len@qumix.UUCP (Leonard Labar) (10/29/84)
Subject: Mac speaker Apple says not to try hooking up a large speaker directly to the jack in the back since the Mac isn't supposed to be able to drive that much of a load. Well, not having "inside Mac" and not knowing better I decided to try anyway. First I tried using a cheap transistor radio as an amplifier and hooking up a 4" low compression car speaker that I had laying around. The results were terrible, even without the Mac. It could barely drive the speaker. Then I tried matching it to the Mac. After an hour of trying different resistor and capacitor combinations I gave up. The Mac severly overdrived the radio input. Then I hooked the 4" speaker directly to the Mac. The results were astounding. Plenty of volume and very little distortion. I used extra parts on hand i.e. I took a tv earphone set and cut the earphone off. Just about anything will do. The speaker came in a plastic enclosure which seems to help the sound quality. This is portable and a lot better than lugging my stereo out to the garage. Note: If you decide to try this. The secret seems to be the 4" low compression speaker. I don't guarantee the results if you try anything larger.