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16 Replies Last post: May 27, 2008 1:00 AM by tonydenson 1 2 Previous Next

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

May 3, 2008 1:10 PM

Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I have recently bought a set of Griffin Evolve speakers, and although they superficially seems to work with my iPhone, every so often the sound breaks up. Anyone else using these speakers with an iPhone ?

Tom_Diola

2,017 posts since
Oct 19, 2001

1. May 6, 2008 7:59 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I'm surprised it works at all... given that the iPhone is not on the compatibility list.

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

2. May 6, 2008 11:27 AM

in response to: Tom_Diola

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I have had my iPhone for nearly a year, and over that period I have plugged it into no end of iPod docks that are supposedly not compatible. When I first had it there was no choice because nothing was certified. It has worked with them all except for one, the Belkin TuneFM. I also read a review of the Griffin Evolve that claimed it was specially screened to protect from the iPhone GSM interference.
So on the basis that most docks actually work whether they are certified or not, I will ask the question again - has anyone on this forum used this combination and has it worked for you ?

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

3. May 9, 2008 11:47 PM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

If anyone is interested, the following is the reply I got from Griffin technical support -

"From our testing, that product works just fine with the iPhone. The main issue you're likely to encounter is inability to receive phone calls while the iPhone is docked in the Evolve, and also occasional TDMA noise over the speakers whenever the phone syncs with a cell tower.

However, it has not been approved for use with the iPhone by Apple, so I'd recommend checking with Apple to make sure that using that product won't void your warranty.

Hope this helps"

weshsu

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

4. May 14, 2008 7:39 PM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I use my iPhone with the Evolve speakers. I have to turn off
the antenna due to all the GSM interference as you've found out. While the ability to move the speakers (until the batteries
are spent, or you buy the additonal speaker docks) is nice, I'm not
happy with these speakers. I have 3 problems with them:

There is a constant slight hiss. It's noticeable enough that it bothers me. I expect better from a set of $300 speakers.
It does not use line level output, so it can mess with the volume
settings. For the most part, it seems to reset it back to the setting
prior to docking the iPhone, but once in a while it leaves the volume
in a different level, which can be surprising the next time you use it.
I'm not impressed with the sound quality.

I love them, considering I got them for free, but if I had paid for them, I probably would have returned them. I'd rather have better sound quality than the ability to move the speakers.

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

5. May 15, 2008 1:31 AM

in response to: weshsu

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I mainly use my speakers for listening to voice podcasts so for me quality/slight hiss is not really an issue. The flexibility of being able to carry them round the house is brilliant, and I would have happily paid double. As far as I can see there is no other product that comes near these for convenience.

However, regarding the first part of your response, you misunderstand me. I am fully aware of the GSM interference problem, we have had GSM phones in the UK for a decade and the occasional interference with other electronic equipment is a part of life, I hardly even notice it. No, what I am talking about is the sound actually breaking up, and cutting in and out, very badly, sometimes for a few seconds at a time. I suspect this is a fault, rather than a feature of me using it with an iPhone rather than an iPod.

weshsu

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

6. May 15, 2008 6:53 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I suppose I did misunderstand you, but you brought up GSM shielding, so I had (incorrectly) assumed that you already related the sound break to the GSM interference.

Does the problem when you turn the antenna off? How about with an iPod? Does it only happen when the speakers are wireless, or does it happen when they're docked onto the base? How far away are the speakers from the base?

If I keep the antenna on, not only do I get severe GSM chatter, but it will also cause the sound to break up/cut out when the speakers are wireless. I haven't done extensive testing with wireless, as I don't need that feature, and I certainly haven't done it much with the antenna on, since I get so much interference that I just have to turn it off. I can try it tonight to see what results I get.

If you've turned the antenna off and you still have a lot of sound issues, I'd get it fixed/replaced under warranty.

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

7. May 15, 2008 7:42 AM

in response to: weshsu

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I'm not sure what you mean by turning the antenna off, I don't see a switch. By the way, I do get the sound break up even when docked, although it seems less frequent.

weshsu

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

8. May 15, 2008 7:54 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

You can turn off the GSM antenna by going into Airplane Mode. You will still have Bluetooth and WiFi access.

My guess is that the GSM is interfering. Even when docked, I believe the speakers are still receiving the audio signals wirelessly. Or, you have other electronics around that are interfering. The Evolve uses the older 900MHz band, and iLounge says that their tests showed that it was very resistant to interference from other 900MHz devices. But, that doesn't rule out that you're not getting interference. I would first turn off the GSM antenna. Then, I would move the whole system to another location and see if you still get the same problems. If you do, I would call Griffin and let them troubleshoot the problem.

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

9. May 15, 2008 8:29 AM

in response to: weshsu

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

My apologies, I thought you meant the antenna on the Griffin. I will try that and see what happens. I will need to give it a soak test because sometimes it works flawlessly for hours.

weshsu

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

10. May 15, 2008 8:32 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

Then it sounds like you're getting random external interference if it works for hours on end. Maybe a neighbor has a fleet of 900MHz phones?

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

11. May 15, 2008 8:38 AM

in response to: weshsu

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

Yes, but it doesn't sound like interference, it's a complete loss of signal.

weshsu

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

12. May 15, 2008 9:57 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

Devices can act in different ways when it detects a loss of a connection. My stereo Bluetooth headset when used with a Jabra A125s transmitter on my iPhone will cut out for seconds at a time, while the Sony transmitter handles the interference much better so the result are very short, but successive drops. From my observations of how the Evolve works for me, I wouldn't be surprised that when the base loses a connection due to interference or whatnot, it takes time for the speaker and the base to "find each other" and then to determine which channel that speaker is supposed to be. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the sound cut out for a few seconds at a time during the negotiation phase of this protocol.

But, I don't know the technical implementation of the Evolve, so everything I just said is pure conjecture. If I had the same problems, I would try the steps that I suggested to see how the various external factors are affecting the performance of the system. Or, give Griffin a call and let them step you through similar steps to determine if the unit is defective.

feefer

250 posts since
Dec 19, 2005

13. May 26, 2008 10:45 AM

in response to: tonydenson

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

I've been using this combination for about 3 months, and find it to work very well. I love the fact the Griffin Evolve remote is able to control playback of the iPod function of the iPhone (including volume), even from across the house. Try THAT with an Apple remote: it won't work from such a long distance....

As you say, the ability to pick up a speaker and take it into another room is brilliant: when listening to streaming radio (from my home computer) or podcasts, I'll often take one speaker into another room, and the remote allows me to set the volume properly far from the base station. Sometimes the signal WILL drop out temporarily, especially when moving, or if you block it with your body when far from the base station. Is that what you're referring to? Mine usually reestablishes a connection with the transmitter within a sec. or two, so it's only a temporary issue. And it NEVER happens when docked.

Anyway, I suspect part of the problem pertains to the iPhone not docking properly with the Evolve, as none of the inserts provided with the Evolve are specifically designed to hold the iPhone. And while it WILL dock without a special insert, you can wiggle it sufficiently to make the sound cut out, create alot of noise, transients, etc. The iPhone has to be flush with the dock connector.

I also didn't like the idea of having to remove the iPhone from it's case simply to dock it, so my solution was to get the SendStation Dock Extender, a universal dock insert that fits perfectly on the Evolve (and the Dock Extender is available in black, which perfectly matches the color of the Evolve, looking like it came with the Evolve). The Dock Extender lets you connect any case-protected iPod with any dock or speaker system.

Available at: www.sendstation.com

Those of you complaining about the sound quality of the Evolve, be sure to move (one or both of) the speakers off their pedestal when listening. When I listened in the store, I was initially underwhelmed by the Evolve, and almost bypassed UNTIL I took one of the speakers off the base statiion to increase the distance. ANY speaker set-up will underwhelm when the speakers are 6 inches apart! I now think they sound great, much better than most other options in the same category (and I am a more critical listener, with a home studio that relies on Mackie HR824s). Griffin makes an optional powered base station that allows you to rest a single speaker on it, if you don't want to run it off it's internal battery...

FWIW, I have my Evolve's analog 'audio in' hooked up to my Mac Mintel home entertainment system's audio outs (using 1/8" to RCA jacks), and it sounds great. I use the Evolve to listen to my computer's iTunes, if desired, as well as use it for EyeTV.

My main peeve with the Evolve is that a docked iPhone obviously doesn't connect to my computer's USB port at the same time, so syncing with iTunes cannot be accomplished while the iPhone is docked to the Evolve. I wish the Evolve had a 'USB merge' function, with a USB THRU port added to the back of the base station, so that you can sync the iPhone with your computer while it's docked to the Evolve...

tonydenson

15 posts since
Feb 13, 2008

14. May 26, 2008 3:37 PM

in response to: feefer

Re: Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

As it happens I also use the Sendstation Dock Extender with my Evolve. I have come to the conclusion that my problem is indeed as pointed out earlier in this thread not putting the phone in airplane mode. I have tried it now with both settings and I only seem to get the problem with the phone functionality enabled.

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May 3, 2008 1:10 PM

Using iPhone with Griffin Evolve speakers

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