Griffin's Twenty Audio Amp pairs up with your AirPort Express, enables AirPlay for any 2.1 speakers
Sure, a spendy, AirPlay-equipped speaker is one way to stream lossless audio over WiFi in your abode with iOS or iTunes -- or your could bring your own speakers to the party with Griffin Technology's Twenty Audio Amplifier. It's taken just shy of a year to ship since being announced at CES, but now this $100 Apple-centric HiFi accessory is finally shipping. As a refresher, the Twenty docks with Apple's AirPort Express WiFi router, allowing you to bring the benefits of AirPlay to any 2.1 speakers (left, right and sub channels) you choose to pair it with. Pass-thru power is supplied to your AirPort, sparing the need to plug it into a wall, but its audio connection to the Twenty gets handled by an included TOS-link cable. The Twenty is rated for 40 watts of peak output (20x2) with an active subwoofer crossover at 80hz, and a chunky volume dial adds some analog-esque tactility to setting the overall level. If you're looking to give your wired speakers a WiFi-enabled upgrade, head over to the source link below -- video overview and press release just after the break.
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Griffin's Twenty Audio Amplifier for Airport Express Now Available
Twenty provides a simple solution for streaming high-fidelity audio wirelessly to existing speakers from iOS devices and iTunes
Nashville, Tenn. – November 13, 2012 – Griffin Technology, one of the world's foremost creators of innovations for everyday life, announces the availability of Twenty, as introduced at CES 2012. Twenty is an audio amplifier that incorporates the user's Airport Express to capture the AirPlay stream, decode it, then play lossless amplified sound through attached speakers. Twenty has been recognized for its design and innovation, receiving the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award.
"Griffin's Twenty is the easiest, best-sounding solution for untethered digital playback from iTunes or any AirPlay-enabled iOS device," said Ethan Opelt, Line Manager of Griffin's Audio category. "We designed Twenty to be an elegant solution to cable clutter while maintaining high-fidelity sound for the audiophile."
Twenty boasts a zero-configuration audio set-up: the user plugs the AirPort Express into a built-in power connection and mounting platform on Twenty's top panel. Twenty then captures the AirPlay stream from iTunes and other AirPlay-enabled apps such as Pandora, Spotify, and last.fm, and sends great Apple Lossless sound to the user's speakers through its low-profile digital amplifier. Twenty is designed to provide docking with the original Airport Express but is compatible with any digital audio source including the new Airport Express. The audio amplifier features a 2.1 channel sound system with 20 watts output per channel and supports a powered subwoofer with an automatic active crossover at 80 Hz.
Twenty is now available for purchase at store.griffintechnology.com/twenty-airplay-amplifier for $99.99. To learn more visit www.griffintechnology.com/twenty and watch the video of Twenty in action. For more information about Griffin Technology, visit www.griffintechnology.com.
Amplifier:
• Class D Stereo Amplifier - TI PurePath™
• Input: S/PDIF optical, TOSLINK connector (included)
• Outputs: Spring-loaded right & left channel speaker connectors; RCA subwoofer connector
• Sensitivity: 0.34 dBFS for 20 watts (with volume control set at max)
Speaker Output:
• Power: 20 watts per channel into 8 ohms @ 0.08% THD, both channels driven
• Frequency Response: 20 to 20,000 Hz, +0, -0.34 dB
• Signal-to-Noise ratio: 95 dB
• Crosstalk: -71 dB
Subwoofer Output:
• Left + Right sub-bass audio
• Autoswitching when powered subwoofer is detected
• Power: Line-level output (2 V rms at 0 dBFS input)
• High-Pass Filter: 80 Hz 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley applied to L+R channels
• Low-Pass Filter: 80 Hz 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley applied to subwoofer output
AC Power:
• 100 to 240 VAC @ 50/60 Hz supplies both amp and power connection for Airport Express
