how do i power this speaker?

[wayne]

i found this speaker in my basement i m not sure what exactly happened to it or if its bad or anything

its just this speaker that says , on a sticker on the back,

PIONEER
S-P500D
MAXIMUM POWER 45W
IMPEDANCE (i m not sure what the number is, its scratched out but i think its 8 and this sign that looks like the ohm symbol)

PIONEER ELECTRONIC CORP

Serial No. K41
SAN 1403-A


and on another sticker,
MADE IN TAIWAN


i hope the info above gave you guys some sorta idea what kinda speaker it is but the weird thing is, that its not some small puny speaker, its like 6-8 inches tall, about 4 inches wide, and maybe 6 inches deep..... this does not seem powered by its normal audio input current so by common sense, it should have a power cable coming out of it right? nope, it doesnt all it has is two thin black and red wires coming out of it that goes to the audio input theres no other external power sources that cables that goes to a outlet or anything

now, my question, how is this thing powered? can a headfone jack provide enough audio electricity to power this kinda size picture? i know that there isnt a missing power cable or anything because if there was, then there must be a hole on the wooden speaker but there isnt

by the way, i have no idea what kinda interface or connector this uses because when i found it, the red and black wires were snipped and its only copper wiring showing outta the insulation

if i get a headfone and snipped of the plug, and wire it together myself and say, hook it up to a computer or a cd player, would that play?

i can provide pictures if its necessary but it may not be clear

 

[GodsMadClown]

You probably have a standard home audio speaker. You would need to feed it an amplified signal, such as that out of a stereo reciever.

 

[GodsMadClown]

Is this what it looks like?

 

[wayne]

Originally posted by GodsMadClown
Is this what it looks like?

YUP, i think its the exact same thing

how would i feed it an amplified signal?
can i do it outta my computer?
if not, can i buy something cheap and attach it so it works?
thanks

 

[jpmkm]

Originally posted by wayne
how would i feed it an amplified signal?

With an amplifier! An amplifier takes a line input from a tuner or a cd player or a computer and amplifies the signal to output it to speakers such as the one you have. Stereos have operated this way for years. Go to a few garage sales and you should be able to find an amp(or a reciever - an amp with an fm tuner and multiple inputs) for under $10. One speaker won't do you much good unless you are planning on listening to old radio broadcasts or something. Do you have the other speaker that goes with it? I wouldn't buy an amp if you just have the one speaker.

 

[xonik]

You need a receiver or amplifier to amplify the signal from your computer. Your computer's soundcard or onboard sound uses a line-level output which is definitely inadequate to power a speaker like that. You just need a receiver or amplifier that can handle an 8 ohm impedence from your speaker with sufficient power. Let me assure you that such products are widely available. Find a garage sale or thrift store and you can pick up an acceptable receiver or amplifier to power that speaker. You'll also probably need an RCA cable and a 1/8" jack to RCA adapter.

 

[wayne]

Originally posted by xonik
You need a receiver or amplifier to amplify the signal from your computer. Your computer's soundcard or onboard sound uses a line-level output which is definitely inadequate to power a speaker like that. You just need a receiver or amplifier that can handle an 8 ohm impedence from your speaker with sufficient power. Let me assure you that such products are widely available. Find a garage sale or thrift store and you can pick up an acceptable receiver or amplifier to power that speaker. You'll also probably need an RCA cable and a 1/8" jack to RCA adapter.

these items you just mentioned... what do they look like and how much do they cost and where can i buy them?

 

[leukotriene]

these items you just mentioned... what do they look like and how much do they cost and where can i buy them?

A reciever or amplifier looks something like this.

I'd recommend looking at garage sales and classified ads to find a </=$50 used stereo amplifier or reciever. Don't spend much more unless you plan on replacing those speakers with a better pair.
Ebay should have some inexpensive stereo recievers.
Every reciever made in the last 30 years should be capable of driving an 8 ohm load, but they do require a two-connector RCA input.

To convert the 3.5mm heaphone jack size output of your soundcard into two RCA's you need a cable like this one. Alternatively you can use an adapter and a standard RCA cable.