How to implement audio with volume control in bartop

[illinifro]

Looking for some advice here.  My brother and I are building our first bartops, and I think I have a good idea of how I want to implement most things.  However, I'm stumped on the audio.  My thought was to mount some pc speakers, but not sure how to do the volume control.  I'm using a laptop for the first bartop, and am not wanting to use powered speakers if possible. A friend had an idea to  splice a volume control rheostat or potentiometer into the audio cord, then mount the volume control to the outside.

If I'm totally off base here, don't hesitate to let me know.  Ideas are appreciated! 

[BadMouth]

Potentiometer would need to be before the amplified signal (before powered speakers).

You'd want an "L-Pad" for attentuating an already amplified signal.
They are pretty pricey though.

You can write a script in autohotkey that changes the volume in windows with button pushes.
example: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,120818.msg1282118.html#msg1282118

[bluemini17]

5k or less, logarithmic potentiometer, mono. That's what is use when taking sound from a jamma board. I no you are using the post audio from a laptop, but it should work, all be it with less 'range'. experiment with the 1k pot - only a £1 or so from ebay, if not, then buy amplified speakers and add the pot to the pre audio side.

[AndyWarne]

The I-PAC allows you to assign any button or shift combination as volume up/down.

[BobA]

If you are using a laptop for a base it probably already has amplified speakers built in.   Use them or upgrade the speakers a bit and extend the wire.  Use Andy's suggestion on how to control the volume with software not hardware.

[Brian74]

How about one of these?

[danny_galaga]

Personally I'd just use a cheap set of PC speakers. Pull them apart to make them more compact, and since it's apart, just use the existing volume control and extend wires to where you want. I was even luckier with my cocktail cab, I was happy to have the volume control underneath the machine, so I just mounted the amp pcb at the bottom and drilled a hole where the volume knob would poke out. Extended the shaft with a section of Biro, and bingo!

[CoryBee]

Personally I'd just use a cheap set of PC speakers. Pull them apart to make them more compact, and since it's apart, just use the existing volume control and extend wires to where you want.

This, I do it every time.