Simple amplifier to replace car radio in instrument panel

[Fantasie 19]

I've used one of these mini amplifiers - I set it up with a little 12V supply in my cabin on my last ship with a pair of speakers on the bulkhead. It worked brilliantly.

Ditto... all told the whole set up came in at less than £30....

 

[BrianH]

Yes I have a similar Alpine unit IDA X200, but without the cd part. Removing the cd mechanism cuts the chance of water intrusion from wet hands and reduces the power draw.

I think the OP may be looking at the specs and overestimating the power draw of their player.
Mine uses a about 0.7A (9w) playing loud through two resonably inefficient speakers.

I have to admit to some eyebrow raising at the original request - unless the OP is really strapped for battery capacity or cash. The former can hardly be alleviated in any real terms, as you so eloquently point out, and the latter, while a saving can be made, I wouldn't think it substantial compared what it costs to own a boat. If the search is for audio quality then I can't believe it can be noticeable over and above a decent car radio in the normal boat cabin environment with normal loudspeakers - and, of course, MP3 is hardly lossless.

If I could have sourced a cheap one without CD drive I would have gladly done so - so useless to have such a vulnerable mechatronic device in a marine environment. Besides, the advantage of MP3 input over bulky CDs in the limited storage aboard is overriding.

To think that only in the early 1980s I thought my highly expensive, first generation Hitachi CD player, bought when there were less than 100 titles for the format on the market, was the last word in audio technology - now I wouldn't give them house (or rather boat) room.

 

[DaveRo]

I think the OP may be looking at the specs and overestimating the power draw of their player...

Reading all this I think you must be right. It's a Sharp - I don't know what type, there's a (poor) picture of it here. I'm probably just wrong about the power consumption.

But power is a problem - we have about 60W of solar panels, and I've replaced most of the lights with LEDs, but once it gets hot in Greece or Turkey the fridge won't go all night. I really need both more solar panels and more battery capacity - and a better insulated fridge. So I avoid using the player in the evening when at anchor.

But playing from an mp3 player would be much more convenient than burning CDs of mp3 files.So a cheap solution to doing that is what I'm after.

 

[noelex]

I have measured a few of these and the consumption will be about 1 A playing a cd.

Mp3 are much easier so its worth updating. If you want o save the most power efficiency playing a USB stick is best. Once you start using an mp3 player that also needs charging which adds to power.
Some units will play from a USB stick just like an mp3 player so you can play individual artists mixes etc.

With 60w of solar in Greece at the moment you should be getting About 21AHrs which is not enough to run a fridge.

It's better do a proper energy budget, but to run a fridge led lights iPad some music etc you will need somewhere in the order of 150-200w at this time of year. Over winter more.

 

[causeway]

X-Mini2

I have one of these which i will use when on the hook, decent sound, easy to recharge from computer or lighter socket. Not going to be winning any prizes for bass but you can have the thing in the middle of the cabin table and its very listenable. Depends if you're the audiophile type i suppose, and yes, its not going to be much good for entertaining.