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Mini Audio Amplifier image
 
(based on 20 ratings)
Brand:RadioShack
Located in:Toys & Games, Hobby projects & kits
With a built-in speaker, this mini audio amplifier is perfect for many acoustic projects.
Product Reviews Summary
Avg. Customer Rating:
 
4.6 stars
(based on 20 reviews)
93% of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Customers most agreed on the following attributes:

Pros:
Easy to use(18), Good performance(6), Good value(6), Reliable(6)
Best Uses:
Home(7), School(3), Students(4), Teachers(4)
Describe Yourself:
Collector(3), Thrifty(3)
 
Op Amp info
By Op Amp Guy from IL on 9/17/2008
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

The Op Amp is a LM386-N High Gain National Semiconductor Op Amp Which is Good For driving an 8-16 ohm speaker.

 
Great for Stormtroopers
By TD-2243 from NY, NY on 8/31/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use, Effective Demonstration
Best Uses:
Trooping
Describe Yourself:
Costumer
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

I know a large amount of Stormtroopers who use this for trooping events. I keep two of these underneath my chestplate for a good full sound. They sound distorted enough to give an accurate TK sound, unlike the Newton amplifier, which is way too clean sounding. For the Legion, TD-2243

 
It's good
By AndrewVerified Reviewer from Pembroke Pines, FL on 6/23/2008
Pros:
Basic Circuit, Easy To Use
Cons:
Distorts easily
Best Uses:
Home
Describe Yourself:
Homebrewer
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

It's a mono amplifier... both the output and input jacks are mono so if you use headphones it only outputs to one ear.

Made of off-the-shelf components. Fits nice in the small case. Can't find any documentation on the op-amp used though. Looking for one with a similar amount of gain but less distortion.

At the moment I use it as a micro guitar amp, works wonderfully, except suffering at battery life. Nice distortion for guitar purpose. However to repurpose it into a talkbox seems unlikely.

Wish that the jacks were stereo, but joint amplified.

 
i have 20
By ray from ca on 6/17/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Best Uses:
Home
Describe Yourself:
Collector
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

it is so good

 
Great Item
By Obi from Philadelphia, PA on 5/14/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
THERE ARE NO CONS
Best Uses:
Home, Students, Teachers
Describe Yourself:
Collector, Education Oriented, Parent
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

I love these, I have 4 of them, I use them for sports events, music and so on

 
Very Handy
By btb4Verified Reviewer from Ohio on 4/23/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Describe Yourself:
AV Pro
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

Handy inexpensive amp to check audio as well as can drive a horn for gear checks.

 
Guitar
By if_it_is?Verified Reviewer from Athens,Greece on 2/12/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
Nothing
Best Uses:
Home
Describe Yourself:
Education Oriented
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

It works great with guitar too!
perfect for carrying it arround!
It has some nice worm overdrive if you crank it!!

 
Great Amplifier
By James S. from WI on 2/9/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Describe Yourself:
Experimenter
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

This amplifier works great with a crystal radio.

The amplifier has a 5k ohm imput impedance which is the same as a pair of Hi-Z headphones.

The clarity of the sound is amazing, great for any homebrew projects.

This is a Great product.

 
THIS THIS IS SIMPLY BRILLIANT!!!!!!
By Krak3r420Verified Reviewer from Jackson Michigan on 2/8/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use, Fun
Cons:
Sound Quality
Best Uses:
Home, School, Students, Teachers
Describe Yourself:
Thrifty
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

This thing is GREAT!!! I bought it for my PSP (Playstation Portable) cause the PSP is not very loud when I watch movies on it. This is a almost perfect solution for that or any problems of tiny sound cause this thing is LOUD!!! The sound quality is as to be expected from a mono speaker but... it's got input and output, so that means plug a mic into it for a PA or use it as a amplifier for external speaker system. This this is simply brilliant! A GREAT BUY AT A GREAT VALUE!

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Tags: Picture of Product

 
Excellent Small Amplifier System
By RobVerified Reviewer from Denver, Colorado on 2/4/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
Only comes in White color
Best Uses:
Home, School, Stage, Students, Teachers, Theatre
Describe Yourself:
Entertainment Engineer
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

We connected this mini amplifier to a dynamic microphone and animatronic mouth motion control board. As the off stage Actor spoke into the microphone, the onstage animatronic character's mouth moved from the attached control board and the mini audio amplifier provided sound ouput as if it was coming from the animatronic character directly. The mini audio amplifier was very easy to hide within the onstage animatronic character chest area and easily connected to the controller board and microphone by audio extension cables.

 
Wait a darn minute. What?
By JusthanVerified Reviewer from Atlanta, Georgia. on 1/29/2008
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Does Not Work Well, Inaccurate, Poor Demonstration
Best Uses:
COULD have been school
Describe Yourself:
Collector, Educator, Thrifty
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

IT DOES NOT WORK.
I don't know how many people have gotten this item and actually have it work, but this is my third time purchasing this mini-audio amp from a RadioShack brand label. It does NOT work(Even with use of RadioShack brand batteries and 9v AC adapter).

The first box I got, I was barely able to speak into the mic and hear my own voice from the speaker before it never responded again.
The 2nd box I got, same thing-- except the microphone test didn't even work.
Exact same thing with the 3rd.

Now, if this mini-audio amplifier requires RadioShack brand accessories to operate them, then RadioShack did a horrible job of mentioning so.

I'm so fed up with trying to get the darn thing to work, that i've given up on trying to get a refund on it.
Enjoy your money, RadioShack.

 
Amplifies laptop Navigation Directions
By MyPoint...ExactlyVerified Reviewer from Pelham, NH on 1/4/2008
Pros:
Easy To Use
Best Uses:
Business Travel
Describe Yourself:
Business Traveler
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

An outstanding value! Small footprint - with Big Sound. I'm a mobile sales professional who uses mapping on my laptop to more efficiently plan my sales calls.

My laptop speakers are weak, and the mini amplified speaker is perfect for making sure my turn-by-turn directions are heard loud and clear.

Plug one end of a dual end MP3 cable (also available at Radio Shack) into your laptop headphones jack and the other into the input jack on the speaker and you're good to go.

Great for amplifying sound for presentations and listening to music in the hotel room.

 
Perfect for many uses
By IrvVerified Reviewer from Plains, Pa on 11/5/2007
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
Works Great
Best Uses:
RADIO TV REPAIR
Describe Yourself:
Electronic Repair
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

Recently aquired a 42 inch LCD TV. Was able to connect via RCA Type plug to the TV with a length of zip cord to the Mini Amp located at a table next to my chair. Able to turn volume on TV down to zero and use the unit for private listening with the speaker or earphones, without disturbing others. Great for anyone with a hearing problem.

 
Small, but packs a walup!
By Bob from Cape Girardeau, MO on 10/19/2007
Pros:
Easy To Use, Very portable
Cons:
No onoff markings
Best Uses:
Home, School, Students, Teachers
Describe Yourself:
Thrifty
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

When I first looked into getting this, I thought there was no way something so tiny would work. I took the plunge and I'm very surprised at how powerfull it is. I have two computer speakers that I tried using with my CD player, but they were pretty weak. When I hooked it up to this amplifier, it was VERY loud! The sound quality isn't the highest, but this isn't some sort of high powered stereo set-up. It's small, so it can fit in your jacket pocket if you're traveling and want something light to hook up to a Mp3 player or what-not. I'll be keeping this for sure!
In the cons I mentioned it didn't have on/off markings. I know that this isn't really necessary and is usually pretty intutive. Someone not paying attention however could possibly over tweak it the wrong way and ruin the adjustment knob. But that's a small matter.

 
Extreamly handy. A must ...
By Ken G from Milwaukee on 1/2/2007
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

Extreamly handy. A must have for anyone trouble shooting audio circuits.

 
I too used this little ...
By Bryan H from Owensboro, KY on 10/23/2006
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

I too used this little gem to make a game caller. I use it for Coyote and Crow. I also baught a Radio Shack 30 watt PA Speaker and hooked that to the output, the result was a very loud and long ranging caller. I was using a portable CD player for the Input, but now switched to a MP3 Player. Sound quality in the output was surprisingly good for such an inexpensive item.

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

 
I bought this little amp ...
By Chris D from Csutoros on 8/20/2006
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

I bought this little amp to build a Home made electric coyote caller. It worked very well. I loved it. I hooked it to a CD player and a speaker to get my sound out there. It over powered my old Computer speakers. WOW what power

 
I bought one of these ...
By Alex B from California on 8/4/2006
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

I bought one of these guys not too long ago. I wish it had stereo, but I found out that plugging in headphones to the input will turn them into a microphone.

 
It is awesome! Except, ...
By Andrew D from Maine on 6/16/2006
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

It is awesome! Except, they should have one that does stereo sound and not just mono.

 
This is the Nth ...
By Bill C from New Hampshire on 5/11/2006
Pros:
Easy to use, Good performance, Good Value, Reliable

Comments about RadioShack Mini Audio Amplifier:

This is the Nth generation of this product that RS has been selling for years. For the price it is an excellent little trouble shooting item to keep in your electronics toolbox. My most recent use was tracking down a problem with my car engine! Turns out modern cars have a 'Knock Sensor' which is designed to detect pinging and this sensor is -- a microphone attached to the engine block! I was able to connect this amp up at the ECU's terminals for this sensor, and actually hear the sound picked up by the microphone. It allowed me to determine that the sensor was working perfectly, even though the car's computer threw a code for it. Like I said -- a handy little device which can prove useful in unexpected places.

Customer Reviews about the Mini Audio Amplifier at Radio Shack
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