Comments on: Preamp recycling

By: Jefferson

Jefferson — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:20:26 +0000

Solemn article. It make me lost in thoughts.

By: Snu

Snu — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:57:28 +0000

i actually did something similar using an old pair of computer multimedia speakers. was very simple to just pull out the amp, and solder on a couple new audio and battery connectors.
with decent multimedia speakers selling for $5 at a local used computer store, its a good deal…

By: lgbsneak

lgbsneak — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:51:24 +0000

That’s just a usb charger, I think I was using it as a weight to keep the wall wart plug on my desk. The wall wart was supplying about 19v, according to my multimeter. The datasheet said 22.5v, but it’s been working fine with a 9v battery, so that’s what I’ve gone with.

By: PKM

PKM — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:41:11 +0000

@7: the socket on the wire coming out of it looks like a “wall-wart” style power connector- maybe he has a minty 9v regulator for supplying power. actually, that’s not a bad idea… or it could just be lying on his power wire, or be deliberately placed in the shot to boost his hacker credentials :) “I quickly mounted it in an old Verbatim floppy box”- good man!

nice hack, presumably nicer if you have old amplifiers spare that you don’t mind stealing organs from. now I wish i’d seen this before filming an entire film with the mike boom tethered to the camera mike port by about 2 metres of crappy audio cable.

By: Daley

Daley — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:51:21 +0000

Altoids container = enclosure? Others keep their “stash” in there (you know, spare jumper clips, case-screws, etc.).

By: David Li

David Li — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:45:33 +0000

I’m I the only one wondering what the altiods box is for? Minty for the win!

By: lgbsneak

lgbsneak — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 17:04:57 +0000

After I did that, I pulled a headphone amp out of a broken 5 disk cd changer. I haven’t hooked it up yet, but this one even has the 12v + and – and the R and L leads marked.

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:11:00 +0000

fan-freaking-tastic!
More of this stuff!

i don't know why, but there is something very cool and satisfying about pulling a 'borg' and successfully removing a component or sub-assembly for use in another project. (sub-assemblies = bigger buzz)

you will add it's distinctiveness to your own

By: alterctrlego

alterctrlego — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:55:50 +0000

Am I the only one that notices the spelling mistake in the post? “recyceing” which is missing an “l” and has an extra “y”?!?

Anyway, this is a pretty cool hack, if basic, but most amps don’t have separate circuit boards for the preamps, although most have a separate one for the PSU…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:25:34 +0000

Good use of technology, but you’d be surprised what some of those vintage receivers are worth, even if they are non-functional. I couldn’t tell exactly from the pic, but the receiver in the article looks to be early 80s or 70s vintage, I’ve seen those fetch $100+ even if they’re dead, and my Marantz 2275 is worth $400+ on ebay…

By: ...

... — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 08:20:55 +0000

gotta love old equipment :)