Can anyone recommend me a simple, inexpensive mixer/amplifier?

[commodorejohn]

I have a set of speakers I like; they were inexpensive but give pretty good sound, and I'm happy with them. Problem is, I have four devices I'd like to hook them up to, and the speakers themselves only have two audio inputs. I can wire them together with Y-jacks for a temporary solution, but the problem is that the general volume levels are pretty disparate, having more than one device powered on seems to reduce the total output level, and one of the devices (old-ish sound card) seems to serve as an active current sink when sharing the wire with any other powered audio source, reducing everything to muffled line noise with hints of sound in it.

So obviously that's not a practical solution, and if I want all of these devices to share my speakers politely, I'm going to need a proper mixer/amp. Audio equipment is something I'm not terribly familiar with, so I'd like to get some recommendations. I'm not looking for high-end audiophile equipment! I need something in the $50-150 range that can cleanly mix four channels (i.e. doesn't color the output signal) with their own separate volume controls. It might be nice if it could amplify as well as attenuate, but that's not strictly necessary (the speakers themselves give more volume than I'll ever need,) so that's definitely a secondary concern after cost.

Does anybody have any advice on this?

 

[Elerion]

Active mixers are made with inexpensive op amps, but they need their own power supply and are usually built with high quality components, so they are not cheap.

Since these are active speakers and you are happy with level of the sound when only one device is connected, a simple passive mixer will do the trick.

If you have access to soldering iron, or know someone who does, try this:

Buy as many stereo 10k potentiometers as you have inputs and connect each input via 10k potentiometer in serial connection and you will have a mixer.

You can also use a set of switches that turn your inputs on and off. (just remember you have stereo signal so switches must be able to switch both channels on and off)

Cool solution would be to buy a rotary switch, connect all the inputs to it to rotor pads and connect base pads to the speakers. (You might be able to fit this switch and as many inputs you want inside this active speaker.)

Hope this helps.

 

[cosmicfrog]

me watches this thread with interest as need a cheap amp even if the agent for the landlord told me turn the music down to which i replied she did`t live here hehehehe

problem with switched inputs is u cant mix between different sources other than that it can be quite useful

 

[quarkx]

if you are looking for something cheap, Might I suggest the Tandy MMC-10 sound system.
At first glance this may look like just a set of computer speaker system, but you can do so much more with it. You can hook up to 4 more external speakers, connect to 2 different sources (computers etc)
Roland has a similar one called the CS-10.
If it had a remote, this thing would be perfect for the living room.
I find them on E-bay from time to time for under $20.

 

[Harrison]

Do you want an amp or a mixer? If all you want to do is connect up multiple inputs to an amp, so you can switch between them, so you only need the single speaker setup, then you can find loads of amps on eBay for very little. An old Sony, warlfdale, denon or similar would be fine. If you wanted maximum inputs and configuration then an old av receiver would be perfect like a Sony 940.

 

[commodorejohn]

All I really need is inputs, volume knobs, and an output. I'll take a look around the other 'bay and see what's there...

 

[rkauer]

You'll also find lots of second hand live music-intended mixers. They usually sell for less than US$50 from any respectable seller on the evil bay.

PROFESSIONAL mixers can be bought for fifty bucks if you look there. And they are great quality devices.