So what's it like when you connect external speakers to a boombox? Does it prevent the original speakers from working?

I was thinking about getting some small surround speakers with the correct impedence, and hooking them up to the "Ext Sp" outputs, but I just wanted to know what kind of results I could expect.

Depends on the box. Most high powered component boxes as well as the higher end one piecers (M90,etc.) will sound much better with a set of bookshelf speakers.

Would the power to the main speakers be reduced?

Depending on the box either the main speakers will be cut off 100% of the time or just the headphone jack will produce sound, there are just too many variable's here.

You can add a nother set of speakers to almost anything but again more variables

1. amp Power?
2. amp impedance output ?
3. speaker Impedance?
4. speaker wattage rating ?
5. Series or paralell operation of speakers?
6. do you want more sound in more places?
7. will your amp be able to supply enough power to get attainable sound ( sound that you can hear ) ?
8. this is no longer , uh stereo 2 go now is it ?
9. now we are speaking home stereo

Hi Reli,

I just checked my Sharp 9191 & JVC M90 with some small bose speakers. In both cases, the speakers on the box continuted to play.

I remember back in 1981 I would always hook up my Pioneer home speakers to the 9292 I had at the time. It helped, but don't expect too much!

jt

quote:

Originally posted by oldskool69:
Depends on the box. Most high powered component boxes as well as the higher end one piecers (M90,etc.) will sound much better with a set of bookshelf speakers.

thats so true ,i had a fisher 480 running some big sansui speakers back in the day all i can say is it thumped hard and alot louder than the regular speakers ,another thing you can do is make your own custom speakers that attach to the box if its a 3 piecer they are the best boxes for experimenting with.

Most older b-boxes with "Ext Sp" jacks will cut off the internal speakers when external speakers are plugged in, so use good full-range speakers with the correct impedance, as advised on the b-box (or in the manual).
Many have said that using good external speakers gives much better sound quality when compared to the internal speakers (some Sharp GFs 1pc b-boxes were specifically mentioned).
This makes sense, as the external speaker's drive units are likely to be higher quality, they're in specifically designed enclosures (not just chucked in a plastic b-box case) & you can place them far apart for better stereo separation.

There were some later b-boxes that had specific "surround" outputs for extra speakers (working with the internal ones). These often were fed a surround signal - not the full stereo output. For example the Hitachi 3D75 - which comes with it's own surround speakers:

--this thread has been very helpful and interesting --

before iso showed this cool hitachi box --
the external speaker deal --was pretty much eliminating the valuable portability factor--

however --any members with the talent to make side brackets --can have the 'best of all worlds' set-up

quote:

Originally posted by DecentMan4you:
Depending on the box either the main speakers will be cut off 100% of the time or just the headphone jack will produce sound, there are just too many variable's here.

You can add a nother set of speakers to almost anything but again more variables

1. amp Power?
2. amp impedance output ?
3. speaker Impedance?
4. speaker wattage rating ?
5. Series or paralell operation of speakers?
6. do you want more sound in more places?
7. will your amp be able to supply enough power to get attainable sound ( sound that you can hear ) ?
8. this is no longer , uh stereo 2 go now is it ?
9. now we are speaking home stereo

Which part of reading the user manual is supposed to be so complicated?

Do not let external speakers dissuade you from enjoying the sound. I use others' ideas very often, since I have very few ideas myself....


and I find a wooden covered golf cart and 248'
of wire solve any portability issue.

footnote --
that 248' is maxed out --as per the currant* FCC regs

quote:

Originally posted by Panasonic Fan:
Which part of reading the user manual is supposed to be so complicated?

How many people have user manuals?

isolator42, thanks......That's what I was afraid of.