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How to Make Your Own Speaker Dock

Since the introduction of the first-generation iPod in 2001, digital audio players, commonly referred to as MP3 players, have become the fastest selling music players in the United States, with Apple Inc. alone selling 100 million iPods in six years. In order to listen to digital music stored on an MP3 player, you need either a pair of headphones or a speaker dock. A dock allows the listener to interface an MP3 player with speakers and listen to music unrestricted by headphones.

Things You'll Need

  • Pair of computer speakers that draw power from a wall outlet
  • Wall outlet MP3 charger
  • Lumber (amount varies according to speaker size)
  • Jigsaw
  • Small screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Electric Drill
  • Tape measure
  • Epoxy
  • Wood putty
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the speakers in order to build a six-sided wood casing that accommodates their size. Leave one side off the casing. This final piece will become the front face of the dock and a bezel for the speakers.

    • 2

      Cut two openings into the unattached side. Slide the speakers into the openings, and affix them with epoxy.

    • 3

      Make two small apertures in the top of your dock. Cut one with the electric drill. This must be large enough for the 3.5 mm male speaker jack that will connect to the MP3 player. The second opening is for a 30-pin dock connector, or comparable MP3 wall outlet adapter.

    • 4

      Run the wall outlet adapter and the speaker cable through the openings made in Step 3, and use a small amount of wood putty to partially close the apertures in order to keep the cables from sliding back through into the casing.

    • 5

      Cut two more openings in the back of your casing for both the speaker and MP3 adapter plugs. Run these plugs through the holes.

    • 6

      Close the casing by attaching the front face of the dock.

Digital Music

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