Discussion:
mains-powered MP3 player
(too old to reply)
Harold Davis
2015-02-23 22:40:21 UTC
Permalink
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player? What I'm after is a
boombox which stores MP3 files in flash memory, transferable along a USB
cable. No need for it to play CDs. Would be nice if it had an AUX-IN jack
too.

If there isn't, what are some ways to hack together something like this?

Thanks in advance!

Harry
Rod Speed
2015-02-23 22:47:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the files on
it.
Post by Harold Davis
No need for it to play CDs. Would be nice if it had an AUX-IN jack too.
If there isn't, what are some ways to hack together something like this?
Harold Davis
2015-02-23 22:54:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with some
reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores and plays
MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which would be along
a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in from another device
(well, OK, that would be a bonus).

Harry
Rod Speed
2015-02-23 23:20:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with some
reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores and plays
MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which would be along
a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in from another device
(well, OK, that would be a bonus).
Plenty of the mains powered boom boxes
do accept USB sticks with media on them now.
Harold Davis
2015-02-24 09:04:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with
some reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores
and plays MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which
would be along a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in
from another device (well, OK, that would be a bonus).
Plenty of the mains powered boom boxes
do accept USB sticks with media on them now.
Cool. Thanks! That sounds like the way to do it. I was confusing myself
because I've got a USB dongle MP3 player with audio output along a 3.5mm
cable. This can play through a mains-powered boombox with AUX-IN but runs
off a battery, which is a nuisance. Just using an ordinary USB flash
drive with a boombox would be much easier.

Thanks again.

Harry (off to check the file navigation on those boomboxes)
Harold Davis
2015-02-24 09:17:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Plenty of the mains powered boom boxes
do accept USB sticks with media on them now.
Harry (off to check the file navigation on those boomboxes)
Also wondering whether any of them can handle shortcuts as well as folders. I
may report back :-)

Harry
Rod Speed
2015-02-24 18:21:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Plenty of the mains powered boom boxes
do accept USB sticks with media on them now.
Harry (off to check the file navigation on those boomboxes)
Also wondering whether any of them can handle shortcuts as well as
folders.
Dunno, I gave up on MP3 players once phones replaced them.
Post by Harold Davis
I may report back :-)
Dennis@home
2015-02-23 23:29:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with some
reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores and plays
MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which would be along
a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in from another device
(well, OK, that would be a bonus).
Harry
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
stuart noble
2015-02-24 07:40:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@home
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files
in flash memory, transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with some
reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores and plays
MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which would be along
a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in from another device
(well, OK, that would be a bonus).
Harry
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around. A bit of
crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very own touchscreen
kitchen juke box
Harold Davis
2015-02-25 00:48:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by stuart noble
Post by ***@home
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
Thanks for this. Still haven't found one that I'm sure has good navigation
though when playing off a USB flash drive.
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around. A bit
of crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very own
touchscreen kitchen juke box
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation. If you used
mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the amplifier? Is the
tablet mains-powered? An MP3 jukebox is exactly what I'm after - one that
doesn't require any messing about with batteries.

Harry
Rod Speed
2015-02-25 02:27:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
Post by ***@home
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
Thanks for this. Still haven't found one that I'm sure has
good navigation though when playing off a USB flash drive.
One of the ipods or ipads with an ipod/ipad dock does and is mains powered.
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around.
A bit of crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very
own touchscreen kitchen juke box
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation.
Yep, and even completely automatic fancy stuff
with podcasts or radio stations etc as well.
Post by Harold Davis
If you used mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the amplifier?
Yep, that's what the ipod/ipad docs do.
Post by Harold Davis
Is the tablet mains-powered?
Plenty of them can be.
Post by Harold Davis
An MP3 jukebox is exactly what I'm after - one that
doesn't require any messing about with batteries.
An ipod or ipad with a dock qualifys and has the best
navigation around because you can pick any of the
apps you like the navigation style of for free if you
don’t like some aspect of what it comes with.
stuart noble
2015-02-25 07:29:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
Post by ***@home
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
Thanks for this. Still haven't found one that I'm sure has good navigation
though when playing off a USB flash drive.
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around. A bit
of crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very own
touchscreen kitchen juke box
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation. If you used
mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the amplifier? Is the
tablet mains-powered? An MP3 jukebox is exactly what I'm after - one that
doesn't require any messing about with batteries.
Harry
[IMG]Loading Image...[/IMG]
I wanted to use up stuff I had lying around, so I have a pair of wired
speakers on top of the kitchen wall units and a vintage tablet running a
very old version of Android. Main thing is, the sound quality is
brilliant, so I'm well pleased with it. Not elegant but...
stuart noble
2015-02-25 08:08:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by stuart noble
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
Post by ***@home
There are pages of themon amazon if you search for mp3 boombox usb.
Thanks for this. Still haven't found one that I'm sure has good navigation
though when playing off a USB flash drive.
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around. A bit
of crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very own
touchscreen kitchen juke box
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation. If you used
mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the amplifier? Is the
tablet mains-powered? An MP3 jukebox is exactly what I'm after - one that
doesn't require any messing about with batteries.
Harry
[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/4pz9f8.jpg[/IMG]
I wanted to use up stuff I had lying around, so I have a pair of wired
speakers on top of the kitchen wall units and a vintage tablet running a
very old version of Android. Main thing is, the sound quality is
brilliant, so I'm well pleased with it. Not elegant but...
yes, tablet is mains powered.
The Natural Philosopher
2015-02-25 08:50:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation. If you used
mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the amplifier? Is the
tablet mains-powered? An MP3 jukebox is exactly what I'm after - one that
doesn't require any messing about with batteries.
any old PC running say linux, with some speakers out the back would do.
Post by Harold Davis
Harry
--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. – Erwin Knoll
Dave Liquorice
2015-02-25 09:15:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
"2ch 20 W RMS" = 40 W RMS on the top.
"12 V 2 A" = 24 W DC input.

Hum... <google> Ah the chip TA2020 will do 20 W average but with a
THD > 10%. THD skyrockets just above 10 W.
Post by Harold Davis
Post by stuart noble
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around.
That's not a bad idea, and ensures you get good navigation.
That's probably the route I'm going to take as well but running SB
Player and Squeezer on the tablet working to the Squeeze Box server
over the network.
Post by Harold Davis
If you used mains-powered speakers, couldn't you do without the
amplifier?
You could.
Post by Harold Davis
Is the tablet mains-powered?
Most tablets charge/run from USB. The amp needs 12 V, plenty of 12 V
to USB (5 V) modules about. Or you just leave it plugged into it's
suplied charger but then you are starting to suffer wall wart rash...
--
Cheers
Dave.
Chris J Dixon
2015-03-06 11:17:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by stuart noble
I hooked one of these
Post by ***@home
http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/lepai-lp-2020a-plus/
up to a cheap tablet and a pair of speakers I had lying around. A bit of
crude carpentry to encase the amp and I have my very own touchscreen
kitchen juke box
Which prompted me to revisit an old problem:

[My amplifier has two outputs. One is switched, and used for the
speakers in the living room. The other is taken via a separate
switch box to speakers in the dining room and kitchen. The
kitchen is too quiet.

I used an L-pad to reduce the volume in the dining room, which
closer examination shows is actually working. However, to get the
kitchen loud enough, the living room would be too loud, and I
don't really want to mess with that output, since that is the
best set of speakers.]

I now have a Lepai amp feeding only the kitchen, and at last all
is well. Obviously it is a little more bother to adjust an extra
control, but the results are good, and the amp is a reasonable
match for my little ceiling speakers.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
***@cdixon.me.uk

Plant amazing Acers.
David
2015-02-25 13:45:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Post by Rod Speed
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player?
Yes, most of the media players will do that.
Post by Harold Davis
What I'm after is a boombox which stores MP3 files in flash memory,
transferable along a USB cable.
Most of the media players allow you to insert a USB stick with the
files on it.
Thanks Rod. But I should have been clearer. I meant a device with some
reasonably OK speakers that runs off the mains and both stores and
plays MP3 files. The files would have to get there somehow, which would
be along a USB cable. I don't need it to play files streamed in from
another device (well, OK, that would be a bonus).
Harry
So a stereo with an iPod or smart phone docking station?

These are mains powered, keep the device charged, play .mp3.

If you don't have something that can stream via the iPod or phone then you
would have to un-dock to add music, but this shouldn't bee a major problem
if your main aim is to avoid using up batteries.
--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box
Brian Gaff
2015-02-25 08:42:24 UTC
Permalink
Well, have you taken apart a boom box or a Sovereign player and had a look
at the module. I have not tried it but one assumes that there has to be a
way to get at the audio input.
Brian
--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player? What I'm after is a
boombox which stores MP3 files in flash memory, transferable along a USB
cable. No need for it to play CDs. Would be nice if it had an AUX-IN jack
too.
If there isn't, what are some ways to hack together something like this?
Thanks in advance!
Harry
Mark
2015-02-27 15:54:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harold Davis
Is there such a thing as a mains-powered MP3 player? What I'm after is a
boombox which stores MP3 files in flash memory, transferable along a USB
cable. No need for it to play CDs. Would be nice if it had an AUX-IN jack
too.
If there isn't, what are some ways to hack together something like this?
Thanks in advance!
Harry
I have one of these in my workshop

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400796410008


but without the FM radio, works ok but not exactly HiFi

but ok for MP3



-
fred
2015-02-27 16:52:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mark
I have one of these in my workshop
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400796410008
but without the FM radio, works ok but not exactly HiFi
but ok for MP3
Dinky, at that price I might be prepared to ignore the obviously
fictional headline power claims.

Good tip, thanks.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .
Mark
2015-02-28 00:15:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by fred
Post by Mark
I have one of these in my workshop
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400796410008
but without the FM radio, works ok but not exactly HiFi
but ok for MP3
Dinky, at that price I might be prepared to ignore the obviously
fictional headline power claims.
Good tip, thanks.
if you do buy one they seem fussy about the power supply
don’t like some SMPs or unfiltered transformer type wall-warts
200w = new Chinese C-PMPo for 10w rms :(

-
Loading...