- Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod drivers#
- Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod full#
- Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod portable#
It’s a new world, and the iPod is here to stay. I’m also reminded that we have traded convenience for fidelity in our MP3 and AAC world. ( duh) I have heard it bandied about that different generation iPods and Shuffles have different and better converters, etc. This brings up the reality that not all iPods and output devices are created equally. The strident guitars were much improved as well. I played the same song (with the eq set to flat) and the bass cleaned up considerably. As an experiment, I un-docked the iPod and plugged my Powerbook into the input jack. My CD of this recording sounds really good in the car so an investigation was in order. I ended my testing with John Mayer’s Something’s Missing from Heavier Things and was a bit disappointed when the bass got away from me and became flabby as it flew around the room. Thankfully, it was still loud enough for rock and roll.
Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod full#
At full volume, the brightness of that particular record was a bit unpleasant so I turned it down a bit until it sounded good again. The guitars were bright and punchy and the kick drum felt good in my chest.
I fully expected the Amplifi to crap out at maximum volume and was really surprised when it didn’t. I moved on to the Get Born record by Jet and just turned Cold Hard Bitch all the way up. The high end of the cymbals had that watery quality that I love about jazz. The upright bass was resonant and warm and Michael Brecker’s tenor sax was bright and right. This is a fantastic sounding record to begin with and sounded really great on the Amplifi. Next, I listened to a bit of modern jazz with the self-titled recording from Steps Ahead. Keep an eye on it though, because if you misplace it you’ll find yourself crossing the room and using the iPod to control everything except the volume. Using the remote, I noted that it responds well and all of the functions work just fine. I’m sure that bass response will differ depending on the surface and density of the table, cabinet or dresser you use. The downward firing 5” woofer pleasantly surprised me as it bounced off of a teak and glass coffee table. The sound really filled the living room and was warm and punchy if not a bit undefined in the low mids. The orchestration is fairly dense on that record and the Amplifi did a good job with it. I started out with a bit of Sufjan Steven’s Chicago from the Illinois album. (If you use both inputs, the Amplifi defaults to the docked iPod) I also used my trusty old 12” Powerbook plugged into the mini jack input. I tested the Amplifi with a new generation iPod Shuffle, an iPod Nano, and an iPod Mini. Looks like the Amplifi is simply designed to do one thing. The IR remote is pretty sparse too, controlling power, volume, play/pause and track skip. On the back of the unit, there is a DC power jack and a stereo mini-jack line in. Unlike comparable (but pricier) units, there are no EQ controls, no video output, no FM radio, and no means of USB pass-through. The knob controls both power (push) and volume (twist). Like its design, the Amplifi's feature set is fairly one-dimensional. Also included in the box is the infrared remote control, various international AC plug adapters, and an assortment of rubber cushions to assist with iPod docking. The knob appears to be aluminum and feels really good when you give it a spin. This is in keeping with the simple design of the Amplifi. There is only one large knob on the front of the unit, which is lit by an inviting blue LED.
Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod drivers#
There are two 2.75 inch drivers behind the metal grill on the front and a ported 5” woofer cranking out the low end on the bottom. It is about 14 inches wide, 6 inches tall, and 9 inches deep. The enclosure uses what Griffin calls its special Resonance Drive construction.
Griffin ifire amplifier and adapter for ipod portable#
Weighing in at around 12 lbs, it’s not exactly portable it’s more like furniture. Solidly constructed of wood, metal and a bit of plastic, the Amplifi looks and feels like a contender right out of the box. Just one knob? Sounds like a bit of heaven! Griffin continues to put easy to use, value-priced gear into the marketplace and this piece is no exception as it goes up against competition like the Bose SoundDock and the Altec Lansing IM7. So when I was given the opportunity to check out Griffin’s “one-knobbed wonder, “ the Amplifi, I was stoked. I’ve read my share of manuals, mastered many a menu, and wrestled with the buttons, switches and inputs on everything from high-end recording gear to stomp box guitar pedals. Part of my job is to acquire and figure out a lot of different types of musical gear. It hasn’t always been pretty, but it has been pretty fun. For the last twenty years, I have been a career musician.
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