Accessory maker Griffin Technology has finally begun shipping its Mac-oriented, FireWire-connected 5.1-channel surround sound system FireWave more than 18 months after it announced the product.

Griffin first demo'd FireWave in public back in January 2005 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The device connects to a Mac's 1394 port - it's bus powered - and feeds multi-channel audio from DVDs and other sources out to five (two left, two right and one centre) speakers and a sub-woofer via 3.5mm jacks. There's a second FireWire port to allow users to daisy-chain other devices.

The box supports Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic II sound formats. It will also simulate surround sound from two-channel sources such as MP3 files.

The FireWave costs $100 in the US and £70 in the UK. The gadget can be bought from Griffin's Mac-friendly retail partners and from the company's own website. ®