when the G5 was released in 2003. Your G5 tower has a standard (mini-jack) connector for analog audio output, there's one on both the front and the back panels, and I think are labeled as headphone jacks, and work with that standard mini plug used on headphones, etc. Or, on the back of your tower, there's the optical S/PDIF (toslink) connectors, both input and output. Those take a standard toslink connector. That assumes that you have digital gear to connect. You may need a different device to interface to your speakers, if those speakers are not actually digital speakers. A local electronics retailer that sells any type of audio gear/speakers should be able to help with changing to connectors that will work.