kleef@ark.UUCP (04/07/87)
After adding a video-recorder and a compactdisc player to my
audio-collection, things got too crowded for my old amplifier. So
I bought a new one with more facilities. After putting the old amplifier
away in some deep, dark and dusty cupboard, I figured it might be nice
to use it to improve the poor sound my SM124 monitor provides.
Fortunately (and probably by accident :) _every_ ST has a normal, standard
audio output signal that can be hooked up to any piece of audio-
equipment. Thus you can use an old amplifier and a small (or -preferably-
large) speaker to reflect all the *poing*, *bang*, *arrgh* and whatever
other sounds programs generate.
The connection can be made WITHOUT voiding your warranty
What you need is two pieces of wire, both with a spring-clamp (hope
that is the right word :) on one and, and bare wire at the other. If you
open the lid you can see the extremely_multi video connector. Pins
run from the main PCB
into the connector. From one of these pins, we're gonna get our audio
signal. As you can read in your Atari manual, pin 1 is used for this
signal. When you look into the connector from the _outside_, it's located
at the top rightmost position. So from the inside the top leftmost position.
1) Find pin one and attach the springclamp to it.
2) Use any position on the internal metal hood for the ground
connection.
3) Solder the 'pin 1 signal' wire the the _internal_ part of
the RCA connector.
4) Solder the ground wire to the external part of the RCA connector.
5) Use any standard RCA-plug to connect the audio signal to
your amplifier.
6) Admire the GREATLY improved sound! (after connecting a
speaker,
ofcourse - any car speaker suffides)
As you may have noticed, we haven't made any structural changes in the
ST.
If your computer decides to go into hibernation (RIP), you can safely
remove all attachments and bring the machine to your dealer. Since my
warranty has expired anyway, I made a more permanent arrangement. I drilled
a hole in the back of my 1040 ST (the place where that modulator was intended
to rest is ideal) and screwed in a female RCA connector. In the same run
I added an extra plug for possible future video-output.
It sounds great!