Thread: Audio amplifier? Halp!

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I have a prop that makes noise outside. The setup is a mp3 player hooked to speakers. They are amplified PC speakers but even with the volume at max and the speakers at max, the volume is too low to be heard outside.

Where might I get a good amplifier on the cheap that will do the job? I can think of 100 expensive options... What's a cheaper option? I was thinking of getting another set of speakers and wiring the out from the first pair into the in of the second, but that might distort the audio too much?

Any other ideas)

I used a cheapo surround system from a discount store, $25.00 I think .It had 5 speakers and was fairly loud. I also used an old powered sub woofer for thunder effect. I've seen some use car stereos for sound systems also.

Car amps are really good, hook them up using an old pc power supply, and 1 or 2 speakers.
you can find them at yard sales all summer long, (found two for 15$ this summer) loud, easy to wire, and the smaller ones are cheap right from the store.

Thanks for the tips - had not thought of using an old head unit. I actually have one at home, that if I remember right has an aux input where I can plug the MP3 player right into it.

Anyone know how many amps these draw? I dont want to overload the power supply, it's already running a lot.

It depends on how many amps the unit is. you divide your watts with the operating voltage.

12 watts/12 volts = 1 amp

200 watts/12 volts = 16 amps

I believe one im using was 1000 watts, but runs fine on 14 amps if i dont turn the volume all the way up. (even at half, its still loud enough to anger the people next door.