Build Your Own MP3 Boombox

For those who long for 80’s nostalgia and were disappointed when the iPod Hi-Fi turned out to be a full-sized audio system – here’s an alternative.

Bill Machrone, writer for PC Magazine found it effective to simply build one of his own. His iBoom Lo-Fi consists of an old portable “boombox” cassette player from which he removed the inner workings. After that, it was a simple matter to adapt the mechanism to hold an iPod. The best part, according to Machrone, is that the “low-tech” exterior effectively hides its high-tech electronics – presumably, making it less likely to be stolen. Machrone’s design utilizes the old cassette transport buttons to control the i-Pod, so unless someone actually opens the thing and looks inside, there will be no way of knowing.

The best part of this project is that it takes little in the way of tools or expense (although some minimum knowledge of electronics is helpful). The project came in at under $50 (not including the i-Pod).

For those who long for 80’s nostalgia and were disappointed when the iPod Hi-Fi turned out to be a full-sized audio system – here’s an alternative.

Bill Machrone, writer for PC Magazine found it effective to simply build one of his own. His iBoom Lo-Fi consists of an old portable “boombox” cassette player from which he removed the inner workings. After that, it was a simple matter to adapt the mechanism to hold an iPod. The best part, according to Machrone, is that the “low-tech” exterior effectively hides its high-tech electronics – presumably, making it less likely to be stolen. Machrone’s design utilizes the old cassette transport buttons to control the i-Pod, so unless someone actually opens the thing and looks inside, there will be no way of knowing.

The best part of this project is that it takes little in the way of tools or expense (although some minimum knowledge of electronics is helpful). The project came in at under $50 (not including the i-Pod).