Thunderbolt Display and USB speakers

[tekksan]

Are there any speakers with subwoofer that you can connect to the Thunderbolt Display via USB so one doesn't have to connect a 3.5mm audio cable to their laptop when 'docking'? Will the USB speakers work via the Thunderbolt Display cable?

 

[Blaine]

I'd like to know this as well. My next set of speakers will probably be USB, and I'd like to rout them through a Thunderbolt Display. Idk if that will cause any problems or not, because the monitors USB ports are routed through the thunderbolt cable.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

How about picking up a new wireless Bluetooth speaker system instead? HK now has Soundsticks wireless and so does Edifier Prisma for reasonable prices. Both are 2.1 systems with a subwoofer.

 

[LaazyEye]

Data is data, you should have no more problems using USB speakers on a Thunderbolt Display than you would hooking them up to your laptop directly.

 

[Outrigger]

Mine are connected to an amp which are connected via USB to my TBD.

 

[blevins321]

I'm using a $8 USB>headphone port adapter off a hub connected to my TB display. Works great...and have an automator shortcut that switches the input back and forth for me.

 

[zen]

Just a bump on this, as I'm looking for something with a subwoofer to go with my TBD.

I've looked at the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks, and also the Edifier Prisma, but apparently the bluetooth is for iPhones/iPads, etc, and doesn't work with Macs.

I have a Mac mini and TBD and am still looking for a solution. Any ideas?

 

[Bear]

Just a bump on this, as I'm looking for something with a subwoofer to go with my TBD.

I've looked at the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks, and also the Edifier Prisma, but apparently the bluetooth is for iPhones/iPads, etc, and doesn't work with Macs.

I have a Mac mini and TBD and am still looking for a solution. Any ideas?

Get the normal Soundsticks (or any wired speakers) and use something like this adapter. I'd actual recommend the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers.

 

[JeffiJers]

Or you can get a cheap DAC and really improve your sound quality all together.

I have TB display > Fiio e10 > Audioengine a5+

Amazing set up.

 

[zen]

Get the normal Soundsticks (or any wired speakers) and use something like this adapter. I'd actual recommend the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers.

Ah, I love Klipsch. We have a small iPod sound system in our kitchen and it is amazing.

I run a Mac mini with this Thunderbolt Display, and apart from the display audio I actually use a Griffin iMic for my headphones, as that allows me to manually switch between the headphones and display output from the Finder menu bar.

Given the Klipsch uses a headphone input port, I could just use the spare headphone port on the back of the Mac mini, right? Is there any advantage to using the USB adaptor?

 

[Bear]

...
Given the Klipsch uses a headphone input port, I could just use the spare headphone port on the back of the Mac mini, right? Is there any advantage to using the USB adaptor?

I know on the iMac that if you use the audio output jack the internal speakers are disabled. I am not sure if that is also true on a Mac mini.

 

[zen]

I know on the iMac that if you use the audio output jack the internal speakers are disabled. I am not sure if that is also true on a Mac mini.

Yes, that is correct, and you can't change the audio output back to the speakers either - it just immediately flicks back to headphones.

However, that's fine for me because I use the Griffin iMic for my headphones. If you plug headphones into the mini's headphone socket, the Thunderbolt Display's speakers are disabled. But I can re-select the iMic to use my headphones.

Which means to say: I'll still be able to select either headphones or speakers - only in this case, the speakers are now the Klipsch system. The Thunderbolt Display speakers will be disabled, but I don't want to use them anyway.

I was just wondering if the audio quality would be higher via a USB adaptor.

 

[Bear]

...
I was just wondering if the audio quality would be higher via a USB adaptor.

There's a chance is you got a very high end USB sound card that the might would be better. But I'm not sure you would really hear a difference unless you got rather expensive speakers to go with it.

 

[cdrhoek]

The Bose Companion 5 should do what you want. They connect to a USB port and work fine with Macs.