If there is a RESET function, perform a RESET. Adjust the volume setting on your portable player in order to increase the level of sound coming through the speakers. It seems as though external power is what causes the feedback. If you are using external passive speakers, the power and volume for the speakers are drawn from the connected unit. If I use my portable, battery-powered speaker, it's also loud enough, but as soon as I plug the speaker in (via USB), there's the feedback again. If I use my computer speakers with the 3.5mm jack, it's definitely loud enough, but I get too much feedback (humming/buzzing).
Is there some sort of circuit that I can put together to amplify the sound? The Arduino is running off an external 12v supply if that makes a difference (but see the caveat below). If I solder the speaker to a 3.5mm plug and use the on-board jack, it's nearly inaudible. When I hook up the salvaged speaker to the screw terminals, I can hear sound being played, but it's very quiet. The shield has screw terminals for an 8-ohm speaker, but it also has a 3.5mm output jack. I'm using the EasyVR shield ( ) which I'm assuming has some sort of amp built-in.
Now I'm trying to hook that speaker up to an Arduino-based project.
When the phone was in one piece, obviously the sound worked just fine. I salvaged a miniature speaker from an old cell phone.
