I'm looking for the drivers of the USB Apple Pro Speakers for Windows
2000. Anyone can find the correct files?

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Request for Question Clarification by a_butler-ga on 31 May 2002 06:59 PDT

The Apple Pro Speakers from Apple are not USB. They use a proprietary
Apple interface to connect to G4 computers.

Are you looking for a way to connect these speakers to a Windows
computer? Or are you looking to connect another model of USB speaker
to a Windows computer. You may want to include a specific part number
or description to ensure the question is answered correctly.

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Clarification of Question by alejandro-ga on 31 May 2002 07:23 PDT

This speakers are from the Power Mac G4 Cube, and they are USB. I'm
looking for the drivers to make them work.

The difference explained

If you’re wondering in what way the Apple Pro Speakers are different
from the speakers that come with the Power Mac G4 Cube, here’s a quick
answer: While the Apple Pro Speakers look very similar to the Power
Mac G4 Cube speakers, the Apple Pro Speakers get their power from the
computer and thus require a system with an Apple speaker minijack
(like the one that’s on the new Power Mac G4). The Power Mac G4 Cube
speakers, on the other hand, are USB-powered and are designed to work
only with Power Mac G4 Cube systems. Also, the G4 Cube speakers have
an external amplifier, whereas the Power Mac G4 has an internal
amplifier that supports the Apple Pro Speakers.

Hi;


I'm certain that it can't be done.


I tried the same thing, and failed. Repeatedly.


The Cube speakers look like the Pro Speakers, but, as folks have
pointed out, they are a different beast completly. The actual Apple
Pro Speakers, with the micro-phono plug should work with anything. The
Cube speakers are limtied almost exclusively to the Cube.


When I upgraded from the original Cube speakers to the Harman-Kardon
Sound Sticks, I tried to use my original speakers with all kinds of
different machines and operating systems.  Nothing even recognized
them. I
( Incidentally, if anyone is thinking about getting the Sound Sticks -
stop thinking. They're even better than you imagine. )


Ultimately, I was able to use them with my iBook, but only through a
powered USB hub and only when using MacOS X. The iBook would play
sound through them for short perionds, then woiuld seem to forget they
were plugged in, and refuse to see them again until I'd restarted. My
iMac (an original Rev A) was never able to see them, even when running
MacOS X and using the same powered hub. Also, on the Cube, the
speakers only worked when plugged directly into the Cube, and weren't
recognized when plugged into a powered hub. As an aside, you cannot
even use the Cube Speakers with the Sound Sticks. With both plugged
in, only one or the other set can be used at a time. This whole thing
implies that there is more involved than the simple USB power issue.



As far as I have been able to determine, the drivers for the Cube
Speakers were only included in hardware (or in the specific ROM file)
on the Cube on System 9.x  and apparently were rolled into MacOS X.
This only gives partial compatibility wirth other Macs.

Given all of that, Windows compatibility  is out of the question (at
least until the mythical Intell version of MacOS X comes out.)


Just to make sure that nobody had succeded where I'd failed, I've
checked the Apple tech notes and discussion boards. There are "How do
I...?" postings about doing it, but no positive answers. Same thing
for macfixit.com, too.


daveslipp_ga


(PS - As always, this constitutes my opinion, I am not an employee of
Apple, all trademarks in the fogoing belong to their owners, etc, etc)

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Request for Answer Clarification by alejandro-ga on 31 May 2002 09:22 PDT

They work without any problem in my Ibook Special Edition. Maybe is
the USB power... Finally, the speakers can work in some PC's, it
deppends in the power of the computer. Anyway, if you can find
something, let me know.

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Clarification of Answer by daveslipp-ga on 31 May 2002 10:02 PDT

I'll keep on top of it, and let you know if I find anything 

Since I wrote my answer, I took them over to a friend's place and
found that they work on his G4 iMac for about three eminutes, then do
the same thing my iBook did. If they didn't work flawlessly on my
Cube, I'd be suspecting the speakers.

Mine are sitting here gathering dust, and would love to be able to
hook them up to a Wintel box out in my workshop, so a solution would
be good for both of us!

Very nice answer. Now we have an idea of the problem, but it's not
completely solved.

Not sure this can be done:

According to Apple:

"The Apple USB (Universal Serial Bus) Speakers included with the Power
Mac G4 Cube computer require more power to operate than is provided by
a typical USB port."

In addition:

"For this reason, you should only connect the speakers to one of the
USB ports on the Power Mac G4 Cube computer, or monitor listed above.
You should not connect them to the USB ports of any Apple keyboard,
other Apple computer, or third-party USB device."

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58676

That's a good answer. But I don't know if the problem is that the
speakers need a specific driver or they can run with the Windows 2000
generic driver. W2000 detect the speakers and autoinstall the generic
driver, but they dont work.

Right. I think they don't work because they are not getting enough
power -- I'd bet the generic driver is probably fine.

You way want to look into a way to boost power on your USB bus -- I
did a breif search for products that do this, but didn't find anything
quickly.

I don't have solution - but I have some practical info that may help
narrow down what is so special about the speakers.

I have a Cube, I have the Apple (USB) Pro Speakers that came with, and
I now have a Studio Display.  I used to heed Apple's warnings and run
the speakers off one of the ports under the Cube.  I now run them off
the USB ports on the back of the Studio Display - they obviously have
the required hardware to run them because they work perfectly.

I also have a generic four-port powered hub that I run the printer,
etc., off.  On reading this topic I decided to try the speakers on the
hub to see if the audio would cut out like people had reported
happening with non-Cubes.

When I plugged it in:
1.  The LED on the hub that indicates that each port is powered went
out - all the others stay on when there is a device connected.

2.  iTunes wouldn't play.

3.  I got a kernel panic.

Luckily, after a very long startup, everything seems to be back to
normal and the speakers are staying plugged-in to the monitor.

USB Apple Pro Speakers work best if connected to the high power USB
connectors on a G4 Cube, Apple 15" / 17" LCD Studio Display or the
Apple 22" Cinema Display; however, if connected to a Cube through a
lower power port they work OK but clip more readily.