I wanted to upgrade the sound quality of the TV in my office, but I didn’t want to blow a bunch of money on a soundbar. So, I threw together a small sound system for less than $25. It ain’t perfect, but it gets the job done.
The Problem: This TV’s Speakers Suck (and I’m Cheap)
I’ve got a small TV in my office that I use to stream sitcoms and watch the local news. It’s an old, thick flat-screen, so the sound quality is better than that of newer and thinner TVs, but it ain’t great. I have trouble understanding dialog, and the audio distorts at medium-high volumes.
A cheap soundbar is better than nothing. Still, I don’t want to spend $100 on a small soundbar that will only be used a few times a week. And, if possible, I’d like to put my money toward something that’s easy to repurpose or resell in the future.
So, instead of buying a soundbar, I chose to grab a pair of passive speakers and a cheap amplifier. The speakers can be reused for other projects and will always be worth some money, so long as they’re in working order. This should also be true of the amplifier, especially if I get a small digital amp—a large analog amp or a modern AVR would take up too much space and use up too much electricity.
The Solution: A Bunch of Cheap Stuff
My local Salvation Army had a pair of Technics SB-SB16s for $6—I figured that the 30-watt 3.5-inch drivers would be more than loud enough for my needs, so I took the plunge. I could’ve grabbed a cheap amplifier from the thrift store, too, but I wanted something small, digital, and easy to repurpose. The Kinter MA170+ 18-watt stereo amplifier, which appears to be made for arcade cabinets, fit the bill and only ran me $18.
After running RCA cables from the TV to the amplifier, I wormed two lines of speaker wire behind my bookshelf and connected them to the Technics speakers. These cables and wires didn’t cost me any extra money, as I already had them on hand, so my total purchase came out to be just $24. Not bad. (Admittedly, I think Salvation Army was supposed to charge me $6 for each speaker. If I had paid $12 for the pair, this project would’ve cost $30.)
So, How Do I Like My $24 Sound System?
My cheap $24 audio system won’t win any awards. The small 3.5-inch drivers lack bass and have a somewhat crunchy midrange. Still, the sound quality is substantially clearer and smoother than that of my TV’s built-in speakers.
The Kinter amp’s limited 18-watt per-channel output also proved to be just fine, and the amp’s rudimentary EQ knobs helped me get a little bit of extra oomph out of the speakers. This system can get loud, and it doesn’t distort at high volume levels. In other words, it’s good.
There are some annoyances, but they’re fairly minor. The biggest problem is that the amplifier doesn’t have a remote control. I have to get up and turn on the amplifier when I want to use it, and I can’t adjust its volume from my TV remote. If I were to start this project from scratch, I’d buy a mini amplifier that comes with a remote. The Kinter MA500BT seems like a decent option, and it offers Bluetooth connectivity, but it costs $37 on Amazon. (You might be able to find similar options for a lower price on AliExpress or eBay.)
The amplifier’s power LED is also a point of frustration. It’s a nasty, bright, color-changing LED, and it’s built into the volume knob, so it’s kind of distracting when I’m watching TV. I thought that a black sharpie could fix the problem, but it failed to block the light. I guess I’ll cover up the LED with electric tape at some point.
All in all, I’m happy with this upgrade. If I ever want to swap out the speakers or amplifier, I can do so without much fuss. Plus, the cheap Kinter amp and Technics speakers can be reused for different projects in the future—I can move them to the garage or kitchen, for example.
Kinter MA170+ Stereo Amplifier
$19 $20 Save $1
With its small form factor and equally tiny price tag, the Kinter MA170+ is a compelling stereo amplifier for home audio systems, arcade cabinets, and other projects.
