Roberts R900 as an amp - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Zinniaritz · 18th Feb 2018, 12:52 am

Hello, I am brand new to the forum.
I recently heard that you can plug an iPad into the DIN socket of a Roberts R900 and the radio will act as an amplifier.
This appeals to me for my iPad and keyboard and I'm tempted to buy an R900.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Does it work? Does it require any adaptations? Will it cause damage?

Charlie

Boater Sam · 18th Feb 2018, 8:32 am

Hopefully only to the ipad, its a bit modern for a Roberts. Where would you find a lead to do this?
Why not just buy the proper amp for the ipad? Then you have no worries.

crackle · 18th Feb 2018, 9:34 am

You should wire the Ipad output left and right signal wires to pins 1 and 4 on the DIN plug and the screens to pin 2. No need to join the signal wires as they are combined via 2 390 ohm resistors on the back of the socket in the radio. (according to the circuit on the Radio Museum)
You may need to tune your radio to a quiet spot on the dial or try releasing all the wave change buttons to silence the tuner section.
A lead similar to this should work, it claims the DIN end is connected as an output. https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-35...able-15m-a31xf
Pins 3 & 5 are the normal input pins for an amp so the cable may be wrong you really need to check with Maplin if it is pins 1 & 4 suitable for input to Tape recorder, or pins 3 & 5 input to Amplifier.
You need it to be pins 1 & 4.

Mike

Mike

Zinniaritz · 18th Feb 2018, 10:44 am

Thank you Mike that's told me about all I needed to know.

Much appreciate your reply

18th Feb 2018, 12:52 am	#1
Zinniaritz Triode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 11	Roberts R900 as an amp Hello, I am brand new to the forum. I recently heard that you can plug an iPad into the DIN socket of a Roberts R900 and the radio will act as an amplifier. This appeals to me for my iPad and keyboard and I'm tempted to buy an R900. Does anyone have any experience of this? Does it work? Does it require any adaptations? Will it cause damage? Charlie

18th Feb 2018, 8:32 am	#2
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Roberts r900 as an amp Hopefully only to the ipad, its a bit modern for a Roberts. Where would you find a lead to do this? Why not just buy the proper amp for the ipad? Then you have no worries.

18th Feb 2018, 9:34 am	#3
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Roberts r900 as an amp You should wire the Ipad output left and right signal wires to pins 1 and 4 on the DIN plug and the screens to pin 2. No need to join the signal wires as they are combined via 2 390 ohm resistors on the back of the socket in the radio. (according to the circuit on the Radio Museum) You may need to tune your radio to a quiet spot on the dial or try releasing all the wave change buttons to silence the tuner section. A lead similar to this should work, it claims the DIN end is connected as an output. https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-35...able-15m-a31xf Pins 3 & 5 are the normal input pins for an amp so the cable may be wrong you really need to check with Maplin if it is pins 1 & 4 suitable for input to Tape recorder, or pins 3 & 5 input to Amplifier. You need it to be pins 1 & 4. Mike Mike Last edited by crackle; 18th Feb 2018 at 9:48 am.

18th Feb 2018, 10:44 am	#4
Zinniaritz Triode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 11	Re: Roberts r900 as an amp Thank you Mike that's told me about all I needed to know. Much appreciate your reply