jhs@MITRE-BEDFORD.ARPA (John H. Sangster) (03/29/86)
The audio output of the 800XL on Pin 3 of the DIN socket is not suitable for driving a loudspeaker. It has a source impedance of about 830 ohms and requires a power amplifier to drive a typical 4 or 8-ohm loudspeaker. You can buy a suitable amplifier from Radio Shack for $10 or $15 or so. Any amplifier with 0.3 Watt or more of output should give useable volume, but 5 or more would be good if you want to demonstrate programs in larger rooms. If you have a tape recorder available to you, you might be able to use its amplifier instead of buying one for the purpose. The audio output of the Atari tends to be rich in harmonics and gives a slightly harsh sound on high-fidelity loudspeakers. You may find a tone control useful in your amplifier to reduce this effect. Good luck and welcome to Atari-land! -John Sangster jhs at mitre-bedford.arpa