Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music? i

[diablo loves donutz]

Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

Hi guys, I have a question concerning my amp and using it as a speaker. In the dorms, we love to blast music as loud as possible, including my friends who live across from me and their speaker system. I figured I'd show them how to really blast some music, but I need some help. I have a Line 6 Spider III 75watt amp and it can get pretty darn loud. Right below the input for the guitar is what appears to be another input that reads "Cd/mp3 in".

My brother works at best buy and had gotten me some cable that connected the amp to an ipod or computer, but I still couldn't get it to play through the speaker in the amp. I was wondering if anyone could offer some insight on how I could play music from an ipod or computer through my amp.

 

[Spinns]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

Try plugging your I pod/computer into a small stereo one with auxiliary out (not headphones out) then from the stereo into the amp or strait from the stereo's out into your amp.

Sometimes headphone sockets don't work when plug into a large speaker, i don't know why but i have had some issues with it myself

Nice amp btw

 

[diablo loves donutz]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

Hmm, I'll definitely try that. My friend has my headphones too, and they actually have an attachment that the headphone input goes into and then plugs into the larger port so I'll try that too.

 

[Darkie]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

What kind of input is the cd/mp3 in on the back of the amp? Is it a 1/4" input (like a regular guitar cable) or is it RCA input (the red & white cables)?

 

[diablo loves donutz]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

Well the input is on the front of the amp, but yes, it's a 1/4" input. I'm still gunna mess around with it though and see what I can do.

Edit: Sorry, a stupid mistake, the guitar input is 1/4", but the cd/mp3 input is the same size you would use for headphones. Keep note though that there is already a headphone input located on the amp, but that input is 1/4" as well.

 

[rplusplus]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

The big question is Why? Most guitar amps are mono and I'm sure that you want Stereo out.

 

[Tanooki]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

No, he wants quantity, not quality.

 

[Darkie]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

Well the input is on the front of the amp, but yes, it's a 1/4" input. I'm still gunna mess around with it though and see what I can do.

Edit: Sorry, a stupid mistake, the guitar input is 1/4", but the cd/mp3 input is the same size you would use for headphones. Keep note though that there is already a headphone input located on the amp, but that input is 1/4" as well.

If it's headphone input, 1/8", you probably need a double male 1/8" cable, one with headphone jacks on both sides, and a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter. Plug one end of the cable into your ipod/cd player and the 1/4" converted side into the cd/mp3 in. You can also probably find a cable made with the 1/8" on one end and the 1/4" on the other end, if not you'll need the adapter.

Here's a link to 1/4" to 1/8" cable already made
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line6-X2-Digital-Wireless-XC1-14-to-18-Locking-Cable?sku=271186

Here's the adapter you'd need if it were double 1/8"
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Monster-Cable-14-Male-Stereo-to-18-Female-Stereo-Cable-Adapter-?sku=330086

And just buy the cheapest cables/adapters you can find. The prices of these are ridiculous and work the same as any other cheaper one.

 

[Arokthis]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

One problem may be that the iPod doesn't have powerful enough output for the speakers to "hear" it.

I have a set of computer speakers with a built-in volume control that I plug mine into. I have to turn up the volume on both the MP3 player and the speakers to get it to sound right. (It gets kind of funny watching things vibrate when I forget and plug my DVD player back into them. :whistling

Besides the stuff Darkie recommends, you may need a simple in-line amplifier. Radio Shack probably has one for pretty cheap.

Hope this helps.

 

[ffejrxx]

Re: Any way to use my guitar amp as a speaker to play music?

you may need an attenuating cable
if your going from headphone (amplified) level to line (preamp) or mic level

similar to this
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=SP-ATEN-1&source=froogle


or a standard cable if your going from line out to line in