Powered Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (or workaround)?

[O r c]

I would like to use a Thunderbolt 3 powered sound interface with my old Mac Pro (Trashcan) which only have Thunderbolt 2. The problem is the the sound interface only have one TB3 port and no separate power supply and needs to be powered via TB.

Since Apple's TB3-TB2 adapter does not transmit power I wonder if there is any alternative solutions or workarounds?

 

[chrfr]

I would like to use a Thunderbolt 3 powered sound interface with my old Mac Pro (Trashcan) which only have Thunderbolt 2. The problem is the the sound interface only have one TB3 port and no separate power supply and needs to be powered via TB.

Since Apple's TB3-TB2 adapter does not transmit power I wonder if there is any alternative solutions or workarounds?

You could connect the TB2-3 adapter to a Thunderbolt 3 hub which is powered. This will work with many Thunderbolt devices but I can't say if it would still perform adequately for an audio interface.
Are you sure that the device is actually Thunderbolt and not just USB-C?

 

[O r c]

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn’t think of that. I actually have a TB dock for my MBP With two TB3 ports.

Didn’t find any real TB3 hubs after a quick Amazon search. BTW, most s.c. TB-hubs seem to have one TB connector typically for macbooks and a host of different connectors - hdmi, usb-c etc but no TB3 ports. Seems you need a dedicated TB dock in order to get more TB-connectors.


And yes, I am sure it is TB3 (https://www.uaudio.com/audio-interfaces/apollo-solo.html). NB there are two models pf the same interface - one with USB-C and one with TB3. I need the TB3 variety since my MBP is TB3 (while my stationary old Trashcan only has TB2).

 

[Fishrrman]

Running it "through a dock" (to provide the necessary bus power) might be the only solution that works. IF it works.

I don't think any solution is possible for using ONLY a tbolt2-to-tbolt3 adapter...