bleeding speekers

[mooseling]

Hey guys, i'm not an expert on this stuff, so if I'm in the wrong topic area, feel free to move it. not that you wouldnt.
I'm turning a boombox from around the house into ipod speakers. I've removed the cd player (just unplugged the ribbon cable from the mother board), and the motor from the tape deck. I've attached a headphone jack to the left7right wires from the tape head. I know the set is fine because I?ve used it to play cds and tapes before, but it sounds aweful when I turn it up. i think the term is it's bleeding. it has trouble with the base sounds. It's just like turning it up on bad speakers, but I know these should take it. anyone have any ideas?

[Glowbug]

It didn't have an auxiliary input to start with? Usually would be red/white RCA connectors or a 3.5mm stereo jack (like a headphone jack) for inputs.

[picowallspeaker]

Why don't you attach a tape head inside a compact cassette and wire your source to that?
If you manage to let the wires out the compartment when it's closed ,and let the two heads kiss each other ...well,at least that's logical !
Better is to find the "entrance" (input)of the power amplifier and put the inlets somewhere in the box . You just need the amplifier ,the speakers and the power supply.
The rest just "bleeds"...!

[Th3 uN1Qu3]

The tape head is designed to take a VERY LOW LEVEL signal. You are overdriving it to the extreme with your ipod output, that's why it sounds bad.

You need to find the amplifier input. Trace the tape head inputs, they should be going to a chip which is the tape preamp. The outputs of that chip should be going into the main power amp. That is where you need to patch in your signal input.

[sumaudioguy]

Yes and the tape head probably has tape EQ on it also which you would not want.

Try attaching to one end of the volume control. There should be 3 wires on the volume. One end is ground and the two in that position should be tied together which would make them easier to identify. The center pins are the volume control is the outputs. That leaves the two pins at the other end of the volume control which should be the input. Attach there and disconnect whatever goes to that spot.

Maybe this will work for you.

[Psychobiker]

100kOhm stereo pot on the input ftw.

[mooseling]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Th3 uN1Qu3, I followed what you said, and it's working fine now. Thanks to that, plus a little input from my tech teacher, I've completely eliminated the tape deck. Thanks again!