ipod external speaker adapter?

[rattlsnak]

OK, does anyone know of a cable/adapter to hook conventional stereo speakers (the kind that have two pinch tabs in the back for the speaker wires to connect) to an ipod or laptop computer which has a banana or rca type jack input?? Or maybe through a USB port? Not sure if that would work though.
Basically, I have an Ipod or laptop that I need to use at a party and need to use the bigger speakers which i have.

[slodave]

What is going to power the speakers? The iPod won't be able to. I "DJ'd" a party for my ex-bosses kid and I used a regular receiver. The kids even brought their own iPods....

[imcarthur]

As slodave points out, the output of an iPod is too low to drive a pair of conventional speakers. You need an amplifier/receiver to amplify the signal. Or a pair of amplified speakers.

Ian

[rattlsnak]

ok so Im assuming the power to the speakers on a regular stereo comes through the speaker wires? what about through a laptop? it has an external headphone jack, but im gathering it isnt enough to power bigger speakers either? The speakers boxes in question are only about 10inches square, so the speaker itself is maybe 6??

[imcarthur]

The output from an iPod or a computer is a very small signal - probably 100 mv or around there. That is enough to drive headphones. A normal loudspeaker driver with a comparatively large voice coil needs a much higher voltage/amperage (usually expressed in watts) to get it moving. That's where an amplifier comes in.

Ian

[Don Plumley]

If you are going to amplify the output of an iPod to big speakers, as others have said, you need an amplifier. Which means you want the cleanest output possible, so don't take it from the 3.5mm headphone jack, but from the dock connector. You can buy a $50 apple version or a generic $7.50 version like this:



One advantage of the apple unit is it includes power so your iPod does not run out of juice.

[dad911]

You can plug amplified computer speakers into the headphone jack of an ipod.

[rattlsnak]

Ok thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I have an ipod dock already (an all in one unit with stereo and small speakers) and basically I took the back cover off and connected speaker wires from the bigger speakers and it works great!

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Ok thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I have an ipod dock already (an all in one unit with stereo and small speakers) and basically I took the back cover off and connected speaker wires from the bigger speakers and it works great!

the amplifier inside of the ipod dock is just enough power to drive the onboard speakers which are small... careful not to blow the larger ones you just rigged to your dock


if there is a "stereo system" in the house... you just run the ipod or computer to the AUX input jacks on the back of the stereo (receiver, amplifier etc...). The computer you go from the headphone jack with a mini-plug to stereo RCA cable. You can use the same cable to connect the ipod. i find little to zero difference coming out the ipod's headphone jack or bottom output connection thingy