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powering PC speakers in a MAME cabinet

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Wienerdog:
Holy smokes that was too much work...

Are you sure you aren't trying to solve the problem with the most complicated solution possible?

It sounds like the problem is that computer speakers are powered by a "brick" which needs an AC outlet, but you don't want to run a power strip into your cab.  Are you sure you didn't dismiss the "cut the cable" option too soon?  Is there another reason you don't want to use the supplied power supply?  

You have an AC line running into your cab.  Split that line before it goes to the existing cab power supply and run it to a power strip.  Plug your speaker power supply into the power strip.  I think the common problem with audio is that most of us want more than an 8watt output.  Since you are not bound by those desires, go with the easy solution and save some money on the experiments.

PedroSilva:
Why don't you hack some cheap powered speakers ... it's easyer, cheaper, faster and normally it works fine ...  ;D

krick:
Ok, I got my USB powered speakers today.  This is basically what they looked like before...



...and this is what they looked like after...



I temporarily connected my cab speakers through the headphone jack (which is electrically equivalent to connecting them to the regular solder points) to see what the little 2 Watt per channel amplifier could do and they sound pretty damn good if you ask me.

I don't detect any noise from the PC power supply and the volume seems to be more than adequate for my little 5 watt cabinet speakers that I bought from Bob Roberts... http://www.therealbobroberts.com/

Now I just need to connect my new speaker wire harness and figure out a way to mount the amplifier board in the cabinet.  I'm thinking about slapping a piece of sticky backed velcro on it and mounting it to the wall of my cab in a place that I can reach from the coin door.  Either that or I'll drill some small holes in the corners of the board and try to mount it with screws and standoffs a la J-PAC.

All in all, I'm very happy with the way they turned out.

Brewser:
What have you guys done about the volume controls?

Silverwind:
I bought a sherwood receiver on sale at outpost.com for 79.99.  A little robust but eh what the heck.  Real easy connection to my PC through the sound card digital output.

I had a pair of 6.5" component speakers laying around that I'm going to use.

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