How to Connect Your Phone to an Amplifier
The sound of an amplifier is a great way to bring a music playlist to life, whether you’re listening in the car or at home. But if your amplifier is not Bluetooth or AirPlay compatible, it can be a little tricky to connect your phone to the audio output.
The good news is that there are a few different ways to connect your phone to an amplifier. You can use a wireless adapter, connect the phone via an RCA or 3.5 mm cable, or even use a DAC to feed the audio from your smartphone or tablet to an amplifier’s digital output.
A Wireless Adapter
One of the easiest ways to connect your phone to an amplifier is to buy a wireless adapter that supports wireless audio streaming, such as the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter. These adapters allow you to connect your iPhone to music playing and streaming apps without the need for WiFi or AirPlay.
An RCA or 3.5 mm Cable
The simplest way to connect your iPhone to an amplifier is to use a 3.5 mm-to-RCA stereo audio cable. The 3.5 mm end plugs into your phone’s headphone jack, while the RCA connections plug into the line inputs on your amplifier, speaker, or receiver.
There are a few different types of cables on the market, but be sure that you’re using a quality 3.5 mm to RCA stereo audio cable. These cables are usually available at electronics stores or online, and you can choose from various styles and lengths.
Alternatively, you can get a phone headset amplifier (model 78333-01) which will let you connect your telephone’s little round 2.5 mm headset jack to a stereo amplifier. The headset amplifier does not rely on your telephone’s power, so it has independent adjustable volume control for both your listening and your microphone (speaking) level.
A Phone Headset Amplifier
The little round 2.5 mm headset jack was originally only found on cordless phones and cell phones, but now some corded desk / business phones have it as well. If you have a “headset ready” telephone, you will typically find it either as a modular phone type plug or a little round 2.5 mm headset jack that is smaller than the jack from your wall to your phone.
If you have a phone headset amplifier, it will also come with an optional 2.5 mm to modular cable that can be used to connect the phone headset amplifier to your telephone’s little round 2.5 mm jack. This is the same as using a direct connect cable with a modular phone type plug, but it will be easier to operate since you don’t have to lift off your handset receiver every time you want to talk on the telephone.
If you’re not sure how to get started, there are a few handy settings in the Sound Amplifier app on your device that can help. First, open the app and select Accessibility from the menu. Then tap the green shortcut button to turn on Sound Amplifier. You can then tap Source, then the Amplify menu to switch between amplifying the Sound around you or the Sound playing on your phone. Then, you can also tweak the amplified sound by using the Boost and Fine tuning controls.