boosting the 'Aux' input

[Paul Drawmer]

I have a music player in my garage. It's a 20yr old mini hifi, and I'm happy with the results from the unit itself, if it is playing radio it's fine.

However, when using a different input; for example a phone or tablet or free-standing Bluetooth receiver, I connect these via the 'Aux' input and the sound level is just not enough. If I max the volume on both the headphone output, and the units own volume control, then it's OK.

I'm not sure it's a good idea to run stuff flat out, so would it be OK to use a headphone amplifier, and adjust the level so that it runs at the same volume as the radio, am I likely to do any damage to the mini hifi?

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07G953GHH/r...

[anonymous-user]

This sounds painful. Can’t you just buy a bluetooth speaker? It is 2022.

Why do you need the mini hifi?

If you are wanting a bit of background noise while you potter about in the garage, any of the Anker speakers in the link below will do, although obviously spending more brings better sound quality.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=anker+bluetooth+speak...

Or maybe ask in the home cinema and hifi section of the forum?

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 29th January 22:36

[Paul Drawmer]

Because I already have the mini hifi and the sound quality is pretty good. The bookshelf speakers are hung in the roof, and the unit footprint is quite small.

Specifically I use it for playing 70's rock whilst working on the turbo trainer. I want it a bit louder than for sorting out which bit of wood to butcher next!

[dundarach]

When you say aux input, it's not something strange is it, like it was for a a specific component??

I bought an old midi system from facebook and my PC and Phone are connected and they work as expected.

However yes, turn phone all the way up!!

[anonymous-user]

Paul Drawmer said:

Because I already have the mini hifi and the sound quality is pretty good. The bookshelf speakers are hung in the roof, and the unit footprint is quite small.

Specifically I use it for playing 70's rock whilst working on the turbo trainer. I want it a bit louder than for sorting out which bit of wood to butcher next!

Bluetooth speakers get really loud higher up the price range. Stuff like the UE Megaboom can easily power a party, although its significantly more expensive.

Anyway, I’ll bow out. This thread is a bit like restoring a classic car or something. Lol. Can’t remember the last time I saw a mini system like that. I think it was in the 90’s. Is it one of those classic brands from Dixons like Saisho? Real blast from the past!

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 30th January 09:20

[Paul Drawmer]

Update. The headphone amp arrived. I charged it up and connected it, but I'm not sure it worked at all.
If I turned it all the way up, then the volume level was the same as if it wasn't there. Either the thing didn't work, or there's a serious miss match of the system.
I've sent it back.

The 'aux' input on the Panasonic mini hifi is a pair of RCA inputs, red and white. Which is the usual input type.

The UE Megaboom looks expensive and poor quality sound. Their own website doesn't even quote the output power.

Edited to reference the megaboom

Edited by Paul Drawmer on Sunday 30th January 10:23

Edited by Paul Drawmer on Sunday 30th January 10:24

[troc]

You should have the volume control for the input device (iPhone etc) turned up to full. That way it will be as close to the fixed input signal you’d get from the sort of aux device your system would be expecting. Only reduce the input signal if you are getting distortion from your speakers irrespective of the volume of the mini system but that’s unlikely to be an issue.

[jet_noise]

Are there any other inputs you can try - e.g. tape/line in?
Is there a spec./manual for the hifi?

[mmm-five]

If it's anything like my old system, then there were two types of RCA inputs...one specifically for Phono (labelled Phono) which was amplified (pre-amp and some other wizardry), and one (labelled Aux) for everything else which assumed the input was already at line level.

If you've only got a single Aux-RCA input, then I'd assume it is the latter, so maybe your input simply isn't providing enough power?

A pre-amp is probably what you'd normally use, so the input goes into that, and then the pre-amp feeds an amplified signal to the hifi. But a new, modern hifi/boombox with bluetooth/streaming built in may be a much cheaper option.

[LordLoveLength]

You could use something like this - Bluetooth to phono adapter and connect to your hiding wirelessly
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363609080579?hash=item5...

[Murph7355]

I had the same issue with the Aux In on my Audi when plugging in my phone (a Galaxy S7 at the time) via the headphone jack.

I couldn't figure out what to do in terms of amplifying the signal, but then found out that I could output the digital signal to an external DAC. This sorted it.

The company I bought it from doesn't seem to do the exact one I bought ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/HiFiMeDIY-Android-Digital... - was £25). This seems closest (and is a lot more expensive than I paid...but that was 8yrs ago ) : https://hifimediy.com/product/hifime-android-dac-e...

I now use these in a couple of applications:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Soundsync-Bluetooth...

The work really well with phones...but if your music player doesn't have bluetooth, they'll be no use

[heisthegaffer]

It isn't a specific input for a turntable is it?

[jet_noise]

heisthegaffer said:

It isn't a specific input for a turntable is it?

If it were Paul's issue would be the other way round - much louder with distorted bass.
RIAA inputs are far more sensitive than Aux and have a heavily defined frequency profile.

[sgrimshaw]

Does the device(s) you are using to stream the music from have a volume limiter active?

[Paul Drawmer]

sgrimshaw said:

Does the device(s) you are using to stream the music from have a volume limiter active?

Ah; like the hearing protection job? The tablet I'm using puts up a warning, and I can override it.

I have also tried another amplifier and it behaves exactly the same. The volume of any input via the aux is far lower than the built in radio. Unfortunately I just find modern pop mixed with inane chatter is much less motivating than a dose of Dave Edmunds!

[sgrimshaw]

Different approach ....

You say the volume level of the radio is fine ......

What about using an FM transmitter on the tablet/phone?

Like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/REALMAX%C2%AE%E3%80%90-Tr...

[Paul Drawmer]

SOLVED. Thank you for all the suggestions.

The sound quality on the original set up was pretty good and I didn't want to lose that. It turns out that any input that used the aux socket was going to be power level than the on board audio radio or CD.

I had tried an external Bluetooth to aux connection, and a headphone amplifier.

So I swapped out the actual amp for something that was nominally the same output power, but with inbuilt bluetooth. Works perfectly. It also takes up less space. The audio is not quite as good, but it does the job fine.

I now use this amp into the original bookshelf speakers which are hung from the roof in the garage.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0932B6VX6/r...

[dundarach]

Thanks for reporting back OP, that's a useful amp!!

[anonymous-user]

Paul Drawmer said:

SOLVED. Thank you for all the suggestions.

The sound quality on the original set up was pretty good and I didn't want to lose that. It turns out that any input that used the aux socket was going to be power level than the on board audio radio or CD.

I had tried an external Bluetooth to aux connection, and a headphone amplifier.

So I swapped out the actual amp for something that was nominally the same output power, but with inbuilt bluetooth. Works perfectly. It also takes up less space. The audio is not quite as good, but it does the job fine.

I now use this amp into the original bookshelf speakers which are hung from the roof in the garage.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0932B6VX6/r...

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