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From: sjc@mips.UUCP (Steve Correll)
Newsgroups: rec.audio,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Hooking up a mac to external speakers
Message-ID: <979@mips.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Mar-87 17:03:22 EST
Article-I.D.: mips.979
Posted: Thu Mar 19 17:03:22 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Mar-87 07:27:38 EST
References: <1987Mar18.175218.5438@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
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Xref: mnetor rec.audio:1049 comp.sys.mac:1966

In article <1987Mar18.175218.5438@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>, zen@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu (Nick Zentena) writes:
> 	I was wondering if any problem existed with hooking up an audio
> system to a Mac. I have been told that the resulting output wave is
> too square and that clipping will result...

Yes, especially if you use the floppy port. :-)

The amplifier which drives the Mac's speaker has enough power to drive
a somewhat larger external speaker (I used one from a cheap portable
phonograph), but not enough to drive the typical high fidelity
bookshelf loudspeaker. You could connect it to an 'auxiliary' input
(e.g. tape, cd, tuner, or 'spare') on your preamp or receiver, but the
voltage is a bit high for most auxiliary inputs. I'd suggest putting a
1k ohm potentiometer (see Radio Shack) between the two, setting the
preamp's volume control to its usual position, and adjusting the new
potentiometer to give the desired volume:

                             --------- + preamp (center pin)
                             |
                             v
(center pin) Mac + ------oMWMWMWMWo---- - preamp
                                  |
             Mac - ---------------|

If you have trouble with hum (I doubt you will), you need to use
shielded cables and put the potentiometer in a metal box, with the box
and the shields connected to the "-"s.  Good luck.--Steve
-- 
...decwrl!mips!sjc						Steve Correll