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Griffin's Twenty audio amp gives AirPlay 20 watts per channel

by Chris Rawson Jan 9th 2012 at 6:00PM

Griffin has announced an accessory called Twenty, a small audio amplifier that will accept audio from an AirPort Express to drive unpowered speakers. The Twenty includes a TOSLINK cable to deliver pure digital audio from the AirPort Express to the unit, and additional connectors in the back allow you to plug speakers right in.

As the name implies, Twenty delivers 20 watts per channel of 2.1 audio. The unit's top includes a nifty and well-thought-out adapter that allows you to plug your AirPort Express's power plug directly into it, which means you'll only need one outlet to power both the AirPort Express and the Twenty.

Audio can stream from your Mac or iOS device to the AirPort Express via AirPlay, and from there audio passes from the AirPort Express directly into the Twenty. As helpfully noted on Griffin's website, you'll have to purchase your own AirPort Express and speakers.

Griffin's Twenty looks like a nice, miniaturized replacement for a full-fledged audio amplifier. I've already got one AirPort Express in my living room tied directly into my 7.2 surround sound system, but Griffin's Twenty would be ideal for the secondary AirPort Express in my office.

Griffin hasn't released pricing or availability info yet, but if you're interested you can sign up for e-mail alerts on Griffin's site.



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Griffin has announced an accessory called Twenty, a small audio amplifier that will accept audio from an AirPort Express to drive...
 

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Tom Burke

I doubt that it will be price-competitive with the 20W/channel Lepai Tripath (widely available, current best price $21 including optional power supply from Parts Express http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=310-300). I have a couple of these, and while the power ratings are BS (just as they are with all small amps) I've found that it powers my big floor speakers adequately and would no doubt be able to shred "computer speakers".

January 11 2012 at 11:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Tom Burke's comment
David

That amplifier doesn't have a digital TOSLink input, which you really want for the Airport Express set up they are going for. Apples and Oranges man.

January 12 2012 at 10:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Guy

Its a good idea but man its ugly with an airport sticking up out the top and with no way to hide the input cable.

Im interested in it only with a clean redesign.

January 11 2012 at 3:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank

This would also be a good way to add a powered subwoofer and some slightly better speakers to an Apple TV setup, although if you regularly use other video sources moving the TOSLink cable could get tiresome.

I've got a similar but more elaborate system (Creative DDTS-100 feeding a Carver AV705x) plugged into my Apple TV right now and it's actually pretty nice, although once a week or so the Apple TV decides to stop outputting audio until I power cycle it.

January 10 2012 at 5:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cookingscience

This might be okay if you care more about size than audio quality. Any stereo amplifier will do the same same thing, and probably will sound better.

January 10 2012 at 12:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cookingscience's comment
xxp84

You're posting on an amplifier, to say "Any amplifier would be better than this one, which I have never heard or touched, nor do I know its price."

What a hater.

January 10 2012 at 11:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

I fail to understand why they didn't just include an A2DP receiver instead of this wacky TOSLINK + AirPort Express power thing.

January 09 2012 at 11:49 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Nick's comment
xxp84

I fail to understand why this isn't a bacon sandwich. Since I like bacon sandwiches, and am hungry, everything should be a bacon sandwich.

This is for people who want to do AirPlay over their network, and who have an AirPort Express. If you want A2DP I'm sure you can find something better suited.

January 10 2012 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Digital

2.1 denotes that there is a subwoofer. This is not a 2.1 amplifier, it is a stereo amplifier.

January 09 2012 at 11:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Digital's comment
Nick

It, apparently, has an unpowered subwoofer output, so though it is a stereo amplifier, it can deliver 2.1.

January 09 2012 at 11:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
M Licata

Update to the Powerwave! About time.

January 09 2012 at 8:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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