SIGforum
Help needed driving speakers from my iPad
March 21, 2024, 08:13 PM
MuddflapHelp needed driving speakers from my iPad
For quite a few years, I've listened to internet radio with a Logitec Squeezebox out in the garage. Not sure I understand how things worked, but Squeezebox.com isn't hosting anymore, so my radio doesn't work.
Getting another internet radio is around $200.00, and I'm not sure I want it that bad. I'm hoping there is a device out there that I can plug my iPad into, and power the speakers I have.
The speakers are from an old, probably Panasonic, AM FM Cassette unit that you could get from Walmart for $59.95 about 25 years ago. I need something that has a 3.5mm stereo input, and a couple RCA outputs. I have The Tune In Radio app on my iPad and I can get all the stations I want with that. I just need something to go in the middle.
Any suggestions or links would be greatly appreciated.
March 21, 2024, 08:19 PM
Black92LXJust plug your iPad into the Squeezebox.
You’ll need this
https://a.co/d/4OB0B5cA male to male 3.5mm head phone cable and a lightning cable if you want to charge the iPad while using it.
I am so pissed they quit supporting the squeezebox.
These two internet radios have gotten good reviews. One is about $100 and the other $65
https://a.co/d/4b78LGEhttps://a.co/d/cerQnoA
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
March 21, 2024, 08:23 PM
911BossI recently had a similar situation where I wanted a cheap/simple amp to drive the automotive style speakers installed in my home sauna.
I found this on Amazon and it fits the bill for me perfectly. It does not have a 3.5mm input, using RCA jacks for audio in. There are RCA to 3.5mm cables that would allow it to work with your iPad.
Has 2-wire pitch connectors for output, just cut the RCA cables off your speakers and split the wires.
It is also BT, that is how I connect my iPad to it. You may have a reason to prefer wired connection, but is can go either way. Also has built in FM and a remote. Puts out LOUD with basic speakers.
Hell of a deal for $26.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GG1QWBF
What part of "...Shall not be infringed" don't you understand???
March 21, 2024, 08:54 PM
Oz_ShadowYou could find a receiver at Goodwill or used online. Plenty around that are obsolete due to not being 4k. A simpler alternative is a Bluetooth speaker. Some are pretty big too.
March 21, 2024, 10:09 PM
MuddflapOz, I wish I had thought of that sooner. I’ve gotten rid of several old stereos I could have used.
911, I really like that. I might end up getting it just for the blue tooth.
Black, now I feel foolish. It’s been so long since I looked in back of the radio, I had completely forgotten there was an input. I have a Lightening to female 3.5mm cable, and a male male 3.5mm cable. I tried it out a few minutes ago, and I couldn’t get it to work. I did have line in selected on the menu. I’ll take a better look at it tomorrow.
Thanks guys.
March 22, 2024, 05:25 AM
Black92LXDon’t feel bad. Took me a while to recall that it had a line in on the rear as well.
I used my phone and not an iPad and the line in logo came on the screen and worked just fine.
Volume was super low at first think had to have the volume in max on the phone and the volume knob cranked to like 90% and had decent volume.
I’ll hook up my wife’s iPad later to see if there is anything different.
I am still pretty mad at Logitech they have abandoned me on two excellent products now.
I am going to buy another internet radio or a Sonos.
I prefer not to have my phone be the actual source of the music.
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
March 22, 2024, 08:47 AM
architectI have a fairly recent iPad Pro, just looked and no audio jack to be found so BT would be the only option.
There exist BT to audio adapters that facilitate connecting BT sources to classic audio devices, pre-amps, receivers, etc. Like
this one, and of course any number of BT receivers.
Another option might be to roll your own with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi and an appropriate audio hat/bonnet. ISTR seeing a few of these on various RPi project pages, etc.
March 22, 2024, 10:09 AM
Black92LXquote:
Originally posted by architect:
I have a fairly recent iPad Pro, just looked and no audio jack to be found so BT would be the only option.
There exist BT to audio adapters that facilitate connecting BT sources to classic audio devices, pre-amps, receivers, etc. Like
this one, and of course any number of BT receivers.
Another option might be to roll your own with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi and an appropriate audio hat/bonnet. ISTR seeing a few of these on various RPi project pages, etc.
The audio signal is also sent through the Lightning port.
So you need a lightning to 3.5mm cable if you don’t need to charge while you listen or they make a splitter that adds a lighting port and a 3.5mm port if you need to charge.
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
March 22, 2024, 12:26 PM
MuddflapWent out a few minutes ago, and plugged the iPad into the line in, turned on the radio, tapped the TuneIn app, and it worked great. Don’t know why it didn’t work last night, but it’s healed now. I turned the volume all the way up, on the iPad, and used the radio to control it. Had all the volume I needed or wanted.
I’m going to try it this way for a while, then decide if I want to continue doing it this way, get a blue tooth device, or just get one of the radios Black suggested.
Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to reply.
March 22, 2024, 12:45 PM
Black92LXMay have just not seated in the radio.
Glad it’s rolling for ya.
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!