Groove - Headphone amplifier Apogee - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Portable USB Headphone Amplifier / DAC
Brand	Apogee
Model	Groove
Dimensions (W x H x D)	3.5 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches (89 x 30 x 15 mm)
Weight	2.6 oz (74 g)
Power Source	Bus-powered via USB; no external battery required
Input Connector	USB-C (compatible with USB-A via adapter)
Output Connector	3.5 mm (1/8") stereo headphone jack
Output Power	2.5 Vrms into 300 ohms; 1.5 Vrms into 32 ohms
Frequency Response	20 Hz - 20 kHz ±0.5 dB
DAC Resolution	Up to 24-bit / 96 kHz
SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)	> 115 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise)	< 0.001%
Compatibility	Mac, Windows, iOS, Android (with appropriate adapter)
Driver Requirement	Plug-and-play on most systems; drivers available for Windows
Construction Material	Aluminum chassis with rubber grip
Indicators	LED power/status indicator
Accessories Included	USB-C to USB-A cable, adapter cable (USB-C to Lightning)
Maintenance & Cleaning	Wipe with dry cloth; avoid liquids; keep connectors clean
Safety Warnings	Do not use at excessive volume; avoid exposure to moisture
Spare Parts & Repairability	Not user-serviceable; contact Apogee support for repairs

Frequently Asked Questions - Groove Apogee

What is the Apogee Groove?

The Apogee Groove is a portable USB headphone amplifier and DAC designed for high-quality audio playback from computers and mobile devices.

Does the Groove require batteries?

No, it is bus-powered via USB. It draws power from the connected device, so no separate battery is needed.

Which devices are compatible with the Groove?

It works with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices that support USB audio. For iOS, a Lightning to USB camera adapter is required.

What is the maximum audio resolution supported?

The Groove supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio resolution for high-definition playback.

How do I connect the Groove to my phone?

Use the included USB-C to Lightning cable for iPhones, or a USB On-The-Go (OTG) adapter for Android phones with USB-C.

Can I use the Groove while charging?

Since it is bus-powered, it draws power from the USB connection. It does not have its own battery, so it works continuously while connected.

What headphones work best with the Groove?

The Groove can drive headphones with impedances from 16 to 600 ohms. It is particularly effective with high-impedance studio headphones.

Is the Groove compatible with gaming consoles?

It may work with consoles that support USB audio, such as PS4/PS5 and Xbox (via USB). However, functionality is not officially guaranteed.

Why is there no sound from my Groove?

Check that the USB connection is secure, the volume is turned up on both the source device and the Groove, and the headphone plug is fully inserted. Ensure the source is outputting audio to the USB device.

How do I clean the Groove?

Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the exterior. Do not use any liquids or abrasive cleaners. Keep the USB and headphone jacks free of dust.

USER MANUAL Groove Apogee

Thank you for Choosing Groove

Since 1985, Apogee has produced award-winning technology that powers many of the world's most respected studios. Apogee products have been instrumental in capturing countless GRAMMY® and OSCAR® winning performances by the most successful artists.

Now you can experience the same legendary quality with Apogee Groove™. Not only does Groove deliver the sound of the studio to your laptop, it's also the first headphone amp/DAC designed to make all headphones sound their best using Apogee's unique Constant Current Drive™ technology.

Learn more about Constant Current Drive: www.apogeedigital.com/groove/

Register your Apogee Product

When you register your new Apogee product it helps us provide you with the best possible customer experience.

Benefits of registration:

• Get help from our technical support experts
• Be notified immediately when updates are available for your product
• Communicate your thoughts and feedback in our customer survey
  • Find out first about new Apogee products

Go here to register Groove: www.apogeedigital.com/register

Connecting to Mac

Apogee Groove is fully class-compliant with OS X. No special software is required. See your Groove box for system requirements.

To select Groove as your Output device on OS X:

1. Connect Groove to your computer using the supplied USB cable
2. Open Mac System Preferences and select the Sound icon

Sound

1. In the Sound Output tab, select Groove from the list

Audio played from iTunes, Safari, and other general Mac applications will output through Groove.

Connecting to Windows

Install the Driver

Driver software is required for Groove to work on computers running the Windows operating system. See your Groove box for system requirements.

To download the Windows driver, register Groove on the Apogee website: www.apogeedigital.com/register/

1. Log into your Support Account
2. Register Groove. In the "My Registered Products" page, click the Download Driver link and save the file
3. Unzip the download and run the Apogee_DriverSetup file inside Follow the prompts to complete installation

- NOTE: If a prompt appears asking for permission to make changes to the computer, click "Yes".

Select Groove as the Output Device

To select Groove as your output device in Windows:

1. Click Start
2. In the Search bar, type "Manage audio devices"
3. Select "Manage audio devices" from the search results
4. In the Sound screen, select the "Playback" tab
5. Select Apogee Groove from the list
6. Click the "Set Default" button
7. Click OK to close the Sound screen

Audio played from iTunes, Windows Media Player, and other general programs will output through Groove.

Using Groove

Groove has 3 multi-color LEDs and 2 up/down volume control buttons.

What do the LED colors mean?

A single blue LED indicates Groove is connected and ready but not streaming audio from an application.

Purple LEDs display the listening level you've set with the up/down volume controls.

Green LEDs display the level of the audio file you're playing back, regardless of the listening level.

NOTE: If the green LED playback level seems low, check the volume control of your playback application and increase output as necessary in the application.

The two buttons adjust the analog volume up or down.

Blue LED

Ready but not streaming audio

Purple LEDs

Listening level set using volume up/down buttons

Volume up

Circular icon with a speaker symbol emitting sound waves (no text or numbers)

Circular button with a white speaker symbol on black background (no text or numbers)

Volume down

Green LEDs

Audio playback level Red: Turn application volume down

Warranty Information

APOGEE ELECTRONICS CORPORATION warrants this product to be free of defects in material and manufacture under normal use for a period of 12 months. The term of this warranty begins on the date of sale to the purchaser from an authorized Apogee dealer (proof of purchase in the form of a receipt may be required). Units returned for warranty repair to Apogee or an authorized Apogee warranty repair facility will be repaired or replaced with a functional equivalent product that is new or refurbished at the manufacturer's option, free of charge. Please note this guarantee may be subject to other conditions as dictated by the customer's legal warranty rights under the applicable national legislation governing the sale of consumer goods.

Apogee reserves the right to change or improve design at any time without prior notification. Design changes are not implemented retroactively, and the incorporation of design changes into future units does not imply the availability of an upgrade to existing units. This warranty is void if Apogee determines, in its sole business judgment, the defect to be the result of abuse, neglect, alteration or attempted repair by unauthorized personnel. The buyer acknowledges and agrees that in no event shall the company be held liable for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, or for injury, loss or damage sustained by any person or property, that may result from this product failing to operate correctly at any time.

Warranty details are subject to change. For the latest warranty information please visit www.apogeedigital.com.

Declarations of Conformity

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Apogee Electronics Corporation compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Rating: 3.3-5V 100mA USB 2.0

Declaration of Conformity – CE

Apogee Electronics Corporation hereby declares that the product, Groove, to which this declaration relates, is in material conformity with the following standards or other normative documents:

(EN50081-1/EN55022; 1995) and (EN50082-1/IEC 801-2, 3, 4; 1992)

following the provisions of: (73/23/EEC – Low Voltage Directive) and (89/336/EEC – EMC Directive)

Declaration of Conformity – CE

Apogee Electronics Corporation hereby declares that the product, Groove, to which this declaration relates, is in material conformity with the following standards or other normative documents:

(EN50081-1/EN55022; 1995) and (EN50082-1/IEC 801-2, 3, 4; 1992)

following the provisions of: (73/23/EEC - Low Voltage Directive) and (89/336/EEC - EMC Directive)

Declaration of Conformity – Japan

Apogee Electronics Corporation hereby declares that Groove, to which this declaration relates, is in material conformity with the VCCI Class A standard.

Declaration of Conformity – Australia

Apogee Electronics Corporation hereby declares that the Groove is in material conformity with AN/NZS standard requirements.

Contact Information

Apogee Technical Support:

www.apogeedigital.com/support

Apogee Electronics Corporation:

1715 Berkeley St. Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA

TEL: [phone], FAX: [phone]

www.apogeedigital.com

© 2015, Apogee Electronics Corp. All rights reserved. Apogee Groove is a registered trademark of Apogee Electronics Corp. Mac, the Mac logo and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.

OSCAR is a registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

GRAMMY is a registered trademark of the Grammy Foundation.

Groove

APOGEE

www.apogeedigital.com

Product Booklet, Apogee Groove. Part Number: 7070-0033-2014. Rev 3.0