Need advice re: Sound System for retail store

[scsi stud]

I am trying to set up a sound system for a retail store and want some advice regarding setup.

Basically, there is already a speaker installed on the ceiling, and it has the 2 copper cords coming out of it. I want to do one of two things:

a) Hook up an iPod directly to that speaker somehow so that I can just put on a large mix of music to play in loop.

b) Hook up the speaker somehow to a PC (maybe even wireless somehow?) in the store that has Winamp on it that plays a list of Mp3s in a loop.

What would be the most efficient, cost-effective way of doing this? I am assuming the iPod method would be easier (though I don't know how to connect the 2-copper cords to an iPod dock), but going through the PC might be nice too.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm almost certain based on your description that you're looking at the end of some speaker cable connected to the unpowered speaker that's up there. In order to play something, you're going to need an amp or receiver of some kind.

You'll then need to hook up your sources (ipod or computer) to inputs on your amp/receiver and then hook the speaker up to the powered output of the amp/receiver.

Is it just one speaker and two copper connections?

(vs. two speakers and two pairs of copper connections)

 

[scsi stud]

Thanks for the info. It is one speaker that has 2-copper connections. It appears the speaker is currently hooked up to an amp so I would have to just connect the iPod Dock to the Amp?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: scsi stud
Thanks for the info. It is one speaker that has 2-copper connections. It appears the speaker is currently hooked up to an amp so I would have to just connect the iPod Dock to the Amp?

Yeah, if it's hooked up to an amp and the amp has some RCA inputs, that should work. I'm kind of wondering how it's going to handle a stereo signal with one speaker, but that should basically work.

 

[Zepper]

Hmmm, the audio guru, YYHDJ, does not know how to mono a stereo signal??? Sometimes you can just push the button - other times you run the source in thru a mixer.

.bh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Hmmm, the audio guru, YYHDJ, does not know how to mono a stereo signal??? Sometimes you can just push the button - other times you run the source in thru a mixer.

.bh.

Well I don't know what he has for this mysterious amp that's hooked up

I thought originally he just had bare wires, so I'm wondering what's really on the end of it how

EDIT: (I've never worked on a sound system for a retail store so I really don't know what kind of "amp" he has)

Maybe my title should be "HT guy" or something... I really don't do anything "sound" outside the realm of HT stuff.

 

[Zepper]

The inputs on a store amp (also called a PA, Public Address, amp) are the same as any other while the outputs are designed to drive transformers, rather than the speakers directly. IAC, the concepts are all the same.

.bh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Ok. I wasn't sure if it was going to have stereo inputs or just mono inputs on it.

 

[Zepper]

Most PA amps are just mono in and out, though they may have outputs for several strings of speakers and mixing inputs to monoize a stereo input.

.bh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

:thumbsup: