[net.audio] Walkman to Car Equalizer/Amplifier

ttp@kestrel.ARPA (11/04/85)

I had the idea awhile ago of using a Walkman in my car instead of one
those in-dash cassette players that absorb the tape and don't give it
back ("use and lose it"). I got a 12V to 3V cigarette-lighter adaptor
to power the walkman and a Jetsound (read: cheap) equalizer/amplifier
with low-level input connected to the Walkman headphone output. This
worked fine until first one amplifier channel then the other blew out.
I guess I should say that I don't believe in Hi-Fi car sound
equipment, so when I say it worked fine, I mean the equalizer
could change the tone quality, and sound came out. 

Has anyone else out there tried this sort of thing? Does anyone have
ideas about which somewhat inexpensive, reliable equalizer/amplifier
to buy?
  
Also, if I only have 2 speakers in the car, rather than 4 (front and
rear), should I leave the extra leads open or try 8ohm resistors
across them (my speakers are 8ohm)? In other words, will it damage the
amplifier to turn it on without the speakers connected?

-tom