Cheap iPod Speakers

Do you want to have iPod speakers, to play your music like it's coming from a stereo, but don't want to go broke trying to buy an iSphere or whatever? These speakers cost less than $20 and are easy to make.

Step 1 The Materials

Materials

You're going to need

1. An audio cord ($2)
2. A 1/2" (or 1/4") to 3/4" jack adapter (<$1)
3. Some sort of cheap amp ($15 from wal-mart)

Total= A little less than $18

I've heard the Audio Cord called different things so just describe it to the guy at radio shack and he can help you find it
The adapter size depends on the jack on the audio cord. If you have a 1/2" jack on the audio cord, you'll want a 1/2" jack adapter. I've got a 1/4" jack on the cord and my 1/2" jack still worked after a little wiggling and some tape.

Comments

[lighthouse1]

I've never seen a new guitar amp for less than $50. Could you tell me where you got the one you used?

[punkzombiehunter]

If you're in the UK try somewhere like cash converters or cash generators or a large second hand shop. (pawn shop)

[logghi]

I did this, and it works brilliantly with my portable guitar amp. It was £9.99 from maplin electrical suppliers. (I'm guessing you're in the US, but you can get them online)

[Gjdj3]

I don't remember exactly where I got it, but here's a link to a new $29.99 amp.

http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-1x6-5-Guitar-Combo-Black/dp/B002NTWV9E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1261529494&sr=8-3

[logghi]

Could you maybe somehow use old headphones instead of the audio chord? Maybe chop off one end before it splits on two sets, then splice them together to create a double ended headphone jack cable?

[rapidprototyping]

I found male to male 1/8inch cord six foot long Fred Myers store in electronics then also a male to female cord and set 1/8 to 1/4 adaptor to plug into the amplifiers. 1/8 to RCA plug for AUX input on stereo Amplifiers so no I can use the MP3 on stereo or just plug in the flat panels for listening to music in bed or in morning get going by plugging in amp and hear it in the shower and probably down the block too.

[rapidprototyping]

I have a pair of NXTflat panel speakers these make sound in a different manner then cone speakers and  the ones i have sound pretty good unamplified just in substitute of head phones. first time i tried this was with an amplified flat panel designed for that purpose but you had to remember to turn off the amp of your batteries woukl drain. with the flat panels i'm going to mount them in picture frames i have made out of cherry wood and hang them on the wall. my MP3 is a Pqi with SD slot not the propritary i=pod it has lithium ion battery and last 24 hours of play but i charge it only when its totally out of juice. I like the idea of using SD cards and wish they would keep from changing everything soon as i'm set up theres better ones that dont fit my unit irratating habit built in obsolecence is bad thing on expensaive devices

[DELETED_DELETED_HIVLTGE1]

(removed by author or community request)

[toogers]

lol,instructables plus uncrustables.

[Patented]

Yeah! I do it everytime I play guitar, I plufg my Ipod in the cd in and I play with the song ! Very good!

[Skor459]

How to build speakers: First go out and buy some speakers. End of story.

[theburn7]

an amp for 15 bucks, wow, i get my amps for 100 bucks 40 watt dedicated amp

[Bartboy]

kind of weird, but i guess it works, and that's the point.

[cry_wolf]

Great thing is that if you have a double input you can have your Ipod hooked up and jam with your electric guitar to it.

[crayzclown]

it works 4 me too, I can now play beast and the harlot flawlessly!

[Gjdj3]

That's a good song. A7X Rules.

[cry_wolf]

Hell yeah :D

[MattWasser]

Nice Crate, i got one too

[deadbody]

Wow you can get a guitar amp for 15 bucks? the cheapest I've seen is around 80 (new anyway). The only problem with this setup is it will be in mono but it will be a mono that sounds better than any mini speaker stereo probably will. Probably a nice little trick while wait for your drummer or singer at practice.

[Gjdj3]

yeah. the amp i found for 15 was a little one from wal-mart, one of those minis.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Try garage sales. I got a working technics stereo / cassete deck for only $3.

[Gjdj3]

yeah, i get most of my project stuff from garage sales

[GorillazMiko]

cool, i do this all the time cool instructable

[marc92]

I love doing this and I do it all the time. The best part is that is so much louder that any iPod speaker on the market.