2. amps-preamps
  3. 166692-139027

Help connecting a source directly to an amp

A month or so back, I posted a question for a friend who had just picked up some massive, DIY speakers. They were free, and this is his motif: get sound, enough to enjoy and dance to, for as little money as possible. (Let's agree he's a budding audiophile.) He now has picked up an amplifier, also free. I think it's an amp for DJing, although I think that his friend also used it to plug in a guitar and wail. 

He's hoping to connect his source (an iPhone or laptop) to the amp without the nuisance and expense of a pre-amp. The inputs on the back of the amp are balanced/XLR and ... what looks to me like a pair of 1/4" TRS jacks. As you can tell, I've never done this and simply don't know the basic electronics. 
So: is there a way to connect an iPhone directly to either XLR inputs or (what looks like) 1/4" inputs? 

Here's a picture of the inputs on the back of the amp:

https://imgur.com/pu13uQJ

And just because it's such a fun picture, here are the speakers that he picked up:

https://imgur.com/F09UqrQ

I know this isn't exactly a high-end audiophile question but I hope y'all appreciate the spirit of my friend's quest for music! He and I are ready to be schooled. Thanks!
northman

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,646 posts
 
You can get an analog output from a phone through apple connectors... I assume an old phone so simple, the 1/8” inch socket on the bottom. The connectors on the amp must be RCA... unless it is something really out in left field. You can get 1/8” output to two RCA connectors. BUT, he needs to be really careful or it’s going to send full amp power to the speakers when futzing with the iPhone. It is a disaster waiting to happen... but if he is really careful it may work... but the iPhone has an amplifier and may be capable of output greater than line level... some one with a technology bent here can probably talk about that.

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If the amp really has 1/8” inputs I am sure you can find the right adapters on Amazon.
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