Firewire powered amplifier?

ThSpeakerDude88 · 9th August 2007, 05:59 AM

With the current limits of USB power, wattage in any usb powered speakers is downright pathetic. Carrying around speakers that need a wall wart also makes no sence, since the goal is portability. Since firewire can output 12v... this opens up a possibility of using car amp IC's to power speakers ( of whatever design you come up with). Using this it is theoretically possible to obtain up to 12 watts of true RMS power per channel, which is certainly more than almost any but the most high end 2.0 speakers, and even those are powered by AC power supplies.

Does anyone know the current capabilities of firewire? Particularly on a laptop? It would at least need to provide about 2 amps of power wouln't it?

Is this safe, or is there a possibility of runing a laptops power supply by pulling too much power?

Please , any ideas/ thoughts here would be greatly apreciated-I am tired of having to spend over $50 on ehhhh decent enough sounding speakers because their "portable".

pinkmouse · 9th August 2007, 08:18 AM

IIRC the standard states that a firewire port should be able to supply up to 500mA.

Bob0513 · 9th August 2007, 09:16 PM

laptops usually use a 4-pin firewire interface which omits the power supply.

9th August 2007, 05:59 AM	#1
ThSpeakerDude88 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA	Firewire powered amplifier? With the current limits of USB power, wattage in any usb powered speakers is downright pathetic. Carrying around speakers that need a wall wart also makes no sence, since the goal is portability. Since firewire can output 12v... this opens up a possibility of using car amp IC's to power speakers ( of whatever design you come up with). Using this it is theoretically possible to obtain up to 12 watts of true RMS power per channel, which is certainly more than almost any but the most high end 2.0 speakers, and even those are powered by AC power supplies. Does anyone know the current capabilities of firewire? Particularly on a laptop? It would at least need to provide about 2 amps of power wouln't it? Is this safe, or is there a possibility of runing a laptops power supply by pulling too much power? Please , any ideas/ thoughts here would be greatly apreciated-I am tired of having to spend over $50 on ehhhh decent enough sounding speakers because their "portable". __________________ always preach the gospel- and when necessary use words.

9th August 2007, 08:18 AM	#2
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	IIRC the standard states that a firewire port should be able to supply up to 500mA. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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9th August 2007, 09:16 PM	#3
Bob0513 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: home	laptops usually use a 4-pin firewire interface which omits the power supply.