Possible to use an amp without a head unit at all?

Is it possible to use a small two or four channel amp with a line in to connect to my iPhone? Maybe a headphones to RCA type plug? I never listen to the radio, it's all pandora or streaming NPR.

Thanks,

Joey

Yes. I use a small T amp in my Swift GT in pursuit of lightness. All the amp wants is a signal, and a headphone jack to RCA cable will work. It's what I use

Zomby Woof wrote: Yes. I use a small T amp in my Swift GT in pursuit of lightness. All the amp wants is a signal, and a headphone jack to RCA cable will work. It's what I use

Cool thanks!

My new to me YJ has a weird stereo hole and I thought in the pursuit of simplicity (the YJ is nothing if not simple) I might try this.

Joey

Ok, so now my next question, is there a fader function on a 4 channel amp? Obviously the iphone has no control for fader, as its only stereo, correct?

Joey

typicallly

In reply to joey48442:

Same way you'd calibrate the gain levels. You won't have the dynamic function, so it will be 'set it and forget it'.

I wonder if the joystick balance/fade from an 80's Japanese car would work to that end.

I know for certain that the '84-85 RX-7 mounted them pre-amp.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1PC0G56107

How about something like this? I always thought pyle was, you know, a pile, but is there something like this? There is even a model that ties into the ipod style 30 pin connector.

Joey

That is basically what I have in my Miata. Just a small 2-channel amp that I plug my ipod into and it goes to the two speakers. It isn't the best sounding but good enough.

This the one I use

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Lepai-Class-T-Hi-Fi-Audio-Amplifier-Tripath-LP-2020A-Amp-20WX2-Stereo-Amp-/370716819993?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item565071c219

I was planning on doing this on a couple of my cars where I either don't want a visible modern stereo or I don't need anything else. You can find some that will also power/charge the iPod, they tend to be aimed at ATVs. I'm thinking I'll just get a real amp from Crutchfield.

Many boats are set up this way. The amp can be installed somewhere dry, and the face units always crap out.

You'll find lots of options in marine amps.

I went the way I did because it gave me volume, bass and treble. If you have 4 speakers, you could use a splitter cable and double up on the amps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ALYArl5S4

Any chance these things are available with USB to power an Android phone while in use? I've been meaning to do this with my truck forever. (I refuse to install an aftermarket stereo. No matter how crappy they are in reality, they look like broken window magnets to me.)

In reply to alex:

You can get 12v accesory to USB converters on Ebay all day long. They pretty much fit right inside the 12v accessory outlet. It's not unheard of to take them apart and hard wire them into a spare hole in the dash...

Joey, If you are going for cheap amps, I would much rather use the one that Zomby Woof posted than anything made by Pyle. I have yet to come across a T-amp that was a bad buy...

sobe_death wrote: In reply to alex: You can get 12v accesory to USB converters on Ebay all day long. They pretty much fit right inside the 12v accessory outlet. It's not unheard of to take them apart and hard wire them into a spare hole in the dash... Joey, If you are going for cheap amps, I would much rather use the one that Zomby Woof posted than anything made by Pyle. I have yet to come across a T-amp that was a bad buy...

I looked up t amp, but couldn't find much. Is that a brand?

Joey

T amps are a kind of amp. Also called "chip amps." It's a "class t" amp. Digital instead of analog.

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/amplifiers/106?kg=25619|25619

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Lepai-Class-T-Hi-Fi-Audio-Amplifier-Tripath-LP-2020A-Amp-20WX2-Stereo-Amp-/370716819993?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item565071c219

The Lepai amps have worked fine for me.

So, I found an old Alpine two channel amp in the garage from parting out a Miata... It works! Just need to find a place to install it. It sounds pretty decent though. If it doesn't work out, I may buy one of those lepai amps.

Joey