Tupperware iPod Boombox

An Easy Cheap way to make a sweet boombox for your iPod. Uses dollar store tupperware styrofoam, and cheap speakers to make a surprisingly cool boombox/stereo.

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Step 1: Get the stuff

get a colored tupperware container that can fit your two speakers and the ipod.

get some speakers. I found some from a really old computer that didn't have an external power supply (no wall adapter). All the power is supplied via the audio-in jack. Using this type of speaker allows the stereo to be easily portable because the iPod's battery is used to power the speakers. If you're using speakers with a wall adapter for power and you want to make your stereo portable, just wire up some batteries of the wall adapter's voltage to the speakers.

My speakers have a very nice high volume and used the iPod battery very slowly. they were made by botsch (don't know where you could buy them, they came with a very old computer of mine).

I had some packaging styrofoam sitting around (I save all kinds of materials in boxes).

I used a dremel, which made it pretty easy to cute all the holes, without a dremel might be a pain but you can do it.

creelwon says: Oct 8, 2010. 12:19 AM

i made one similar seee piccccccccc

creelwon says: Oct 7, 2010. 11:56 PM

i got straight to it but couldnt find a tupp container so made it out of a chuppa chups container and it took me 5 hours almost

christine malczanek says: Apr 29, 2010. 6:26 PM

it looks good in the picture, but I'm not so sure about it in real life

~ Christine Malczanek

Tv1996 says: May 6, 2009. 11:16 AM

If you put a mighty minty boost (solar, portable USB charger) to the inside than it will be amazing. You could just tape the panel to the top and cut a small hole for the charger. Just an idea.

hcold says: Jul 20, 2008. 1:59 AM

The Instructable is kind of lacking in photgraphs during the planning stage etc. Though I guess you can't take care of it now. But good work.

Redgerr says: Jul 18, 2008. 1:26 PM

cool, but why make a case at all? the olny resion i can think of is to move the speakers easily :O

Sparkyzoomer in reply to RedgerrJul 18, 2008. 7:24 PM

thats kinda the point...

Redgerr in reply to SparkyzoomerJul 18, 2008. 7:59 PM

oh, lol... i feel dumb now :O lol... thanks :)

instructa-fan says: Mar 19, 2007. 1:21 PM

I have a few bose speakers and want to use those. How do I wire the speakers to the i-pod jack? Pease send me a private message ASAP if you even have just an idea.

leevonk (author) in reply to instructa-fanMar 19, 2007. 2:25 PM

I'll reply here so anyone else that has this problem can see the answer too. The ipod jack cannot put out enough power to play music through large speakers. If your speakers have a power plug to plug into the wall or batteries, that means that the speakers provide their own power. In this case it'll work if you plug them directly into your ipod. Otherwise (no batteries in your speakers and no plug to plug into the wall outlet), you have to use an amplifier between your ipod and the speakers. A stereo system is an example of an amplifier, you can plug your ipod into your stereo's 'aux in' jack, set the stereo to 'aux' mode, and your ipod music will play through the speakers connected to the stereo. An alternative to using your stereo would be to buy or build (search the web, not very hard) a dedicated amplifier. Instead of using a hole stereo (which will have a tape player, cd played etc), you can just buy a small amplifier into which you can plug in your ipod and your speakers and it will work.

leevonk (author) in reply to leevonkMar 19, 2007. 2:27 PM

here are some example of amplifier circuits you could use, you will find a _lot_ on the web:
http://www.techlib.com/electronics/audioamps.html

SacTownSue in reply to leevonkJul 20, 2007. 2:12 PM

Thanks for the link. I needed this info.

instructa-fan in reply to leevonkMar 19, 2007. 2:26 PM

thanks, that helped allot!

treize7 says: Apr 15, 2007. 11:00 PM

whered you get the speakers?

adamthiede in reply to treize7Jun 20, 2007. 1:58 PM

im not the guy who posted the instructable, but he said he got them off an old computer of his. I for one have cheap 10 dollar sony speakers that run off ipods battery. get them at target, or get the 20 dollar ones that use 3 triple a batterys.

momo! says: May 22, 2007. 12:48 PM

I love how the tupperware shape and colors are so distinct!

Sailor15797 says: May 5, 2007. 5:55 PM

LOVE IT!!!!

fishycobo says: Mar 30, 2007. 11:43 AM

MEOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TeacherOfTheWays says: Mar 14, 2007. 11:49 AM

pretty cool!

farbs says: Feb 27, 2007. 6:24 PM

nice idea

robodud3 says: Dec 19, 2006. 3:47 PM

nice sprigsteen good song

dustin_grey says: Dec 12, 2006. 4:07 PM

It looks pretty good! You could probaly even cover up the back with a bit of cardboard spray painted white. The only thing I would be worried about is leaving it on too long. With the wires bundled like that, would it over heat? That could be back considering its got styrofoam and your ipod in it.

Zujus says: Nov 4, 2006. 4:21 PM

Boombox! Cool I like it! ;)

hivoltage says: Aug 11, 2006. 11:52 AM

pretty cool. you might have more room for batteries/lights if you removed the actual speakers from their cases. i was thinking about doing something similar but instead of using tupperware, use a hollowed out book like in my instructable. http://www.instructables.com/id/E37BC4G74UEQ6T1WZS/

expertenemy says: Aug 5, 2006. 2:42 AM

Thats pretty cool i did the same thing but with some diamond plate 2 250watt speakers, 500 watt amp, and cut a hole and set it up so u can jus set it in rite on the headphone jack and has a kool paint job. maybe if i get it from my friend who i sold it to for 100 bux ill take a pic and post it.