Audio limiter (limiting power coming from device)

[steppinthrax]

I'm not sure if this goes into Highly technical or audio. So this is the situation.

I have a home intercom station that has an AUX port on the side. I have a wall mounted CD player that runs to that AUX port. The intercom station has it's own amplifier. The wall mounted CD also has it's own amplifier.

I want to know what device or electrical component can I put between the CD player and the intercom station so that the audio coming from the CD player never increases beyond a certain defined threshold. So in other words I don't want to blow my intercom station up with the audio coming from the CD player. I want just enough audio to be coming from the CD player that I can completely control that audio using the intercom station. I also want the component to be adjustable and very small, so if I need to make fine tuning to the audio limit I can.

I may end up using a car stereo instead of a home CD player, mainly due to features. I know car stereos put out a lot of power, so the component I use may need to be power enough to handle it.....

 

[sdifox]

why not use line out from your cd player to the intercom as opposed to the amplified output?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

As Sdifox stated, if you have a line-out on your CD player, then your possible issue is easily solved by using that to go to your amplifier. That's what it was designed for.

 

[steppinthrax]

why not use line out from your cd player to the intercom as opposed to the amplified output?

This could potentially be a basic CD player with no line out.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

If you have a headphone output on it, you can use that safely. If not, then its much trickier.

What you're asking for is called an Attenuator. They are not variably adjustable and often are based on 0db, -20dB, and -40dB switches of fixed attenuation for sources with up to 50 watts output. THey make ones for bigger units but its really not worth the cost.

If you haven't sourced this CD player yet, get one with ideally a line-out or at least a headphone out and you'll save yourself alot of headaches and a $25 box.

 

[steppinthrax]

If you have a headphone output on it, you can use that safely. If not, then its much trickier.

What you're asking for is called an Attenuator. They are not variably adjustable and often are based on 0db, -20dB, and -40dB switches of fixed attenuation for sources with up to 50 watts output. THey make ones for bigger units but its really not worth the cost.

If you haven't sourced this CD player yet, get one with ideally a line-out or at least a headphone out and you'll save yourself alot of headaches and a $25 box.

Do most car stereos have a line out. I might just use that.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Do most car stereos have a line out. I might just use that.

Yes. Its called Preamp output and most aftermarket stereos have them due to them being hooked up to amplifiers. Most all come in the form of RCA jacks. You can get an RCA to minijack connector for very cheap from monoprice, walmart, radioshack, wherever.

Keep in mind though that car stereos have a lot more external interfaces to work with a car, so you'll have to wire up your own compatible dongle and read the wiring diagram carefully to get it to power up and function properly on its own.

 

[steppinthrax]

Yes. Its called Preamp output and most aftermarket stereos have them due to them being hooked up to amplifiers. Most all come in the form of RCA jacks. You can get an RCA to minijack connector for very cheap from monoprice, walmart, radioshack, wherever.

Keep in mind though that car stereos have a lot more external interfaces to work with a car, so you'll have to wire up your own compatible dongle and read the wiring diagram carefully to get it to power up and function properly on its own.

My problem in going with a car stereo is creating a power supply for it. Also it just looks ghetto installing a car stereo in the wall.

I need a CD player that takes either a usb port or SD media and plays CDs and CDs/MP3. I something on ebay, but it's made directly in china and is no-brand. The car stereo would have all these features.