HOME
TOPICS
SEARCH
ABOUT ME
MAIL

 
My high expectations didn't prepare me for the incredible sound the PowerPak coaxed from my Yamaha professional headphones.
  technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

T e c h n o f i l e
Burning Blue Audio USB-powered amplifier delivers super-fi sound to headphones on Windows PCs and Macs


August 31, 2003


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2003, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2003, The Post-Standard

   I've found a new way to listen to music on my computer. Everybody else in the family is glad.
   I used to bring tears to our dog, raise feathers on our parrot and force our cat back outside with full-volume renditions of my favorite CDs and MP3s played on the fancy sound system plugged into my computer. I like music loud, as in VERY LOUD, especially when I'm playing rock or the sort of techno funk I came to love in the '80s. And the loudspeakers in my computer sound system are the kind that can melt cheese a foot away.
   But life is placid now. The dog licks my face and the parrot whistles happily. Even the cat is happy to curl up alongside me. I'm still listening to Jerry Garcia and still turning up the volume as high as before, but nobody else complains about my tunes.
   I credit this newfound family harmony to my favorite new computer gadget. It's the PowerPak, a tiny headphone amplifier the size of a deck of playing cards. It costs only $99 -- a reasonable price in the world of super-fi audio -- and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Burning Blue Audio of Seattle. You'll find an order form and more information at the company's Web site at http://burningblueaudio.com.
   Super-fidelity is a rarity in the otherwise mid-fi world of computer audio. I asked for a review unit as soon as I found out about the amplifier. But my high expectations didn't prepare me for the incredible sound the PowerPak coaxed from my Yamaha professional headphones. My Yamaha headphones have only one failing -- they require a very strong electrical signal, and are therefore extremely inefficient -- but the PowerPak had no trouble supplying all the watts my Yamahas needed for ear-tingling sound.
   My CDs and MP3s blossomed when I listened through the PowerPak. Headphone listening can be disconcerting if you find the sound too much "in your head," but I've monitored all my personal audio recordings using headphones since the early '70s and enjoy the close-up sound.
   What's almost as impressive as its sound is the way the PowerPak works. Instead of using a power supply with a heavy "brick" that plugs into the wall outlet, the PowerPak gets all its power from your computer's USB connection. It uses the same USB cable for audio signals, too. This makes it ideal for use with notebook computers, since all you need to carry is the tiny amplifier and a short USB cable. (The PowerPak doesn't come with a USB cable, but you can get one at any store that sells computers.)
   As soon as you plug the PowerPak in, your computer should recognize it and work with it. You might have to open the audio-settings section of the Control Panel in Windows or the comparable setting on a Mac to switch to USB audio. If your Windows PC doesn't know what to do, you can install Windows USB audio drivers from the supplied CD. (My Mac didn't need any extra software.)
   Burning Blue Audio's PowerPak worked without a fuss on both my Windows PC and my Apple Macintosh. I had a minor problem on my Mac -- the unit's software-activated volume control couldn't be adjusted down from the loudest setting -- but this didn't affect playback. I set the loudness through the computer's own volume control on-screen.
   If you decide to buy the PowerPak, make sure your computer is equipped with USB. Older Windows PCs and very old Macintoshes didn't have USB built in. If your PC originally came with Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 or Windows XP, it probably has USB. If it came with Windows 95 originally, it might not. If you're not sure, ask any 14-year old to check it for you or call the store.
   All iMac Macintosh models of any age have USB. All G3, G4 and G5 models do, too. If you have an old Mac, call the store and ask for help if you can't determine if yours has USB.