Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Zinniaritz · 21st Mar 2018, 6:21 pm

I'd like to use my Hacker Sovereign II as an amp for my ipad. Can anyone advise me? Is it as simple as rigging up a stereo jack plug - cable - mono jack plug to run from the ipad jack socket to the Hacker output jack socket?

Argus25 · 22nd Mar 2018, 8:29 am

I think you can feed the ipod output into the gram input on the Sovereign, just mix the R&L channels together with a couple of resistors to feed the mono plug, 100R each would be fine, or higher value resistors if there is too much level even with the ipod volume set near low. To attenuate it you could feed the two resistors into a return resistor to the common to lower the level. Ipods normally are fine loading into 32 ohms, but they are fine with much higher value load resistors. It is much better to use resistors to mix the R & L channels and not just short them together like some do.

Zinniaritz · 22nd Mar 2018, 9:43 am

Thank you Argus25, I'll try it

Argus25 · 23rd Mar 2018, 8:00 am

Actually,

I would have to commend you on your idea to use a Hacker Sovereign as an active speaker for an iPod. They have an excellent speaker, with a rear ventilated cabinet, a great audio amplifier design, with Bass and Treble controls and a sound that would be very hard to beat, even with a new iPod stage from a supposed top audio supplier, so well done!

Zinniaritz · 26th Mar 2018, 9:42 pm

Thanks for your advice Argus. I wired it up as you suggested using 100R resistors and it works really well.

21st Mar 2018, 6:21 pm	#1
Zinniaritz Triode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 11	Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio I'd like to use my Hacker Sovereign II as an amp for my ipad. Can anyone advise me? Is it as simple as rigging up a stereo jack plug - cable - mono jack plug to run from the ipad jack socket to the Hacker output jack socket?

22nd Mar 2018, 8:29 am	#2
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio I think you can feed the ipod output into the gram input on the Sovereign, just mix the R&L channels together with a couple of resistors to feed the mono plug, 100R each would be fine, or higher value resistors if there is too much level even with the ipod volume set near low. To attenuate it you could feed the two resistors into a return resistor to the common to lower the level. Ipods normally are fine loading into 32 ohms, but they are fine with much higher value load resistors. It is much better to use resistors to mix the R & L channels and not just short them together like some do.

22nd Mar 2018, 9:43 am	#3
Zinniaritz Triode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 11	Re: Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio Thank you Argus25, I'll try it

23rd Mar 2018, 8:00 am	#4
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio Actually, I would have to commend you on your idea to use a Hacker Sovereign as an active speaker for an iPod. They have an excellent speaker, with a rear ventilated cabinet, a great audio amplifier design, with Bass and Treble controls and a sound that would be very hard to beat, even with a new iPod stage from a supposed top audio supplier, so well done!

26th Mar 2018, 9:42 pm	#5
Zinniaritz Triode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 11	Re: Connecting an ipad to a Hacker radio Thanks for your advice Argus. I wired it up as you suggested using 100R resistors and it works really well.