Ghetto Headphone "Amp"

 by geekboxjockey
This is a simple way to use your earbuds from your ipod etc as a backup means playing music for a small group of people. I got the idea when I saw someone cupping ipod headphones in their hand to get a slight boost in volume. This is a simple "what if" project, if you have any suggestions on changes to the design to help increase the volume let me know, that's one the reasons I'm putting this up :-P
 
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Step 1: Stuff you need

2 identical cardboard squares (mine were 5"x5")
scissors
duct tape
earbud headphones
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GASSYPOOTS says: Feb 23, 2012. 4:25 PM
what bout ones with rubber things on them?
fluid says: Sep 26, 2006. 7:13 PM
since it involves electronics and 'duck' tape..............I'd call it a: "MacGyver'd Headphone Loudspeaker"
qualia in reply to fluidOct 14, 2007. 9:44 AM
pleace call it its proper name -=duct tape=- for water ducts etc.. sorry t even if other peeps are calling it duck tape *nervous twitch* dont call it that urself. ISNT ANYONE ELSE HERE A PLUMBER??? oh. right.. sorry
qualia in reply to qualiaJan 15, 2011. 8:06 PM
fyi, i perceived fluid's comment with the "quotation" marks as a "correction" rather than an expression of a personal view, this was 4-5 years ago. i dont take life that seriously anymore.
fireballfish in reply to qualiaJan 14, 2011. 7:41 AM
It's already been said, though misspelled:
"Duck Tape" is a company that produces duct tape. like Kleenex makes facial tissues, Allen makes hex drivers/wrenches, or Coke makes cola. Some people use a brand name to identify a product regardless of the brand that actually manufactured the item.
qualia in reply to fireballfishJan 15, 2011. 7:33 PM
i'm really not that concerned tbh, but you made that point admirably. we who visit this particular (very particular) instructable now have a better grasp of the nomenclature we use to refer to our "bare necessities" instuctables kit, namely: coke, kleenex, allen keys, and hippy chrome. what we can do with these versatile tools is quantified by the quality of our imaginations.
protocolZA in reply to qualiaMay 29, 2009. 4:17 AM
you can't use it for water, the 'duct' it refers to are air ducts, like for ventilation/heating/cooling.
qualia in reply to protocolZAJul 16, 2009. 11:08 PM
shh i was using water as a context for the spelling of the word, not for duct-tape's appropriate usage
Richie15 in reply to qualiaApr 5, 2009. 2:14 PM
Duck Tape is a particular brand of duct tape.

Incidentally, duck tape may have been the original name. See link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape#Etymology
baneat in reply to qualiaAug 6, 2008. 12:25 PM
I think people cal it that because where I live the main brand misleadingly has a picture of a duck as its mascot.
8bit in reply to baneatApr 1, 2009. 1:28 PM
The brand name actually is Duck Tape.
Darkness35 in reply to qualiaDec 9, 2007. 10:29 PM
Originally, it was nicknamed "Duck tape" by GI's who used it to waterproof supplies and such. It was later called "Duct tape" because its post-war use was in ventilation.
surroundsound5000 in reply to Darkness35Mar 22, 2009. 4:19 AM
It was not originally called 'Duck' tape. It was originally, always was, and still is, 'Duct' tape. People occasionally mishear and mispronounce (like people who stand on stage saying 'Turn up the fall back'), and yes, it's waterproof nature perpetuated this a little.
8bit in reply to surroundsound5000Apr 1, 2009. 1:29 PM
Duck Tape is a brand of Duct Tape.
andrew_29 in reply to Darkness35Mar 4, 2008. 3:04 PM
its duct tape because it was ariganaly developed for fixing heating ducts
duck_tape_ in reply to andrew_29Jun 4, 2009. 5:06 PM
No they didn't. It doesn't work on ducts. They created in in WWII as a water proof tape.
uberchoob in reply to qualiaDec 4, 2007. 8:15 PM
duck tape is still proper kuzz duck is the brand name of a leading ducT tape supplier. =)
ranmawolf in reply to uberchoobMay 31, 2010. 4:12 AM
What, nobody around here calls it "Hippy Chrome"?? LOL 

Alright, nobody else is sayin' it, so I guess I will;

D'ya know why duck - er..., duct - uh..., HIPPY CHROME is like the Force? 'Cause it has a light side, and a dark side, and it binds the universe together hehe :P

Yeah, yeah, I know, LAME!! ahahahaha 


Holden_vy_s in reply to uberchoobNov 30, 2008. 3:42 AM
Thats like calling all MP3 players iPods. It is duct tape.
duck_tape_ in reply to Holden_vy_sJun 4, 2009. 5:07 PM
A lot of people do do that in their instructables.
surroundsound5000 in reply to Holden_vy_sMar 22, 2009. 4:20 AM
Exactly, like how americans like to call all vacuum cleaners 'Hoovers', because it is one brand that is popular in america.
pcgate in reply to surroundsound5000Jul 22, 2011. 12:23 PM
i have never heard anyone refer to their vacuum cleaner as a hoover (unless they were commenting on the actual brand of their vacuum cleaner) in my 39 years of life. In the USA.
fluid in reply to pcgateJul 22, 2011. 6:15 PM
I use the term "Hoover" for a vacuum all the time.

I also use it for a person who does a lot of coke (of the cocaine variety)
PyromaniacDaniel in reply to surroundsound5000Feb 4, 2010. 11:06 PM
where did you hear that? We here in Texas call em Vacuum cleaners not hoovers. never heard of it called that either.
PyromaniacDaniel in reply to PyromaniacDanielFeb 4, 2010. 11:08 PM
mind you we do sometimes use brand names to apply to the general such as band-aid, Klee-nex, and coke.
surroundsound5000 in reply to PyromaniacDanielFeb 5, 2010. 3:24 AM
 My bad. I guess it's one of those pieces of conventional wisdom that's just wrong. (Although, I'm sure I've heard it on the Simpsons lol...)
nerdy8675309 in reply to surroundsound5000Oct 22, 2009. 9:11 AM
lmao never heard anyone refer to a vacuum as a hoover...always called it the vacuum haha
           -American
manderw in reply to surroundsound5000Jun 29, 2009. 10:51 AM
FWIW, I never heard "hoover" as a generic term for a vacuum until I moved to England. Everyone here says it. We always called it a vacuum at home. Yes, of course, I am American.
qualia in reply to uberchoobDec 5, 2007. 12:44 PM
yah i guess... *sigh of resignation*
TheMadTinker in reply to qualiaApr 3, 2008. 12:15 PM
I feel your pain.
uberchoob in reply to qualiaDec 6, 2007. 5:15 AM
lol =D
Neodudeman says: Sep 20, 2006. 10:02 PM
Wow. That IS ghetto.
ranmawolf in reply to NeodudemanMay 31, 2010. 4:15 AM
ROFLCOPTER!! haha 


domokunrox says: Apr 23, 2010. 9:44 AM
i tried making this, and it didnt work. Any idea why??
Adum24 says: Apr 13, 2010. 6:58 PM
Does it make it really loud or just for a couple of feet?
mercenario says: Dec 20, 2006. 10:05 AM
Great instructable ! I decide to leave mine it a litle bit open
bufer para el mp3 de instructablesPuntoCom.JPG
tanmanknex in reply to mercenarioAug 22, 2009. 10:58 AM
one word comes to mind when i see that: STEAMPUNK
surroundsound5000 in reply to mercenarioMar 22, 2009. 4:21 AM
Nice!
wakojako says: Jul 22, 2009. 11:37 AM
the type of tape it is is duct tape but duck is a company that makes duct tape
Crim says: Jul 13, 2007. 7:17 PM
the resonating soundwaves could defect your earbuds if you crank up the volume too high and/or listen to music for a long period of time.
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