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The Macamp - The personal sound amplification device

The Macamp - The personal sound amplification device
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In this instructable, I am going to show you how to make a personal amplifier from near scratch.
I put mine inside a macintosh 7200 casing because of it's size, and how easy it would be to work with.
materials:
1x pc motherboard
1x casing
1x power supply
1x cd-rom drive
unlimited lights
2x power switch
unlimited fans
2x dollar store "Spy Ears"
wire
1x speaker

Grab your tools, and let's get started!

(sorry for the blurry photos, i have a bad camera)
 
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Step 1Find a case and gut it

Find a case and gut it
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I chose a powermac 7200 case, because it is a quite large case, and i already had one laying around.

You are going to need to completely empty the case, Be sure to remove everything, being careful to not break the plastic, it will most likely be very brittle from so many years of age.

Also remember to unplug everything, or you might run into trouble along the way.
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20 comments
Apr 16, 2010. 8:02 PMmulluysavage says:
okay i think i figured part of it out - i just had the 1.5v battery in there. I hooked it up to a 9V, and it puts out a lot more sound, but it sounds like crap - totally distorted, no matter what combo of volume between the ipod and the spy ears.
Apr 16, 2010. 8:06 PMmulluysavage says:
it's not distorted at the combo you reccomend - all the way up on the amp, really low on the mp3. but it's quieter than a headphone.
Apr 17, 2010. 3:14 AMmulluysavage says:
anything over 1/10th loud is way distorted. I'm using an 1/8" plug connected to the mic leads with alligator clips.
Apr 16, 2010. 7:42 PMmulluysavage says:
i hooked up a spy ear amp to a 3" 8ohm speaker and then used an mp3 player as an input into the spy ear mic - and it doesn't seem to me to put out alot of sound, in fact, it's pretty much like a headphone. What am I doing wrong?
Apr 7, 2010. 5:34 PMmulluysavage says:
I'm having trouble figuring out why you are using 2 spy ears.
Mar 5, 2010. 10:00 AMGreenD says:
 This is awesome, in theory this should just be as easy with more up to date dells and other computers right?? I shall be looking at my home dead computer for surely! :)
Feb 4, 2010. 1:11 PMcowscankill says:
Very cool. Problem for me is acquiring speakers.
Feb 7, 2010. 11:12 AMcowscankill says:
Meh... unless you break them ;_;
Well, I guess I shall continue my search.  Thanks greatly for the tip about the amplifier, I have one of those toys.
Feb 8, 2010. 4:00 PMcowscankill says:
Hmmm.... idea! I could put two computer speakers in to a box with an Spy Ear to amp it up for portable use with my mp3 player! Would it work if battery powered? I think so... if not I will design a power budget.
Feb 2, 2010. 12:59 PMTheCheese9921 says:
Could you post a video of your results?

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Author:zack247
I like to modify things, make things, and modify the things i make. im no math whiz or someone with perfect grammar, but i am good at making things. at my school ive taken the welding, machining, mec...
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