Flickr find: Homemade iPhone Amplifier
The iPhone has a tiny speaker that distorts at high volume. To listen to music without headphones or external speakers, you'll need an amplifier. If you're a cheapskate with disdain for hygiene, check out this homemade version, rigged up by camh. The benefits include:- Security. No one will walk off with an iPhone that's been stuffed inside this thing.
- Eco-friendly. Instead of putting a used, tattered roll of toilet paper into the trash, it goes on your desk.
- Economical. Enjoy a memorable audio experience at a fraction of the cost of decent headphones. John Williams via a 5 inch cardboard tube stays with you.
- Chick magnet. Nothing says "I have expendable cash" like an iPhone...in a roll of Charmin.
Update: Erica Sadun tested her own TP iPhone Amp against a cone made of stiff paper and a non-enhanced iPhone with a Radio Shack sound level meter (part 33-2055) at both the 60 and 70 dB base settings. Here are the results:
At 4 feet line of sight, there was no difference at all between any of them. They all measured pretty much the same 65 dB for the same segment of song played at the highest volume.
At 2 feet line of sight (yes, she used a ruler and tape markers), the same procedure yielded:
- No enhancement: 68 dB
- Toilet paper: 70 db
- Stiff cardboard cone around iPhone: 75 db
Now you know.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ross said 4:18PM on 10-04-2007
I LOVE IT>> IM Going to do it now!! lOL
Reply
Tucker said 4:22PM on 10-04-2007
I thought we were done with all the "iPhone is a piece of crap" posts.
Reply
mingistech said 4:38PM on 10-04-2007
I was at the Hospital with my iPhone and as an Amplifier I just dropped it into a foam cup with the speakers pointed down. Worked perfect and the audio filled the room.
My solution doesn't look as shitty either.
Reply
jtlax3 said 6:08PM on 10-04-2007
"Stiff cardboard cone around iPod: 75 db"
iPod or iPhone? :)
Reply
simon said 6:25PM on 10-04-2007
lol..this one should be called as "iRoll."
Reply
newmote said 9:34PM on 10-04-2007
Sad part about it all is ..
the darned thing WORKS!
I however increased the vertical length of the audio conduit (the toilet tissue roll) by using an empty Bounty paper towel roll instead I hope I didn't infringe on a pending copyright or anything. Great article, funny article but most importantly of all,
the darned thing WORKS I swear it does !
Reply
Dimplemonkey said 10:21PM on 10-04-2007
Slow News Day, huh iPhone fanboys and fangirls? (Erica, guilty as charged)
Reply
wayne said 11:06PM on 10-04-2007
My roll kept breaking so I tried a plate and a plastic cup.
Take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waynesutton/
Reply
eric said 2:07AM on 10-05-2007
Awesome DIY!
Now was that a Charmin Ultra Soft or Ultra Strong roll?
Reply
Beau said 4:30AM on 10-05-2007
Awesome! Now I can stick this to my paper iPhone.
Reply
Damien Benoit said 4:40AM on 10-05-2007
I know exactly how they figured that out!
Reply
Matt Trush said 11:48AM on 10-05-2007
Reminds me of this paper / ceramic speaker concept:
http://www.lfstyl.com/blog/paper-ceramic-loudspeakers.html
Reply
Lee Patterson said 12:40PM on 10-05-2007
Brilliant idea brilliant article:)
Reply
xGenius said 2:39PM on 10-05-2007
Wow. Can i marry Erica? a chick who goes out and tests the db levels of a diz amp....
Reply
Steve Job said 4:22PM on 10-05-2007
Warning!
This hack will void your warranty.
Reply
Chris said 11:57PM on 10-06-2007
You have great music taste! The Format - Dog Problems, great album.
Reply