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ACD + Speakers?

KimTwemlow

KimTwemlow

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 13, 2007
27
0
Hi all,

I've just got a MacBook and I'd like it to be connected to as little as possible! I see that the Apple Cinema Display has USB ports - can I connect speakers through one of those or do they need to be connected to the computer?

Hope this isn't a silly question :)
 
According to the technical specifications, it has a self-powered USB 2.0 hub, which I would assume have enough power to drive most USB speakers. Also, the displays page on Apples site states that
Every Apple display has a FireWire 400 hub and a USB 2.0 hub, each with two ports. Use the FireWire ports for connecting high-performance devices like digital cameras, and camcorders. And whether you’re using your display with a Mac or a PC, you can make best use of all the latest USB 2.0 devices, including iPods and industry-standard printers and scanners.
Click to expand...
So again, I would assume this would mean speakers are fine.

And you can always try the Chat Now link from the Apple Store and ask someone there.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for replying. Actually, I was wondering about sound, not power!

Can't seem to find a Chat button in the Apple Store - possibly not available here in Ireland.
 
I don't understand what you're trying to do...what's the difference in hooking up speakers to your computer vs. to your monitor?? Do they even make USB powered speakers?
 
KimTwemlow said:
Thanks for replying. Actually, I was wondering about sound, not power!

Can't seem to find a Chat button in the Apple Store - possibly not available here in Ireland.
Click to expand...

I can't see why they wouldn't work. You might get a tiny amount of extra delay, but if you were really worried about that you wouldn't be using USB speakers at all.
 
It will work. Of course, you will have to connect the ACD's USB cable (tethered to the DVI cable) to the MacBook, as you will have to do with the firewire cable if you want the firewire ports in the display enabled. All in all, when you dock, you connect three cables from the display to the laptop. Honestly, I wish that the company that virtually invented the dock would create docks for their current lineup. I'd be willing to bet that it would up the sales of ACDs as well.
 
So have I.
 

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I use a belkin network usb hub http://www.belkin.com/networkusbhub/ with a powered usb hub to connect all my stuff, sadly they only have windows drivers right now and I'm currently using bootcamp with vista. It works great though, can run my printers, hd, speakers, camera, charge my phone via usb... engadget said they would release mac drivers sometime late september so I'm just waiting for them so I can fully switch back to OS X
 
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